Mrs. Phuoc, 68 years old, has degenerative knee joint, deformity, crooked axis, bone spurs, cannot walk, must have artificial joint replacement.
Mrs. Phuoc, from Long An, fell and dislocated her knee more than 10 years ago but did not receive proper treatment. Her left leg became increasingly bent, making it impossible for her to swing her leg over when getting on a motorbike.
On September 5, Master, Doctor, Doctor Nguyen Van Luu, Orthopedic Trauma Center, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that the knee joints in both legs of the patient were severely damaged. In particular, the left knee joint was completely deformed, subluxated, the ligaments were severely damaged, many bone spurs appeared and the axis was bent up to 36 degrees. The right knee joint was also in the final stage of degeneration but the damage was less severe, with an axis bent at 13 degrees.
“Artificial knee replacement is the only method to help the patient restore the ability to walk,” said Dr. Luu, adding that the left leg needed surgery first.
Doctor Luu prepares before replacing Mrs. Phuoc’s knee. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital
Mrs. Phuoc’s joint replacement surgery faced difficulties because the ligaments were completely damaged and lost their function. After analyzing on TraumaCad software specialized in joint replacement, the doctor chose a hinged knee joint to replace the patient. This is a type of artificial knee joint with a special design, which can replace the function of the ligaments, compensating for the instability of the internal and external ligaments. After surgery, the patient can bend and extend her legs easily and walk normally. During the surgery, the left leg was straightened according to its natural anatomy.
On the fourth day after surgery, the patient was able to walk with a frame, flex and extend her knee, the pain was significantly reduced, and her left leg was clearly straight. The patient was discharged the next day. After surgery, the patient practiced rehabilitation. Due to the prolonged osteoarthritis, the tendons and muscles in her heel and calf were quite contracted, requiring about 2-4 weeks of flexion, extension, and stretching exercises.
The patient will undergo right joint replacement surgery after the left leg has recovered well. The surgery aims to realign the limb axis and balance the length of the two legs, helping the patient to relieve pain, restore maximum walking ability, and improve quality of life.
Doctor Luu checks the patient’s knee condition before discharge. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital
Doctor Luu recommends that patients with early warning signs of osteoarthritis such as knee pain and swelling, limited mobility… should see a doctor early to better control the disease and prolong the life of the natural joint.