Replace degenerative knee joint after 10 years

Mr. Dat, 70 years old, had knee osteoarthritis for 10 years. The doctor replaced his knee joint to help him move easily and exercise after only 3 months.

MSc.BSc.CKI Le Dinh Khoa, Head of Joint Reconstruction Department, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, diagnosed Mr. Dat with end-stage knee osteoarthritis, the cartilage layer of the knee joint is so worn away that the two ends of the bones are almost stuck together. The doctor prescribed artificial knee replacement with surgical technique without muscle cutting.

Doctors use TraumaCAD software to evaluate the parameters of the natural joint, thereby selecting an artificial joint with size, joint angle… suitable for the patient’s body. Make sure the patient can move and feel their legs naturally after surgery.

With traditional techniques, the doctor must cut a portion of the quadriceps tendon to access the area requiring surgery. The non-muscle surgery technique allows doctors to access the joint, remove damaged components and replace the artificial joint by bypassing the muscles. Thanks to that, the patient maximizes the preservation of the ligament and muscle system around the knee joint, especially the quadriceps muscle – a key muscle group in controlling the ability to walk.

In order for the patient to be able to move soon after surgery, the doctor applies multi-modal pain relief techniques, combining many methods at the same time such as medication, regional anesthesia, physical therapy instructions… Mr. Dat can practice walking on the first day after surgery to help reduce edema, prevent joint stiffness, strengthen muscles and be discharged from the hospital after only 3 days.

After 3 months of follow-up examination, Mr. Dat could walk independently, perform most leg exercises, and his muscle strength recovered well.

Doctor Khoa said that after knee replacement surgery, patients can completely return to sports, but need to consult a doctor to choose appropriate sports. Avoid high-intensity sports such as football, basketball, fast jogging…, prioritize gentle sports such as swimming, cycling, gym… Get checked periodically or as soon as you feel abnormalities in the knee joint.