December 15th, 2014

The Best Total Knee Replacement Physicians Will be Able to Answer These 2 Questions

If you’re looking into having a total knee replacement procedure, then you have probably suffered a knee injury or extensive wear and tear on the knee joint over the years, resulting in arthritis. When the protective cartilage in the joint is worn away, the bone on bone contact within the knee can become extremely painful, even while attempting to perform common, daily activities like climbing stairs, getting into and out of vehicles or getting dressed.

When your knee pain is hindering your everyday life, it’s time to start talking with total knee replacement physicians and considering the value that a knee arthroplasty can offer. With the pain minimized and knee function restored, many knee replacement patients find their quality of life improves dramatically. But it’s not as easy as just considering the option of having this surgery. First, you have to find the kind of quality orthopedic care that would put your mind at ease so you can go into the procedure, feeling confident and informed about the treatment approach and the plan for recovery.

How to Find the Best Total Knee Replacement Physicians:

When looking for a physician to work with, you’ll want to keep a few certain criteria in mind. Keep your eyes open for surgeons who meet the following standards:

Specifically focus on the knee as a specialty area of care
Have performed a significant number of surgeries within their career
Received high quality education from a well-respected institution
Have completed residency and fellowships at reputable hospitals
Are board certified
Maintain good standing in professional associations (such as the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, which helps its members to stay on the cutting-edge of any advancements in the field and provides educational opportunities)
Pursue continued educational opportunities within their specialty
Are affiliated with a hospitality where you would want to go for surgery

Making the decision to have knee replacement surgery is a big one. You won’t want to trust your body and your surgery results to just any surgeon. To find the top doctors in the orthopedic field - and specifically in the knee replacement - call Rothman Orthopaedic Institute. Their leadership in cutting-edge research and technology for joint replacement is known throughout the country and even around the world

When you are seen by a Rothman Orthopaedic Institute physician, you have the backing of an entire team of knee experts. With their comprehensive approach to care and over 9,000 surgeries performed each year, you’ll know you are in good hands!

Questions to Ask Your Total Knee Replacement Physicians:

Once you find a great surgeon to work with, you’ll probably have several questions that you’ll want to have answered. A quality physician, who specializes in knee replacements, should be able to answer the following:

1. What is the average lifespan of an artificial knee joint?

Of course, there is no guarantee that a prosthetic knee will last the rest of your lifetime. Many factors come into play in this discussion, but it is certainly a question that should be addressed during your pre-op visits to see your surgeon. Your physician should confirm that total knee replacement is indeed a long term solution and may even mention a few exciting statistics:

After 10 years, your prosthetic knee has a 98% chance of still having full joint functionality
After 20 years, that percentage change only drops a little, to a still impressive 94%

2. How should I prepare for surgery and what can I expect during recovery?

Of course, the answer to this question should include much more detail than what we will cover briefly in this article, but there are a few key points that are important for you to know. Your surgeon should remind you that:

You should avoid smoking in order to give yourself the best chance of a 100% successful surgery
It is helpful to discuss weight management as another aspect that can contribute toward the success of the procedure and the ease of recovery
After following instructions for post-surgical recovery, patients should be able to achieve to their preoperative range of motion

Of course, you should also plan to discuss details with your physician about the kinds of sports and activities that you will or will not be able to return to following your knee replacement. In general, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute total knee replacement physicians maintain that most patients will be able to return to the sports they love. After all, the goal of any joint replacement procedure is to restore the patient to a healthy, active lifestyle, free of pain!