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By Mayo Clinic staffAn orthopedic surgeon — a doctor who treats muscle and bone problems — performs knee replacement procedures. Before the procedure, the surgeon takes your medical history and performs a physical examination to assess your knee's range of motion, stability and strength. He or she also orders an X-ray exam to determine the extent of knee damage. You'll undergo a full medical exam, including blood tests, an electrocardiogram and a urine test, before surgery.
Knee replacement surgery requires anesthesia to make you comfortable during surgery. Your input and personal preference helps the team decide whether to use general anesthesia, which renders you unconscious during the operation, or spinal or epidural anesthesia, during which you are awake but can't feel any pain from your waist down.
Your doctor or anesthesiologist may advise you to stop taking certain medications and dietary supplements before your surgery. You'll likely be instructed not to eat anything after midnight before your surgery.
Plan ahead for your recovery after surgery
For several weeks after the procedure, you may need the assistance of crutches or a walker. Make advance arrangements for transportation home from the hospital and help with everyday tasks such as cooking, bathing and doing laundry. If you live alone, your surgeon's staff can suggest a temporary caretaker.
To make your home safer and easier to navigate during recovery, consider making the following improvements:
- Create a total living space on one floor since climbing stairs can be difficult.
- Install safety bars or a secure handrail in your shower or bath.
- Secure handrails along your stairways.
- Obtain a stable chair with a firm seat cushion and back, and a footstool to elevate your leg.
- Arrange for a toilet-seat riser with arms if you have a low toilet.
- Try a stable bench or chair for your shower.
- Remove all loose carpets and cords.
- Martin GM, et al. Total knee arthroplasty. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 4, 2010.
- Total knee replacement. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00389. Accessed March 4, 2010.
- Crockarell JR, et al. Arthroplasty of the knee. In: Canale ST, et al. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/187318357-3/0/1584/34.html?tocnode=55686206&fromURL=34.html. Accessed March 5, 2010.
- Kaplan RJ. Total knee replacement. In: Frontera WR, et al. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/187318357-3/963204237/1678/74.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4007-1..50073-0_1167. Accessed March 4, 2010.
- Billante MJ, et al. Knee replacement in aging athletes. In: DeLee JC, et al. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/187318357-5/963235486/2079/63.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3143-7..00023-3--s1630_3895. Accessed March 5, 2010.
- Martin GM, et al. Complications of total knee arthroplasty. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 4, 2010.
- Anesthesia for hip and knee surgery. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00372. Accessed March 5, 2010.
- Minimally invasive total knee replacement. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00405. Accessed March 5, 2010.
- Joint surgery. American College of Rheumatology. https://www.rheumatology.org/practice/clinical/patients/diseases_and_conditions/jointsurgery.pdf. Accessed March 5, 2010.
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