Knee replacement, otherwise known as arthroplasty, is a surgery that replaces the damaged bones of the knee with artificial parts. This is one of the most common surgeries in the US where over a million Americans live with knee implants.
Since this is a pretty common surgery, it is important that you know how long does a knee replacement last and what you can expect from it.
How Successful Is The Knee Replacement Surgery?
It is only logical to assume that knee replacement surgery has had incredible success over the years since it is so common. If you did so, you were right!
As research suggests, knee arthroplasty is one of the most successful surgeries in orthopedics. It is also reported that there are around 400,000 TKA (total knee arthroplasty) surgeries performed annually in the US.
Besides those astonishing numbers, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons has also reported that over 90% of people who had undergone the surgery and currently live with implants actually experience a lot less knee pain and are able to do everyday activities.
Since numbers don’t lie, it is safe to say that knee replacement surgery is definitely safe and worth having.
Are There Any Risks?
Like with any surgery, there are risks. However, when it comes to knee replacement surgeries, the risk factor is expectedly low.
One of the most serious complications that might occur is knee joint infections. Only 2% of patients are estimated to have experienced this complication.
Other possible complications include:
- Blood clots – this is actually one of the most common complications that can happen. The blood clots form in veins and could be deadly if they break free.
- Infections – after the surgery, you may experience an infection. It’s possible for the patient to develop an infection a few hours after the surgery and up to even a couple of months. If the infection isn’t that bad, it is treated with antibiotics. If the infection is severe, further surgery is required.
- Knee pain – people undergo knee surgery in order to eliminate knee pain, but there have been some cases where the pain didn’t stop.
It is important to know all of the risk factors, but keep in mind that they are, like previously mentioned, relatively rare.
The technology that is now used in this surgery has come a long way. As you can see from this study, customized knee replacement implants are becoming more and more popular, as they are meant to replicate the patient’s knee and also restore its functions better than generic implants.
All of this sounds great, but are knee implants permanent? It’s time that you learn how long does a knee replacement last.
The Durability of Knee Replacements
When it comes to how long knee replacements last, the answer isn’t always the same. It depends on the patient’s condition and on the implant itself. However, a detailed analysis has shown that over 95% of replacements lasted for at least 10 years and 85% of replacements made it past the 15th year.
However, there was also a study that showed even better results, with over 85% of replacements still functioning at the 20 years mark.
So, depending on the quality of the implants and surgery, the knee replacements can last at least 10 to 20 years.
Are There Any Factors that Affect the Durability?
There are three main factors that affect the durability of knee replacements:
- Patient’s age – It was found that knee replacements lasted longer when it came to younger patients.
- Patient’s everyday activities – There are sports/activities (like calisthenics, cycling, hiking, etc.) that are actually recommended for people who have had a knee replacement surgery. Those activities represent a fantastic way of strengthening their knees. On the other hand, some activities should be avoided at all costs (basketball, baseball, football, etc.).
- Patient’s weight – The heavier the patient, the more stress his or her joints will be under. This represents a risk to the knee implants as they won’t be as durable with the added pressure.
When is Knee Replacement Surgery Performed?
The main reason why people decide to go for a knee replacement surgery is to overcome knee arthritis (especially end-stage arthritis or advanced arthritis).
Once medications and knee arthritis exercises stop working, knee replacement might be the only thing that could save you from lifelong pain.
How to Know if You Should Undergo Knee Replacement Surgery?
As mentioned before, knee replacement surgery is recommended for people with severe cases of arthritis in the knee, but you should know what symptoms to expect. Here is a list of symptoms that ought to raise the red flag:
- Swelling of the knee
- Knee pain
- Muscle weakness
- Stiffness
- Crepitus
- Limited motion
- Limping
Most of the patients experience incredible improvements just weeks after their surgeries.
Types of Knee Replacement Surgeries
There are different types of knee replacement surgeries and which one is the right one for you depends on the state of your knee. After careful examination of your knee, the doctor will decide the best surgery for you.
The types of knee replacement surgeries are the following:
- Hinge
- Rotating platform
- PCL(posterior cruciate ligament) substituting
- PCL retaining
- Uni-compartmental
No matter the surgery, the replacement knee’s durability is the same as listed above.
These surgeries usually take 1 to 2 hours to complete. The surgeon will remove the damaged bone and put in the metal and plastic replacement parts.
The Final Verdict
Let’s revisit what you’ve learned so far. The knee replacement surgery is extremely common and quite safe nowadays. The relevant statistics show just how effective the surgery really is.
If you decide to get a knee replacement surgery, the implant will last no less than 10 to 20 years, if it performs according to stats.
After all is said and done, knee replacement surgery is definitely the way to go if you are experiencing severe knee problems.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499896/
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/total-knee-replacement
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5697132/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2584250
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/total-knee-replacement-surgery
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3635671/
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