Knee Replacement: What is involved?

Knee Replacement: what is involved?

You will need to stay in hospital for approximately 5-7 days.
Dr Kerr, our anaesthetist, will run a preadmission clinic one week prior to your operation. This clinic will provide you with education on your anaesthetic and the postoperative management you need for pain. He will also discuss your admission time to hospital and your fasting time.
The operation itself will take about 2-2.5 hours. The incision is 15-20cms in length and it will run over the top of your knee joint. After the operation, the incision can take a few weeks to settle down.
When you wake up in recovery, you will have a knee brace on for protection of the weak muscles in your knee.
Some patients will have a epidural catheter in their back. This supplies a drug to eliminate your pain after your operation. If this is the case these patients will have a urinary catheter for as long as the epidural is in place.
You will also have a drip in your arm to supply you with fluid and blood if you need it.
Most patients having a total knee replacement will be on bed rest for the first 24 hours after surgery.
From the time you arrive in the ward after your operation the physiotherapists will educate you on the importance of knee exercises.

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