Knee Joint Replacement 

According to the Australia’s National Joint Registry, more than 62,624 knee replacements were performed in 2020, with the lowest surgical revision rate on record at 7.3% (down from 8.8% in 2014).
This suggests that modern surgical techniques are improving every year and that knee replacement has a high efficacy rate for Australians living in pain with arthritis.

• In general, knee replacement surgery consists of replacing the diseased or damaged joint surfaces of the knee with metal and plastic components shaped to allow continued motion of the knee.
• Knee replacements are performed for severe arthritic knees and can be unilateral (one knee) or bilateral (two knees).
• The operation typically involves substantial postoperative pain, and includes vigorous physical rehabilitation.
• The recovery period may be 6 weeks or longer and may involve the use of mobility aids (e.g. walking frames, canes, crutches) to enable the patient’s return to preoperative mobility.
• Hospital stay is generally about a week.
• Most patients can safely drive at 6 weeks and gradually increase walking distances in 6 weeks.

Unicompartmental Replacement of The Knee
For osteoarthritis sufferers where the problem is limited to only one side of the knee, a uni compartmental knee replacement is an alternative surgical option to total knee replacement surgery.
Dr Markham will discuss the extent of your arthritis to determine if a uni compartmental knee replacement is right for you.

Total Knee Replacement

• Advanced arthritis of the knee is very painful. When non surgical treatments like medications and gentle exercise no longer manage pain, the total knee replacement surgery is an effective way to relieve pain, correct deformity and improve function of the knee.
• Total knee replacement surgery is also called knee arthroplasty.
• Knee arthroplasty involves implanting new femoral, tibial, tibial insert and patella components into the knee joint.
• The implants may be cemented or press fit into position.
• The goal of surgery is to balance the knee so that future wear and tear of the new joint occurs as evenly over the new implant surface as possible.
• Physiotherapy is a very important part of the post op recovery process of total knee replacement surgery.

Knee replacement is used for:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis (and other seronegative spondyloarthropathies)
• Avascular necrosis

• Driving after a total knee replacement is usually from 6 weeks postoperatively
• Driving may be sooner after a unicompartmental replacement
• Initially a short familiar drive should be attempted

• Prior to discharge from hospital your physiotherapist will ensure you are independently mobile enough to manage transport and walking at home
• It is important that you can independently lift your leg and bend your knee sufficiently to enable you to travel in a car after surgery
• Usually this is achievable within 3 or 4 days of undergoing surgery
• If patients require longer for recovery inpatient rehabilitation may be an option

• Lifting shopping, doing more demanding house work or lifting the grand children is usually achievable from 6 weeks after surgery
• Your physiotherapist will be able to guide you on when you are ready for increased activity
• Generally heavy lifting should not be attempted until after 6 weeks to allow sufficient soft tissue healing and bone implant integration to occur

• Swimming can be attempted after 3 weeks (provided Dr Markham has reviewed your wound as satisfactory at 2 weeks)
• Brisk walking, or sports such as Lawn bowls from 6 weeks
• Sports such as Tennis or Cycling from 12 weeks
• Running is not generally recommended after knee replacement surgery, although patients with a unicompartmental replacement can expect a greater level of activity to be achievable