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Knee surgery must be indicated by the orthopedist and is usually done when the person has pain, difficulty in moving the joint or deformities in the knee that cannot be corrected with conventional treatment.
Thus, according to the type of alteration presented by the person, the orthopedist can indicate the most appropriate type of surgery, which may be arthroscopy, arthroplasty or correction of the leg axis, for example.
When is indicated
Knee surgery is indicated when knee pain is severe, movement is limited, there are deformations or when the change in the knee is chronic, it does not improve over time or there is no response to the treatment previously recommended. Thus, the main indications for knee surgery are:
- Osteoarthrosis, which is characterized by friction between the bones due to cartilage wear, which makes the knee stiffer and there is pain, which is more common in people over 50, although it can also happen in younger people ;
- Rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease that affects the joints, including the knee joint, resulting in pain, joint swelling, stiffness and difficulty in moving the joint;
- Fractures, which are usually associated with sports, but can also happen due to accidents or falls, for example;
- Knee ligament rupture, which happens due to a sudden sudden effort, which ends up destabilizing the joint and results in a lot of pain, being important that the treatment is established quickly,
- Meniscus injury, which can occur due to physical activity or even by degeneration of this structure;
- Knee instability, where the knee "moves" out of place.
Before performing the surgery, the orthopedist usually evaluates the person's medical history and indicates the performance of a series of tests to determine which is the best surgical procedure according to the cause of the knee change. Thus, physical examination, radiography, blood tests and magnetic resonance are performed, which allows the doctor to assess the conditions of the bone and surrounding tissues.
Main types of knee surgery
There are different types of knee surgery that vary according to the purpose of the treatment, and can be performed to replace the joint or repair any changes seen in the exams. Some of the main types of knee surgery are:
1. Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a type of knee surgery in which the doctor uses a thin tube, with a camera at its end, to assess the structures inside the joint and correct the changes identified.
In this type of surgery, two holes are made in front of the knee for the tube to be inserted and usually corresponds to a quick procedure and whose recovery is also fast. See what recovery after arthroscopy is like.
2. Arthroplasty
Arthroplasty corresponds to partial or total knee replacement and is the last line of treatment for knee changes. It is usually indicated when other treatments recommended by the orthopedist did not improve the person's quality of life.
3. Resection surgery
In this case, the surgical procedure aims to remove a damaged part of the bone, tendon, cartilage or ligament.
How recovery should be
After knee surgery, it is important that the person follows the orthopedist's guidelines, as it is thus possible to speed up recovery and prevent the development of complications. After surgery, it is normal for the person to feel pain and, for this, the use of analgesics that may help to relieve this symptom is indicated by the orthopedist.
In addition, the use of medications to thin the blood and thus prevent the appearance of clots may also be recommended, as well as indicating that the person performs movements with the foot and ankle immediately after the procedure to promote local blood flow. and also to prevent clots and swelling. Compression stockings may also be indicated in some cases.
It is also common for a person to undergo physical therapy sessions to stimulate knee movement, avoiding stiffness and promoting improvement. The number of sessions varies according to the type of surgery that was performed and usually starts at the hospital.
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