NUH Knee Replacement Surgery: What to expect

Suffering from knee pain due to knee arthritis and going for a total or partial knee replacement surgery soon? Associate Professor Wilson Wang, Senior Consultant, Division of Adult Reconstruction & Joint Replacement Surgery, National University Hospital (NUH) (Singapore) shares about the two type of knee replacement surgeries, recovery process and time.

Knee replacement is an operation that involves replacing a damaged, worn-out knee with an artificial joint to relieve knee pain from knee arthritis and regain mobility. There are two main types of surgery. Total Knee Replacement is where the whole surface of your knee joint is replaced with an artificial implant while Partial Knee Replacement replaces just one damaged part of your knee joint. Like all types of surgery, it carries certain anaesthetic and surgical risks.

The patient will go through the following journey when he/she goes for the knee replacement surgery:
Before the surgery:
• Patient will undergo a full medical assessment
• Medical team will discuss all the risks and benefits of the surgery with patient

On the day of surgery:
• Doctor does a final assessment of patient
• Anaesthetist will discuss the various anaesthesia options (general or spine anaesthesia) with patient
• Surgery will take 2 to 3 hours
• Patient will be transferred to a ward to recover from the surgery. Calf pumps will be applied on patient's leg to prevent blood clots.
• Pain relief options (e.g. medication or local anaesthetic injection) are available for patients

Recovery:
• Patient will be hospitalised for 2 to 3 days
• Physiotherapist will show patient a series of exercises to improve movement and strength in the knee and how to use the stairs
• Occupational therapist will teach patient the best way to dress, bathe and use the toilet effectively
• Patient will need assistance of walking aids for 4 to 6 weeks.
• Full recovery can take up to 6 months as scar tissue heals and your muscles are strengthened through exercises

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About National University Hospital (NUH) (Singapore):
The NUH is a tertiary hospital and major referral centre for a comprehensive range of medical, surgical and dental specialties. The Hospital also provides organ transplant programmes for adults (in kidney, liver and pancreas) and is the only public hospital in Singapore to offer a paediatric kidney and liver transplant programme.

Staffed by a team of healthcare professionals who rank among the best in the field, NUH offers quality patient care by embracing innovations and advances in medical treatment.

A member of the National University Health System, it is the principal teaching hospital of the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and the NUS Faculty of Dentistry.