Preparing for Surgery and Procedure of Knee Replacement Knees play a very important role in a person’s mobility. And with aging, it is becoming increasingly overused with excessive wear and tear. The reason for posing such extreme challenges on the knees with aging is very strongly connected to body weight. Knees are typically known to bear one and a half times of your body weight and this accounts for huge pressure on knees with every step that you take. Walking and other exercises are of great help in preventing the concerns and pains before it worsens to an irreparable extent. The noisy crackle at the knee joints is an indication that it needs some artificial lubrication and remedy ‘Total Knee Replacement’ (TKR). According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the cases of TKR have risen up by three times in past two decades. But, when you feel the complaint, timely action makes a big impact.
Pre-Surgery Activities: This involves a preoperative assessment and some testing to evaluate the suitability of the surgery for the particular case. There can be potential complications which get noticed during this act. The PreAdmission Test (PAT) should be done one or two weeks before the surgery. PAT typically includes:
physical examination detailed questionnaire urine analysis and testing complete blood count (to rule out chances of anemia) coagulation testing (to determine whether your blood will clot normally) baseline metabolic analysis of kidneys, liver, and electrolyte status X-rays and MRI scan of the target knee
Depending on the age or health conditions, it is recommended to get an ECG (electrocardiogram) done to know that the heart is healthy for the treatment. Meeting with an anesthesiologist is also important