Knee replacement surgery is one of the most effective operations in orthopedics. More than 600,000 knee-replacement surgeries are performed annually in the United States. The goal of this procedure is to reduce pain from arthritis. Knee replacement surgery involves replacing the joint surfaces where the cartilage has been damaged, with metal and plastic components.

Traditionally, knee replacement surgery is a major surgical procedure that involves a two-to-five night hospital stay.

Recent surgical innovations, such as minimally invasive techniques and computer navigation, allow surgeons to perform knee replacement through smaller incisions with less tissue damage, which means less pain after surgery and a quicker recovery. Pain can also be managed with the help of new anesthetic agents that can be placed within the knee at the time of surgery. These advances have drastically reduced the number of days patients stay in the hospital, sometimes eliminating the need for a hospital stay altogether.

We have developed a process to help predict if a patient’s overall health and specific knee condition is suitable for outpatient knee replacement. These patients then are placed in a rapid rehabilitation program, which involves seeing a physical therapist prior to surgery. We have found that a patient’s overall experience is better when the patient and the family members are informed and prepared for the return home after surgery.

The potential benefits to outpatient knee replacement surgery include fewer complications, improved outcomes, and better patient satisfaction. Patient safety always comes first and patients must meet strict discharge criteria prior to leaving the hospital. Patients must have stable vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and temperature), have adequate pain control, and be able to ambulate safely prior to leaving the hospital.

Knee replacement study

Doctors with Proliance Surgeons in Bothell will be formally evaluating outcomes following total knee arthroplasty (TKA), utilizing MIS (minimally invasive surgery) computer-assisted techniques in normal risk and high risk patients.

Patients involved in the study will undergo a thorough preoperative teaching program, and have their knee replacement performed by experts in MIS-Navigated techniques, and utilize state-of-the-art knee replacement implants and postoperative pain management methods. They will learn and follow a rapid rehabilitation program. Their evaluations will include details of their pain control, range of motion, return to activities and overall patient satisfaction. The information helps set the stage for safe improvement in knee replacement surgery.

Dr. Robin Fuchs is with Proliance Surgeons of Kirkland. For more information, or to sign up for a patient education seminar, call 425-216-7017 or visit, www.myproortho.com and click register for seminar at the top.