A total knee replacement in New Orleans is a surgery that replaces an arthritic knee joint with artificial replacement parts. It is usually recommended for older patients who are suffering from pain and loss of function due to arthritis and have been unsuccessful using other methods of therapy.
The typical knee replacement replaces the ends of the shinbone and thighbone with plastic inserted between them and the kneecap.
Symptoms that might require knee replacement in New Orleans include the following.
- The capsule of the arthritic knee is swollen.
- Bone spurs or excessive bone can also build up around the edges of the joint.
- The cartilage lining is thinner than normal or completely absent. The degree of cartilage damage and inflammation varies with the type and stage of arthritis.
- The joint space is narrowed and irregular in outline, which can be seen in an X-ray image.
Benefits of Knee Replacement in New Orleans
The benefits following surgery are relief of symptoms of arthritis, some of which include:
- Severe pain that limits your everyday activities including walking, shopping, visiting friends, getting in and out of a chair, gardening, etc.;
- Pain that wakens you at night;
- Deformity- either bowleg or knock knees;
- Stiffness.
Most patients who undergo knee replacement in New Orleans are between 60 to 80 years, but each patient is assessed individually and patients as young as 20 or old as 90 are occasionally operated on with good results.
In addition to arthritis, knee replacement in Louisiana may be recommended because of:
- Connective tissue disorders;
- Trauma, such as a fracture;
- Inflammation;
- Increased stress from overuse;
- Infection;
- Obesity, as additional weight puts extra force through your joints which can lead to arthritis over a period of time.
The Procedure
The damaged portions of the femur and tibia are cut at the appropriate angles using specialized tools. Trial components are then inserted to check the accuracy of the incisions and determine the thickness of plastic required between these two components.
The real components are then inserted and the knee is checked again to make sure things are working properly. At this point, the knee is carefully closed and drains are inserted before the knee is dressed and bandaged.
Knee replacement surgery is one of the most successful operations available today. Want to know if you’re a good candidate for knee replacement in New Orleans? Don’t hesitate – call our office today to schedule a consultation and let’s find out!