Individualized Approach to Knee Replacement Surgery in Kenya

Knee replacement surgery, or knee arthroplasty, offers pain relief and improved movement to those suffering from advanced arthritis of the knee or a weakened knee joint.

Our joints are silent, but an important part of everyday life. When they are not healthy, they can severely restrict the functions of daily life.

Pain in the knee joint can negatively impact the knee’s range of motion and mobility.

Fortunately, Orthobridge Institute, an orthopedic center in Kenya is dedicated to providing you with the best and most advanced orthopedic care to help preserve or replace affected joints and help patients return to pain-free activity.

Please read on below to learn more about knee replacement surgery in Kenya and how we can assist you.

What is Knee Replacement Surgery?

Knee replacement surgery is a knee surgery that relieves knee pain by replacing or resurfacing the damaged and worn surfaces of the knee.

An orthopedic surgeon will conduct an evaluation and take X-rays to assess the extent of the knee damage.

Based on the evaluation results, the orthopedic surgeon will work with the patient to decide if knee replacement surgery is the best treatment to relieve the patient’s knee pain.

When is knee replacement surgery the best option?

Often patients experiencing severe knee pain and are not able to perform everyday activities such as walking and climbing stairs would benefit most from knee replacement surgery.

Knee replacement surgery may be the best treatment option when medications, changes in daily activities, and walking aids do not relieve knee pain caused by:

1. Osteoarthritis
2. Knee injuries
3. Rheumatoid arthritis
4. Avascular necrosis

Types of Knee Replacement Surgery Procedures

Depending on the nature of damage in your knee, your orthopedic surgeon will advise on the best care treatment plan for you and whether you would benefit more from a partial knee replacement, total knee replacement, or a complex/ revision surgery.

Knee arthroplasty procedures can include:

Total knee replacement
Most total knee replacement operations involve replacing the joint surfaces at the end of your thigh bone (femur) and at the top of your shin bone (tibia).

A total knee replacement may also involve replacing the under-surface of your kneecap (patella) with a smooth plastic dome.

Some surgeons prefer to preserve the natural patella if possible, but sometimes the decision will need to be made during the operation.

The new parts are normally cemented in place. If cement is not used then the surface of the component facing the bone is textured or coated to encourage bone to grow onto it, forming a natural bond.

Partial knee replacement
If arthritis affects only one side of your knee – usually the inner side – it may be possible to have a half-knee replacement (sometimes called unicompartmental or partial replacement).

Partial knee replacement isn’t suitable for everyone because you need to have strong, healthy ligaments within your knee and sometimes this won’t be known until the time of surgery.

Partial knee replacement can be considered at any age. For younger people, it offers the opportunity to preserve more bone, which is helpful if you need revision surgery at a later stage. For older people, partial knee replacement is a less stressful operation with less pain and less risk of bleeding.

The outcome of the surgery, however, depends on the type of arthritis, rather than your age.

Complex or Revision Knee Replacement Surgery

Some people may need a more complex type of knee replacement. The usual reasons for this are:

• major bone loss due to arthritis or fracture
• major deformity of the knee
• A weakness of the main knee ligaments.

These knee replacements usually have a longer stem, which allows the component to be more securely fixed into the bone cavity.

The components may also interlock in the center of the knee to form a hinge to give greater stability. Extra pieces of metal and/or plastic may be used to make up for any removed or badly damaged bone.

This type of procedure may be needed if you’re having a second or third joint replacement in the same knee and could be better from the start if you have very severe arthritis.

Knee Replacement Surgery Recovery

Most people make an excellent recovery after knee replacement surgery and are up and about very quickly.

The majority of patients are able to walk unassisted approximately 1 month after partial knee replacement, but physical therapy sessions and full recovery may take 5-6 months.

Your physical therapist will provide you with a list of exercises to do at home once your therapy sessions have ended.

When you are fully recovered, you can participate in a selection of different sports. However, to ensure the longevity of your new knee, avoid activities like running and high-impact sports.

Tips for a great recovery from knee replacement

Here are some tips from questions about total knee replacement surgery:

1. Can I kneel down with my knee replacement? Yes, you can although it may be uncomfortable in which case use a cushion or knee pad. Kneeling won’t cause any damage to the knee replacement.
2. How long does the knee pain last? Most people have less pain after their knee replacement because the arthritis pain is no longer there. The post-surgery pain settles down within 6-12 weeks although one may experience some residual pain and swell for up to a year.
3. How do I sleep after a knee replacement? Usually, people find it comfortable to sleep on a firm mattress, either lying on their back or on their side with a pillow between their legs.

Orthopedic Surgeon in Nairobi Col (Dr) Adari performing a successful total knee replacement.

Watch this video of Col (Dr) Adari explaining what a total knee replacement procedure is, the risks associated with the procedure and how they guard against them and how long it will take a patient to recover from the procedure.