Knee Replacement Surgery at 80 and Recovery Time

With age or due to accident we can rupture the knee which can lead to extensive pain in the knee joint area. This can make motion difficult for people and the person may find themselves lethargic which can be bad for health. In this case, the person is advised to get a knee replacement surgery which is performed by Joint Replacement Specialists in India. They understand the condition of the person and perform a thorough diagnosis before taking him/her to the surgery. 

Medical tourism in India is continuously increasing because of the renowned medical services and highly experienced doctors. Knee replacement is one such medical attraction as Total Hip Replacement Surgery in India is way cheaper than many other western countries and yields the same results. Moreover, the government provides various facilities to the families who come to India for getting treated. 

The knee is a hinge joint responsible for the motion of the lower leg. During a knee replacement surgery, the knee joint is replaced with an artificial material (metal or plastic) is used to cap the ends of the bones that form the knee joint which helps in reducing the pain. The surgical procedure is performed through an incision around the knee area. 

Knee replacement doesn’t come without risks. Like any other surgery it involved post-surgical risks and complications which the patient and the doctors must care about. Some if the risks involve bleeding, infection, blood clots (legs or lungs), loosening or wearing out of the prosthesis, fracture or continued pain or stiffness.

According to the joint replacement specialists in India, the ideal age to get a Joint Replacement Surgery is 60-70 years. As the age increases the risk factor too increases. If you are 80, you may need extra care and attention than a ten year younger person, but it is not unheard of. Before the surgery, the patient’s hip and ankle joint are tested to make sure that they are strong enough to hold the leg during recovery. The patient is given a care plan to follow before the surgery to make sure he or she is healthy enough to go through with the knee replacement procedure. 

The person is kept in the hospital for nearly a week after the surgery to give the time to the wound to heal and so the doctor can make sure that the recovery is going fine before discharging the patient. Until the wound heals, the patient is put on bed rests so that the replacement can get the time to merge and adjust with the original parts and the wound can heal. 

Even after the healing, the patient is asked to go through a minimal physical therapy under the scrutiny of a trained physical therapist. The patient may suffer from uneasiness and pain but the doctors provide medication to minimize the after effects of the surgery. The patient’s family is asked to make some temporary adjustments in the household to make it easier for the patient to move around the house. Depending on the age, a person can take from a month to three to get back on his feet without aid.