Total Knee Replacement

What kind of outcome is typical for total knee replacement surgery?

A total knee replacement should alleviate pain and increase your mobility, improving your lifestyle. Implants can last for 20 years or more.

What are the risks of not having total knee replacement surgery?

If you need total knee replacement surgery and elect not to have it, pain from the damaged knee could continue to decrease your movement, affecting your ability to move and exercise. That will impact your overall health, making your knee problem worse. And the longer you wait the more your knee joint will deteriorate.

What are the alternatives to total knee replacement surgery?

Before deciding on a surgical solution to your knee problems, you might want to consider the alternatives. They include trying to lose weight to lessen the stress on your knees, low-impact exercise, careful use of pain medication including cortisone shots, and cartilage regeneration, which replaces the cushion between your bone endings. Radiofrequency ablation is another option. This minimally invasive procedure involves using an electric current from a radio wave to heat up a small area of nerve tissue to stop it from sending pain signals.

全身麻醉可能有哪些副作用？

一些可能的副作用包括噁心和嘔吐、口乾、喉嚨痛、肌肉酸痛、頭痛、瘀傷（來自靜脈注射）、搔癢、發抖和感覺寒冷、排尿困難和嗜睡。老年患者可能會出現記憶喪失和暫時性混亂。

What are possible side effects and complications of total knee replacement surgery?

While they’re rare, some of the possible complications of this procedure include infection at the site of the incision, a slow-healing wound and continued bleeding, blood clots, longer-lasting knee stiffness caused by scar tissue, persistent knee pain, an allergic reaction to the metal components in the knee joint, and failure of an implant.

How safe is total knee replacement surgery?

In general, severe complications from total knee replacement surgery are rare. You should also know that Hancock Regional Hospital has been rated one of the safest hospitals in America by 蛙跳集團，一個全國性非營利醫療保健監督組織；並被評為印第安納州最安全的醫院 勞恩研究所醫院指數。

How do I know total knee replacement surgery is right for me?

You might be a good candidate for total knee replacement surgery if you’ve tried alternatives and nothing’s working to resolve your pain or lack of mobility. Alternatives include exercise and weight loss, and medication, including cortisone shots.

Do I have options for anesthesia for total knee replacement surgery?

General anesthesia is most common for this procedure. But regional anesthetics—spinal, epidural, or regional—are also possibilities.

What issue does total knee replacement surgery solve?

If you suffer from extreme knee pain and have trouble walking and climbing stairs, you might be a good candidate for total knee replacement surgery. This procedure often relieves pain and restores function for people who suffer from osteoarthritis. 

How is a total knee replacement done?

When you have total knee replacement surgery, a surgeon makes a 6 to 10-inch incision in your knee and cuts away your damaged or worn bone and cartilage. Then the ends of the bones that form your knee joint are capped with an artificial joint, made of metal and plastic. Before the incision is closed, your knee will be rotated to make sure the implant is functioning properly. 

What happens if my symptoms get worse while I wait for total knee replacement surgery?

Your surgical team will evaluate the situation and help you make a choice that’s right for you and your health. Temporary treatments might be used if your surgery is rescheduled.

Why might I have to wait to schedule total knee replacement surgery?

In some cases it takes time for a patient’s body to be ready for surgery—for example, if you have another medical issue including another surgical procedure or an illness, we might wait to schedule surgery. Your health and safety are our top priorities, so we schedule surgeries when they’re best for our patients.

手術團隊會知道我的健康史嗎？

您的健康史將在手術前、手術期間和手術後收集並提供給團隊。如果您是 Hancock Health 患者，我們將能夠在我們的系統中存取您的記錄。如果您不這樣做，我們將與您的醫生合作以獲取必要的資訊。

我該如何決定遵循哪位外科醫師的建議？

您應該與您感覺舒服的外科醫生一起工作，無論他是否是我們的外科醫生之一。

Do I have to get a second or third opinion for total knee replacement surgery?

您隨時可以獲得第二或第三意見，但這不是必需的。

What should I bring to my first appointment with a surgeon?

• 保險資訊  
• 來自您的初級保健醫生的醫療記錄，包括您的病史
• The most recent MRI image of your knee (Not sure where to go to get an MRI? Check out 蓋特威漢考克健康，您可以快速進出，平均比在醫院少支付 70%。）

Do I need a referral to see a surgeon about total knee replacement surgery?

Your health insurance provider may require you to get a referral from your primary care provider to see a surgeon about total knee replacement surgery.

麻醉藥效需要多久才能消失？

It takes about an hour for general anesthesia to wear off, but you may notice the effects for a day or so. It usually takes 30 minutes to an hour for local anesthesia to wear off, though the effects can last a few hours.

What do I need to bring to the hospital the day of my total knee replacement surgery?

