In patients with osteoarthritis, one of the main treatments is arthroplasty or knee replacement.
Benefits of knee replacement
In arthroplasty, the cartilage surface of the femur, tibia and patella are replaced by prostheses made of metal alloys: titanium-chromocobalt. Materials such as oxinium are used in allergic patients. A plastic spacer is inserted between the metal components to create a smooth sliding surface.
With this type of design, a uniform movement of the prosthesis is achieved with minimal wear. Therefore, there are multiple benefits of knee prostheses:
· The average survival or the time it takes for any of the components to loosen is 20 years in 95% of operated patients.
· The average mobility of the knee with the implanted prosthesis ranges from 0° to 125°.
· Pain relief is guaranteed and the level of activity improves markedly.
· The patient can walk, swim, bike, play golf, drive, some hiking, ballroom dancing, go up and down stairs without problems, participate in low-impact sports activities.
Postoperative knee prosthesis
The average stay in the clinic after an arthroplasty is between two and five days. The day after the intervention, the patient begins exercises, such as flexion and extension, quadriceps strengthening exercises; as well as the complete support of the operated limb, following the indications of the Rehabilitation Department.
Patients are taught to walk with two crutches and to go up and down stairs. Subsequently, upon discharge, he will require assisted rehabilitation at home or at the rehabilitation center. From six weeks after the intervention, the patient can drive, swim and cycle on flat terrain.
Revision of the knee prosthesis
There are a few causes of total knee arthroplasty failure:
· Loosening of the components of the prosthesis due to their defective implantation. It may be caused by insufficient fixation or incorrect positioning.
· Instability of the prosthesis due to injury to the external or internal lateral ligament.
· Alteration of the patellar tendon, the patella, and the extensor apparatus as a whole, which would lead to repeated subluxation or dislocation.
· Infection. In just a 2% chance, always taking the maximum asepsis measures.
· Prosthesis design: failure or inadequate size of any component.
