How do I know if I am eligible for a Knee Replacement?

The orthopedist will determine if you are a candidate to benefit from Knee Replacement treatment. However, you may be eligible if you are in any of these situations:

• You have a serious knee condition due to fractures, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid or post-traumatic arthritis, or osteonecrosis.
• Non-surgical treatments such as rest, medications, weight loss and physical therapy, properly performed, have not been effective in your case.
• You experience knee pain at rest and it even wakes you up at night while you are sleeping.
• You have chronic knee pain when moving, stiffness, and difficulty performing activities such as sitting, climbing stairs, bending, or walking for a period of time, so you have had to use assistive devices such as a crutch, cane, walker, or wheelchair to commute.
• Your knee is deformed or swollen and you cannot reduce it over time with medications or other surgeries.

What does a Knee Replacement treatment entail? Reemplazo de Rodilla?

Knee Replacement or Knee Arthroplasty is a surgical intervention that restores the knee joint, in which an orthopedic surgeon replaces the damaged cartilage of the joint with artificial parts. There are several types of knee replacement, partial and total depending on the damage to the joint, and there are also arthroscopic intervention alternatives, so the evaluation of the orthopedic surgeon is very important to choose the appropriate procedure in each case.

Benefits of Knee Replacement

Treatment generally manages to relieve pain and resume daily activities by recovering mobility and function of the knee in a short period. All of this improves the person's social reintegration and quality of life.

What is the treatment process like?

Before the procedure, you may need to undergo studies and prepare for surgery as you will need a companion.

An orthopedic surgeon evaluates the type of prosthesis you need based on your age, build, knee shape, level of physical activity, and overall health.

Before surgery you will receive general or spinal anesthesia. The surgical procedure consists of removing damaged bone tissue and cartilage from the bones of the femur, shin and kneecap and replacing them with artificial parts or prostheses, made of metal, plastic and special polymer components, resembling the original joint.

This process lasts between 1 and 2 hours and a few hours of evolution are expected before the person can go home. Rehabilitation should begin as soon as possible to recover function approximately 3 months after the operation, and strength 6 months and 1 year later.

Recommendations of Medical Boulevard para que tenga éxito en su viaje de turismo médico para un tratamiento de Reemplazo de Rodilla.

• Consult your doctor to find out if you are a candidate or eligible for a partial or total knee replacement. Ask the doctor for information about possible complications that this treatment may have in your case and how to deal with them.
• Follow the instructions of medical personnel throughout the entire process, including recovery and not exposing yourself to unnecessary risks. 
• Contact the medical team immediately if you have any problems with the procedure performed.
• Incorporate dietary habits and adequate physical activity to achieve long-term results.
• Consider your medical tourism trip as an ideal time to commit to improving your lifestyle and making lasting positive change for your health.