Knee Arthroplasty

Knee arthroplasty

Damage to cartilage and bone tissue as a result of constant stress, metabolic disorders or inflammation that occur in various diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, etc.) leads to dysfunction of the knee joint, pain and significant deterioration of the quality of life. Endoprosthesis of the knee joint will help a patient to relieve pain and suffering and restore the ability to stand, move and do ordinary things. This is a surgical procedure to remove the damaged tissue and replace the knee joint with a prosthesis. It is recommended when other methods do not work, in particular, medications, physiotherapy or a bandage.

Surgical Procedure

The knee joint can be replaced totally or partially depending on the damage severity. Prosthesis is selected individually for every patient and it completely repeats the shape of a healthy joint. The operation is performed under general anesthesia or with the use of epidural anesthesia, when a patient is conscious but does not feel pain in the lower body.

For total knee endoprosthesis the surgeon performs the following actions:

makes an incision in the knee 15-25 cm long or less to access the knee joint;
shifts the patella to the side and very accurately removes the damaged cartilage and bone tissue from the femur and tibia, as well as from the patella;
selects the components of the prosthesis of the desired configuration and size;
replaces the removed part of the femur with a component of the prosthesis made of a metal alloy;
sets the corresponding metal element of the prosthesis in the form of a flat plateau at the end of the tibia. Inserts a plastic tab made of durable and wear-resistant polyethylene to perform the function of cartilage reducing friction in the joint;
inserts the patella if the damaged cartilage is removed;
checks the mobility of the knee joint and fixes all parts of the prosthesis with bone cement;
sutures the wound.

With partial prosthetics of the knee joint, only the damaged part is replaced while healthy tissues remain intact. Usually the whole procedure lasts about two hours and after the operation a patient needs a rehabilitation period. During rehabilitation a patient has to crutch in order to avoid straining the joint, and takes medications prescribed by a doctor. In 2-4 weeks the patient can walk with a cane, and in 4-6 weeks will be able to do well without it. The full recovery period takes about 6 months.

Preparation for knee replacement surgery

As with any other operation the patient should be properly prepared for knee replacement surgery. Usually preparation begins a month before the scheduled surgery and provides the following examinations:

blood count, blood and urine biochemistry;
coagulogram;

chest X-ray or fluorography;
ECG - for elderly patients;

consultation of medical specialists if a patient has disorders and chronic diseases

Anesthesiologist assesses potential risks based on the examination findings and opinions of a GP and medical specialists. Decompensated diabetes mellitus or complicated forms of hypertension that cannot be corrected by medication may be contraindications to surgery. Only a doctor allows surgery and stabilizes the patient’s condition before it. For example, people suffering from hypertension are prescribed antihypertensive therapy to minimize possible pressure spikings. If you are taking any medications, please, inform your surgeon, as some medications can increase bleeding. Under medical supervision these medications should be discontinued for a while. Examination findings help to select the appropriate method of anesthesia, which the doctor discuses with the patient.

Knee replacement in Ukraine: the price of the operation

The price of knee arthroplasty in different clinics in Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine can differ significantly. In any case, please, mind that such a complex and responsible operation will not be cheap. The cost of a knee replacement depends on many factors, including:

experience and qualification of doctors and medical staff - payment for the services of more qualified specialists is always more higher;

comfort of the hospital and the provided care;
length of stay in the hospital;

price of a knee prosthesis, which depends on the materials used and their quantity (with partial replacement of the joint, the prosthesis will be cheaper than with total endoprosthesis).

If you need a knee replacement in Kyiv and Ukraine at an affordable price, don’t hesitate to contact the Medical Center for Children and Adults on Sofia, a branch of the Dobrobut MN, the health facility of the highest accreditation category! Our competitive advantages include:

high level of qualification and professionalism of the Center's medical specialists;
state-of-the-art equipment with modern high-precision medical devices from the world's best manufacturers;