subject: Knee Replacement Surgery - Effective Means to Get Relief From Pain [print this page] When individuals have advanced to a certain age, it becomes difficult for them to perform their normal activities with ease. Majority of them suffer from various type of illness. Among these ailments, arthritis is one illness which almost every elderly people suffer from. Individuals with this illness suffer from immense pan in their knee joints. When the pain becomes unbearable, knee replacement surgery is their only option to get some relief from the pain. Doctors recommend individuals for this surgery as the last resort when patients do not get relief from medication.
Knee replacement surgery is a complex procedure. Experienced surgeons perform this surgery as many risks are involved. In this process, the damaged joint is replaced by metal or plastic artificial joint. Normally, the artificial joint is attached to the knee cap, shin and thigh bone with the means of cement or special material. Once it is attached, it depends on the surrounding muscle and ligament for function and support. The recent introduction of MIS (minimally invasive surgery ) has completely altered the technique of knee replacement surgery. One of its characteristic feature is, it allows the surgeon to perform the surgery without a large incision using specialized techniques and instruments.
This new knee replacement technique is gaining huge popularity among individuals suffering from arthritis. This is because after the surgery patients feel less pain and recover faster compared to the traditional surgery. Patients who have under gone this surgery are required to stay in the hospital for three to five days. During their stay in the hospital, their doctor and physical therapist will give them suggestions for a speedy recovery.
Individuals who have under gone knee replacement surgery, initially may require the help of crutches, walker or cane to walk as their knee will not be able to support the full weight of their body. In contrast to this surgery, cartilage restoration surgery is performed when the articular cartilage of certain joints of the body is damaged by injury or normal wear and tear. This surgery is performed as it cannot heal itself. The articular cartilage is the smooth, white tissue that covers bone joints of our body. This tissue is a vital part of the body as it allows the bones to glide over each other with little fiction making it easy to move.
Individuals under go cartilage restoration surgery as it help then to get relief from pain and allows better functioning of the joints. One of the most important advantage of this surgery is, it can delay or prevent the onset of arthritis. Young individuals with a single injury or lesion opt for the articular cartilage restoration surgery. Majority of the elderly people do not opt for this surgery because they are less likely to benefit from it.
The cartilage restoration surgery is mostly done arthroscopically. During this procedure, with the help of an arthroscope, the surgeon makes three small, puncture incisions around the damaged joints. Some cartilage restoration surgery also involves surgeons having a direct access to the affected region. This requires longer, open incisions. But before you opt for this surgery, it is advised that you consult your doctor as he can tell you which procedure will be the right choice for you.
Knee Replacement Surgery - Effective Means to Get Relief From Pain
