What is a total knee replacement (TKP)
A Total Knee Replacement (TKP), or “newknee”as it is also called, is a joint replacement surgery. The old, worn-out joint is replaced with a new artificial joint made of metal and plastic. This knee surgery is done when your own knee joint is so worn out that no other solutions are possible.
Steps of knee surgery
Local anesthesia and the components of knee surgery
This knee surgery is almost always done under local anesthesia these days. During this knee surgery, the worn surface of the knee joint is removed. Next, a metal platform is placed on the tibia (shin bone). On top of this comes a hard plastic part. A metal cap is placed on the end of the femur (upper leg), usually it is no longer cemented. If necessary, a kneecap prosthesis is also placed during knee surgery. This is not a completely new kneecap but a plastic “cap” that comes against the back of the kneecap.
In patients who only have severe wear on the inside or outside of the knee, another knee surgery may be done; the half artificial knee.
Placement of a drain
At the end of knee surgery, a drain is placed to drain blood and wound fluid. Then the wound is closed with staples.
Rehabilitation after knee surgery
After such knee surgery, the patient usually stays in the hospital for 3 or 4 days. Physical therapy is already started during this stay.
After discharge from the hospital, the rehabilitation period begins. It is very important to exercise with a physical therapist after the placement of a knee replacement. This is because there is a chance, after this knee surgery, that the knee will become stiff. Of course, it is important that the new knee bends and stretches properly to be able to resume activities that were no longer possible before the knee surgery.
This knee surgery is done about 18,000 times a year in the Netherlands. The result is very good, after 10 years after knee surgery 90% of the patients still have a functioning knee prosthesis.
