Hip & Knee Replacement Surgery

Knee replacement is a type of surgery in which a doctor replaces parts of a person's knee joint with manmade parts. The knee joint is made up of the lower part of the thigh bone (called the femur), the knee cap (called the patella), and the top part of the shinbone (called the tibia).

When people have problems with their knee joint, the knee can be painful, swollen, or stiff. It can also have trouble moving normally. Different conditions can cause problems with the knee joint. One of the most common causes is osteoarthritis, a type of arthritis that often comes with age.

Knee replacement is a treatment that can reduce knee pain and improve the way the knee works.

Knee problems might or might not be treated with knee replacement right away. Doctors often suggest trying other treatments first. These can include weight loss, medicines, knee braces, or physical therapy. If these treatments do not help enough, doctors then suggest knee replacement.

One reason doctors suggest trying other treatments first, especially for younger people, is that a replacement knee joint can wear out over time. Knee replacements usually last at least 15 years, and most last longer. The number of years a replacement joint lasts depends on different things, such as how active the person is.

After surgery, most people stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 days. In some cases, the stay might be shorter. While you are in the hospital, you will get:

• Medication to treat your pain
• Antibiotic medicines to prevent infections
• Medicines to prevent blood clots in the legs
• Special boots or stockings to prevent blood clots in the legs
• Physical therapy

Most people are able to stand and walk (with help) within a day after surgery. The physical therapist will teach you exercises to make the muscles in your leg stronger. They will also work with you on bending, walking, and climbing stairs so that you can move normally.

Most people can do their usual activities again within 4 to 6 weeks of knee replacement. Your doctor or nurse will tell you if there are any activities that you should avoid.

Hip replacement is a type of surgery in which a doctor replaces a person's hip joint with a man-made or "prosthetic" hip joint.

The hip joint is a type of joint called a "ball and socket" joint. It's called this because the top of the thigh bone is ball-shaped and fits into part of the pelvic bones. Normally, a person's hip joint can move smoothly in many directions. When people have problems with their hip joint, the hip can be painful and stiff or have trouble moving normally. Different conditions can cause problems with the hip joint, such as:

• Osteoarthritis – This is the most common type of arthritis and often comes with age.
• Other types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis
• Hip problems that people are born with or get during childhood
• Hip injuries

Hip replacement is a treatment that can reduce hip pain and improve the way the hip moves.

Hip joint problems from arthritis can be treated with hip replacement right away. Doctors often suggest trying other treatments first, such as weight loss, medicines, physical therapy, or devices such as canes or walkers. If these treatments do not help enough, then doctors might suggest hip replacement.

One reason doctors suggest trying other treatments first, especially for younger people, is that a replacement hip joint can wear out over time. Hip replacements usually last at least 15 years, and most last longer. The number of years a replacement joint lasts depends on different things, such as how active the person is.

After surgery, most people stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 days. While you are in the hospital, you will get:

• Medications to treat pain
• Antibiotic medicines to prevent infections
• Medicines to prevent blood clots in the legs
• Special boots or stockings to prevent blood clots in the legs
• Physical therapy

Most people are able to stand and walk (with help) within 1 day after surgery. The physical therapist will teach you exercises to make the muscles around your hip stronger. They will work with you on bending, walking, and climbing stairs so that you can move normally.

Most people can do their usual activities again within 3 to 6 months. Your doctor or nurse will tell you if there are any activities that you should avoid.