Answered: Your Most Burning Questions About Total Knee Replacement in Gramercy Park

The Most Important Things to Know About a Full Knee Replacement

Has your doctor recommended total knee replacement surgery? If so, then it’s likely that you’re doing research on this procedure and you have questions. We hope that this blog helps you discover the answers to your most pressing questions.

Rothman Orthopaedic Institute is proud to offer a team of total knee replacement specialists in Gramercy Park. As an internationally recognized orthopaedic group, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute is one of the best places in the country to have knee surgery. Our high success rates explain why patients trust us to perform over 13,000 joint surgeries annually.

We can answer your questions more fully and specifically when you come visit us at our Gramercy Park office. In the interim, below is a list of some of the common, more general questions that patients have about total knee replacement:

When Does Surgery Become Truly Necessary?

The decision to get knee replacement surgery is a personal one and depends largely upon the degree of disability experienced by the patient. The procedure is recommended for cases when the knee joint is worn or damaged to the extent that mobility is reduced and pain is chronic, even while resting. The decision to opt for joint replacement is based on clinical evidence of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or post-traumatic arthritis. Disability is generally determined by the following criteria:

• Severe pain, swelling, and stiffness of the knee joint

• Reduced mobility

• Pain that interferes with sleep

• Everyday tasks, such as shopping or bathing, becoming difficult or impossible

• Depression as a result of the pain

• Inability to work or have a social life

What Should I Expect in Terms of Rehabilitation?

Knee replacement surgery is a highly effective procedure that gives dramatic relief and improved quality of life to 90% of patients. It does, however, require work on the part on the patient post-surgery. Any patient considering full knee replacement should be informed about the rehabilitation process:

• A graduated walking program will increase mobility and strength.

• Specific exercises should be done several times a day to restore the knee. You may be able to do so without help, or you may need a physical therapist to help you during the first weeks after surgery.

• Most people can begin driving again about 4-6 weeks after surgery. Timing will depend upon when the knee bends enough to be able to sit comfortably in a car and when muscle control improves sufficiently to be able to brake and accelerate normally.

What Are the Risks of Knee Surgery?

The risk of serious complications is quite low, occurring in fewer than 2% of patients. Chronic illness can increase potential for complications, which is why it’s so important to give your doctor a complete medical history during the examination phase of the process. Even if you have a chronic condition, your orthopaedic surgeon can take special measures to decrease your risk of complication.

Why Choose Rothman Orthopaedic Institute in Gramercy Park?

The choice of a knee specialist to perform your total knee replacement surgery is clearly an important factor when you decide to go forward with the procedure. You can comparatively assess orthopaedic providers using various criteria, such as success rate, history, reputation, and training:

• Rothman Orthopaedic Institute has a 98% success rate 10 years after the procedure, which is high even for industry averages.

• Rothman Orthopaedic Institute has experience performing knee surgeries that surpasses the average orthopaedic practice, conducting over 13,000 knee and hip surgeries annually. We are highly committed to improving patient outcomes, which is why we invest millions of dollars each year into clinical research.

• We have a reputation as a world-class provider in orthopaedics. The Rothman Orthopaedic Specialty Hospital ranked number one in Surgical Care and Patient Satisfaction (2013 HCAHPS & SCIP Data) and received five stars from Healthgrades for total knee and hip replacement.

• Our practice hires only the best. Our knee surgeons come from top medical schools in the country and many complete elite fellowship programs that give them specialized training.

Rothman Orthopaedic Institute is proud to offer total knee replacement in Gramercy Park. Our office also provides services in Shoulder & Elbow, Hand & Wrist, Spine, Foot & Ankle, Sports Medicine. If you’d like to learn more about our practice or to schedule an appointment, please visit us here or contact us at 1-800-321-9999.