"Knee Prothesis"

 

WHAT IS A TOTAL PROTHESIS OF KNEE?

        The substitution prothesis of the articulations has been one of the biggest advances achieved by the orthopedic surgery in this century. The combined effort of engineers and surgeons orthopedas have facilitated the development of the materials and the techniques so that it is possible. The substitution prothesis consists on substituting an injured articulation or artrosic for an articulation artificial denominated prothesis.

WHAT IS AN ARTICULATION?

         An articulation is a special structure of the human body where they finish two or more bones and whose engagement allows the movement. For example, the bone of the lukewarm called leg and that of the thigh denominated femur unites forming the knee. The final part of the bone of an articulation is covered with a flat and glistening material that it calls himself cartilage.

        This material muffles the forces that act on the underlying bone and it allows that the articulation moves easily and without pain. The articulation is included in a capsule recovered in its interior by a fabric flat called sinovial.

        The sinovial produces a lubricant —sinovial liquid—that reduces the friction and the waste of the articulation. Some ligaments that stabilize the articulation also exist. Crossing the articulations is muscles and tendons that favor the movement besides increasing their stability.

WHY A PROTHESIS IS NECESSARY DE KNEE?

         The most frequent reason to place a knee prothesis is to eliminate the pain and the inability caused by a great destruction to articulate. The surfaces of the articulation can be damaged by the artrosis, process that causes the waste of the cartilage to articulate.

         The articulation can also be damaged by the arthritis rheumatoid. In this illness, the membrane sinovial produces some chemical substances that destroy the cartilage to articulate. Due to the pain and the rigidity the patient avoids to use the articulation.

         The muscles that surround it weaken and this contributes to hinder the mobility of the same one. When the destruction to articulate is important, the total prothesis of knee can allow the patient carry out its daily activities again. In the study of the artrosis or arthritis rheumatoidea is to write down the patient's symptoms, to carry out a physical exploration, analysis and Once fact the diagnosis will be considered the possibility to place a prothesis when the doctor-rehabilitative treatment or other surgical alternatives have failed when not being able to eliminate the pain and the inability.  

WHICH IS THE PERIOD OF RECOVERY AFTER A TOTAL PROTHESIS OF KNEE?

         It is variable, depending on the patient. For general rule it is encouraged so that it uses the new articulation soon after of the intervention. It can be placed of foot and to walk to the few days. The Physical therapist instructs the patient in the rehabilitation of the articulation and the use of crutches.

WHAT BENEFITS DOES A TOTAL PROTHESIS OF KNEE REPORT?

        The biggest benefit is the disappearance of the pain. Some patients notice some nuisance in the articulation operated after the intervention. These nuisances are due to the surgery and to that the muscles that surround the articulation are weakened by the inactivity.

        These nuisances can be prolonged during some weeks or months. The muscular force usually recovers when the pain disappears. The mobility of the articulation improves. The recovery degree depends on the rigid thing that it was the articulation before the intervention.

WHICH ARE THE POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS?

        The biggest potential complication in a total prothesis of knee is the infection. It can happen exactly in the area of the wound or in depth around the prothesis. It can happen during the entrance in the hospital or once the patient is in her house, and even years after the intervention.

          The superficial infections of the wound talk to antibiotics. The deep infections require surgical treatment and retreat of the prothesis.

         The infection can take place for dissemination of an infection located in another part of the body. To prevent this type of infections, people to carriers of a total prothesis of knee should take antibiotics before being subjected to dental manipulations, probe urinals or other surgery types. If an infection takes place it should be treated with antibiotics.

         Other complications that are exist directly related with the prothesis.