Anything you’ll need for an overnight stay, including a change of underwear, a sweatshirt, glasses or contacts, headphones, and your medications. You might not be there overnight, but it’s a good idea to be prepared.

為什麼每次取藥時都會詢問我的姓名和出生日期？

這是一項安全預防措施，可確保您收到為您開立的藥物。

為什麼我的手術團隊裡有這麼多人？

除了外科醫生之外，您還有麻醉師、護士（其中一些專門負責與患者合作，其他人協助外科醫生）以及支援人員，他們負責為您辦理入住和退房手續、編制您的記錄等。他們一起工作，完成各自的工作，因此整個過程盡可能成功。 

Will I need someone to take me home after total knee replacement surgery?

For your safety and the safety of other motorists, you willneed someone to drive you home. If you don’t have a ride, we’ll help you arrange one.

What should I expect right before total knee replacement surgery?

• 您將在手術前幾個小時到達並被護送到術前等候區。
• 您將脫掉所有衣服和珠寶，並穿上病號服。 （您的貴重物品將被放置在安全區域或可能交給家庭成員。） 
• 您將簽署所有必要的文件，術前護理師將測量您的生命徵象、檢查您的藥物並回答任何問題。
• 您將會見到手術團隊的成員。他們將在您的身體上標記您的手術位置。 
• IV（靜脈注射管）將放置在您的手或手臂上，以便進行藥物治療（包括全身麻醉）。如果您使用不同類型的麻醉劑，您將接受注射。
• 當您進行手術時，您將被擔架推入手術室。

手術前為什麼不能吃東西？

有誤吸風險，這意味著將食物或唾液等異物吸入肺部。發生這種情況是因為手術麻醉劑會損害您的身體阻止胃內容物進入肺部的能力。 

How should I prepare for this total knee replacement surgery?

You’ll probably be instructed not to eat anything after midnight on the day of your surgery, and you might also be told to stop taking certain medications or dietary supplements.

How long will I be in the hospital after total knee replacement surgery?

While the length of a hospital stay depends on each patient’s individual needs, many people can go home that same day. 

How long will I be under for a total knee replacement?

在整個手術過程中以及手術後幾分鐘，您將被麻醉。

How long will the total knee replacement procedure take?

Total knee replacement surgery typically takes one to three hours.

我的家人甚麼時候會知道我的狀況？

Our associates will get information from the surgical team in the operating room during your surgery and keep them updated. Following the procedure, your surgeon will talk with them in person.

What will happen during total knee replacement surgery?

You’ll breathe oxygen through a mask and our team will track your vital signs as the surgery is performed. Your knee will be in a bent position, exposing the knee joint. That position gives the surgeon the best possible angle for the procedure.

Will I need to fill any prescriptions or take medication after total knee replacement surgery?

You may be prescribed pain medication, anticoagulants, or other symptom-reducing medications.

How soon after total knee replacement surgery can I eat or drink?

您可能無法立即進食或飲水，並且可能會要求您在一到三天內遵循清流質飲食。之後，您可以恢復固體食物，但建議使用易消化的食物，包括湯、布丁和優格。

Will I receive pain medication right after total knee replacement surgery?

在大多數情況下，患者在手術後立即接受止痛藥。 

How soon after total knee replacement surgery will I be up and moving around?

Within 24 hours of the procedure, you’ll likely be asked to stand up and walk with the help of medical staff and a walker or crutches. The reason: Bearing weight on your new knee will help in the recovery process.

手術後我什麼時候可以和我的外科醫生交談？

手術後，當您在復健室時，您可以立即與您的外科醫生交談。

How will I know if total knee replacement surgery worked?

Your surgeon will discuss your procedure with you. It can take up to three months for people who have knee replacement surgeries to return to most of their normal activities and as much as a year to fully recover.

What can I expect right after total knee replacement surgery?

You’ll wake up from surgery in the recovery room and, as you start to regain feeling in your body, you’ll receive pain medication. After leaving the recovery room, you’ll be taken to your hospital room where you will be able to see friends or family who came with you. 

What are payment options like for total knee replacement surgery at Hancock Health?

Hancock Health 致力於幫助所有患者提供負擔得起的優質護理。要了解有關付款方式的更多信息，請訪問 HancockRegionalHospital.org 上的計費和保險常見問題解答頁面。

Will Medicare cover total knee replacement surgery?

Medicare parts A and B will cover the cost of knee replacement surgery, but it’s important for your doctor to indicate that the surgery is medically necessary.

Will insurance cover total knee replacement surgery?

In most cases, insurance will cover most of the costs associated with total knee replacement surgery. To obtain your possible out-of-pocket expenses, use our 價格估算工具。

How much does total knee replacement surgery cost?

諮詢 價格透明度工具 at HancockRegionalHospital.org for an idea of how much total knee replacement surgery might cost.