Surgery, what’s being done?

The decision to have surgery depends mainly on the pain and the patient’s desire. Under general anesthesia, parts of the knee joint or the entire knee joint are removed and replaced by a prosthesis. The surgeon first pushes the healthy muscles and ligaments aside.

It may be that the surgeon does not decide which type of prosthesis is most suitable until he or she has been able to see the surgical area. The type of prosthesis depends on which parts of the knee joint are worn out and whether there are still healthy parts that can be preserved. It is also important whether the ligaments surrounding the knee are still intact and can secure the joint or whether an axis-guided prosthesis with more stability must be installed.

In a total knee endoprosthesis (knee TEP), the joint surfaces of the upper and lower leg are each replaced by a metal alloy, with a sliding bearing between them, which is usually made of polyethylene. In addition, there is the possibility of a so-called sled prosthesis, in which only a part of a joint surface of the upper or lower leg is replaced, for example, if only this part is affected by the arthrosis. The joint between the patella and the thigh can also be replaced if necessary.

OP Duration

The operation of a knee joint endoprosthesis is a routine operation and usually takes between 1.5 and 2 hours. The patient then spends one to three hours in the recovery room and is usually transferred to a normal ward. Since the operation is performed under general anesthesia and requires a subsequent stay in the hospital, the patient usually either has to spend the night before at the hospital or has to go there on an empty stomach in the morning. Comprehensive information on the topic of knee joint endoprostheses can be found in this article: Knee TEP

How long is the hospital stay after surgery?

The hospital stay after the surgery is usually between 5 days and one week. Since an outpatient or inpatient rehabilitation measure is usually to be started after this time, the patient must fulfill certain conditions in order to be discharged from the hospital. For example should:

Wound healing goes smoothly
It should be possible to bend the knee joint to at least 90°.
The patient should be as mobile as possible on forearm crutches