Total Knee Arthroplasty

TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY

Total Knee Arthroplasty is performed when cartilage is damaged or diseased by arthritis and joints become painful and stiff. The goal of the procedure is to relieve pain in the joint caused by arthritis.

You will be asked to arrive at Randolph Hospital a few hours prior to the time of surgery. Following the procedure you will remain in the hospital for 4-5 days. Dr. Osteen will encourage you to use your "new" joint shortly after the operation. You will stand and begin walking the day after surgery. You will initially be instructed on the use of the walker by the physical therapist. The use of a continuous motion machine to bend the knee will start the day of surgery. This will be continued in the hospital and the goal will be 90 degrees of flexion. This will also be continued in the home in some cases.

Pain control in the hospital is often done with an epidural anesthetic which will remain for the first 2 post-operative days. You will then change to oral medication. Refer to the handout given in the office for directions on taking this medication.

Exercise is an important part of the recovery process. Motion of the joint will improve after surgery. The extent of the improvement depends on how stiff the joint was prior to surgery. We will have you use a walker for 6 weeks after surgery, partial weight bearing. Exercises to maintain and increase motion will continue at home. A follow-up visit will be scheduled 3 weeks after surgery for removal of staples and an x-ray.

You will remain on the blood thinner, Coumadin, for 4 weeks after surgery. Refer to the handout given in the office about taking this medication. Once a week a home health nurse will come to your house to draw a blood test to determine the level of Coumadin. The results will be sent to the office and we will contact you with any changes that need to be made in the dosage.

A low grade temperature elevation is common after surgery. If this does not exceed 101.5 degrees it is rarely significant. If the temperature does exceed this please notify my office.

Showering is recommended after surgery with assistance. Dry the area around the staples thoroughly. No wound care is needed. A clear yellow drainage is not unusual for the first 2-3 weeks and if this occurs a light dressing should be applied. There may also be redness around the staples after the first 10 days and this will resolve when the staples are removed. Purulent drainage or excessive redness should be reported in the office.