Conventional Or Kinematic Knee Replacement: Which Is Better For A Smooth Recovery?

Knee replacement is cost-effective in improving health-related quality of life. A high-performance total knee replacement is widely popular because of its continued technological improvements, painless and faster recovery.

Being an active participant in the healing process can help you get back to a healthy life sooner and ensure a more successful outcome. Here we are discussing two different methods of knee replacement and its recovery process.

Conventional Knee Replacement

The conventional knee replacement is often painful and time-consuming. Rehabilitation typically begins immediately after the surgery. A patient will have to stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 days or longer if needed. Patients who require extra attention or do not have home support may be transferred from the hospital to a rehabilitation center for better care and assistance. How ever, every effort is made to help the patient return to their home environment with additional support.

Physical Therapy 

Your caregiver will suggest physical therapy after being discharged and will usually begin within one or two weeks of surgery. A physical therapist will teach the patient:

Knee Strengthening Exercises

• Exercises to encourage a range of motion and reduce scar tissue
• How to use assistive walking devices, such as a walker and cane 

Most patients can care for themselves. You can resume regular routines within 6 weeks and drive within 5 to 8 weeks. It will take almost an entire year to fully recover and realize the total benefits of knee replacement surgery.

Kinematic Knee Replacement 

Unlike the traditional knee replacement surgery, kinematic knee replacement takes only minimal time for healing with no pain. This method aims to place the implant in line with the natural bending axis of the thigh, leg, and knee cap bones. 

Benefits

Compared to the conventional technique, kinematic knee replacement helps the patients to start walking in 24 hours independently without support. They do not need to depend on higher pain killers as they quickly recover from surgery. Thus this procedure is safer than conventional knee replacement methods.

 This surgery helps to achieve optimum functionality of the knee as early as 2 weeks. Within two weeks, the patient can achieve more than 120 degrees of knee bending. This method preserves more of the patient's own bone and ligaments, which allows for better implant fit and alignment.

 A kinematic knee replacement surgery provides better flexion to allow for more natural kneeling. This process eventually provides a quicker return to normal living activities such as walking, biking, and gardening and almost all the daily activities of life.

The kinematic knee replacement procedure is introduced and performed by the orthopedic surgeon At Rathimed Speciality Hospital, Anna Nagar, for the first time in India. Here, the surgical procedure is expertly planned and specific to the patient. Modern instruments are used to make bony cuts that restore the knee to its pre-arthritic alignment.

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Blog Reviewed By: Dr.N.Ragunanthan
Mail Us: rathimedhospital@gmail.com
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How Is Kinematic Knee Replacement Different From A Conventional Knee Replacement?

The conventional technique of knee replacement has been yielding positive clinical outcomes since 1968. But still, some complications persist despite better surgical precision and improved implant quality.  To avoid such complications, the technique of kinematic alignment was introduced in knee replacement surgery. The development in surgical technology has facilitated in implementing kinematic alignment for total knee replacement.  

The first, kinematically aligned total knee replacement surgery was performed by Dr. Howell in 2006. In India, Kinematic alignment in knee replacement is first introduced by Rathimed Hospital, Chennai and was performed by renowned Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. Ragunanthan. 

With the kinematic knee replacement procedure, a damaged knee is replaced with an artificial knee in natural alignment. The main goal is to position the implant at the joint line of the knee and  align the knee naturally. Due to the natural positioning, the patient may feel like normal knee. Patients who underwent kinematic knee replacement have experienced drastic relief from knee pain and more satisfied. The technique is fast, less painful and one can return to normal activities within no time.

Let's see what makes it different from conventional or traditional knee replacement

In kinematic knee replacement surgery, the shape of the implant complements the amount of damage happened to the knee. In this technique, ligament (a membranous fold which supports and keeps an organ in a position) is spared and it is not released to correct the distortion. But, in the conventional knee replacement procedure, this important ligament is often released to correct the deformity. 

Many people after a kinematic knee replacement have experienced quick recovery and great comfortability when compared to traditional methods. Around 20 to 25 percent of people with conventional knee replacement procedure has complained of pain, stiffness, and instability

Kinematic knee replacement is a minimally invasive procedure with a low risk of infection and very less risk of complications when compared to the conventional methods of knee replacement. 

There are many advantages associated with kinematic knee replacement surgery. Some of them are:

• It preserves more of a patient's bone and ligaments.
• It improves the implant fit and alignment.
• Less pain.
• Quicker return to normal activities after the surgery.
• Better flexibility and a greater range of motion.

Kinematic knee replacement is a specialized procedure and special training is required to perform the procedure and Dr. Ragunanthan is the first Orthopedic Surgeon in India who mastered kinematic alignment for knee replacement.

Book an appointment with him now.

Visit Us: rathimedhospital.com

Blog reviewed by: Dr.N.Ragunanthan

Mail Us: rathimedhospital@gmail.com

Book an appointment: rathimedhospital.com/book-appointment.html