Knee Replacement Surgery (TKR): Restore function & Stability

If you have decided to have a knee replacement surgery, the doctor will discuss anaesthesia options with you (either general or spinal) and also run other tests to determine whether you have any other medical conditions that need to be optimised.

Other things to expect are:

• Stopping blood-thinning medications and TCM herbs 2 weeks before surgery.
• Stop smoking as soon as possible.
• No eating or drinking 6 hours before surgery.

The patient is first given anesthesia (either general or spinal). After the anesthesia has taken effect, the skin around the knee is thoroughly scrubbed with an antiseptic fluid. The knee is bent about 90 degrees and the lower portion of the leg, including the foot, is placed in a special device to securely hold it in place during the surgery.

Usually, a tourniquet is then applied to the upper portion of the leg to help slow the flow of blood during the surgery. An incision of appropriate size will then be made and the following steps will take place:

• Prepare the bone – The damaged cartilage surfaces at the ends of the femur and tibia are removed along with a small amount of underlying bone.
• Position the metal implants – The removed cartilage and bone are replaced with metal components that recreate the surface of the joint. These metal parts may be cemented or “press-fit” into the bone.
• Resurface the patella – The undersurface of the patella (kneecap) is cut and resurfaced with a plastic button. Some surgeons do not resurface the patella, depending upon the case. Do discuss this with your surgeon if it is important to you.
• Insert a spacer – A medical-grade plastic spacer is inserted between the metal components to create a smooth gliding surface And locked in place.