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.
- 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
- 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%
- 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