Knee Replacement Surgery: cost, duration and step by step

• Knee arthroplasty is the total replacement of the joint with an artificial prosthesis.
• The main reason for knee arthroplasty is wear of the joint, due to osteoarthritis or any other degenerative disease.
• The duration of knee arthroplasty depends on several factors, such as the severity of the degeneration or the physical condition of the patient, among others.

Knee replacement surgery is one of the most common surgeries in Spain today. Around 50,000 knee replacement interventions are performed each year.

The main reason why this surgery is carried out is to improve the quality of life, as excellent results are achieved after the procedure.

Usually, patients who undergo knee replacement surgery are people who suffer from osteoarthritis in the joint, deformity and/or mobility problems that prevent them from leading a normal life. One of the most annoying symptoms of the disease is not being able to sleep, even going as far as sleeplessness, due to pain and discomfort.

In these cases, total knee arthroplasty becomes the best option to relieve pain and restore mobility.

Below, you will find all the information about knee replacement surgery, the steps that are followed to perform the procedure and all the elements that are included in the price with Operarme.

Before going ahead with a knee replacement, it is essential to have the surgical approval of the specialist. Therefore, once it has been verified after a preoperative examination that you do not present any risk for the intervention, you will be scheduled for surgery:

• First, after the anaesthesia has taken effect and the area to be operated on has been disinfected, the specialist will make a 20-25 cm incision.
• Next, the patella is set aside and the worn ends of the tibia and femur are sectioned.
• The components are then fixed (this may or may not be done with bone cement):
• Insert: a polyethylene piece that goes in between the other two components, whose function is to stabilise the joint.
• Femoral component: placed in the distal part of the femur.
• Tibial tray: to stabilise the knee prosthesis.

• Once in place, the specialist will check that the knee ligaments, muscles and tendons have not been affected during the procedure.
• Finally, the incision is sutured.

The success rate of knee replacement surgery is very high.

After arthroplasty, patients who have undergone surgery usually recover their mobility and no longer have pain or discomfort in the knee, typical of the condition.

Once the surgery is completed, you will need to stay in hospital for 4 to 5 days until you have recovered from the surgery, are pain-free and are able to get out of bed to walk (with crutches).

However, walking and light activity are important for the recovery process, thus the best medical recommendation for this case is to start recovery as soon as possible. You should start walking on the same day of the intervention or the following day of the procedure which will positively influence in the recovery of muscular tone and also in the adherence of the prosthesis.

Approximately 3 - 4 months after knee surgery, you will be fully recovered and can resume your daily routine.

It is important to pay special attention to the recovery phase so that the results are more noticeable. Once you are discharged from hospital, the medical team will give you an exercise plan so that you can start your recovery from the comfort of your own home, or they will recommend rehabilitation sessions.

The duration of knee replacement surgery, i.e. the time you will spend in the operating theatre, may vary depending on different factors such as your state of health or even the surgeon's experience in this type of surgery.

Knee replacement surgery lasts between 1 and 2 hours, approximately.

Although it is not possible to determine exactly how long it takes to perform a knee arthroplasty, it is important to know that there are factors that influence whether the duration is longer or shorter:

• Patient’s physical conditions: weight, height, bone quality, and related pathologies that may influence the need of a longer or shorter time in the O.R.
• Surgeon’s experience: although this is the least important variable in the duration of knee surgery, it is true that some specialists are able to perform the surgery in less time.

However, the speed in which the surgery is performed is not associated with the quality of the outcome of the surgical intervention. The skill is the same for any self-respecting trauma specialist.

• Joint deformity: the state in which osteoarthritis has affected the bone tissue of the knee has a lot to do with the time it will take in the operating room to perform the knee replacement.

The severity or advanced nature of the disease will require more or less time to replace the joint with a prosthesis.

The cost of a Total Knee Replacement Surgery is 10.990 €. In this fixed price, you will find included all the services needed to perform the intervention in the safest way possible.

The cost of this surgery takes into account all the services and elements required to perform the surgery:

• Book and use of the operation room.
• Private hospital room with a spare bed for a companion, with food and clothing included (these two only for the patient).
• Complete preoperative tests (blood analysis, electrocardiogram and chest-X rays).
• Post-surgery visits. 
• Surgeon, assistant and anaesthetist fees until your medical discharge.
• Instruments, equipment,consumables and medication of the surgical procedure.
• Knee prosthesis included (from providers leaders in orthopaedic equipment).
• Stay in the postoperative recovery room, monitorization and necessary treatments. Pathological anatomy, haemotherapy-blood transfusions, osteosynthesis prosthetic material

In addition, Operarme, as a company specialising in the management of surgical processes, includes in the cost a series of services for the safe completion of the procedure:

• Surgical assessment consultation: this is focused on the specialist confirming that surgery is the best option to treat your knee situation.
• Free transfer service: you will not have to worry about the transfer from home to the hospital, or from the hospital to home. A taxi will take you to the hospital on the day of admission and return you home on the day of discharge at no extra cost in addition to the price indicated (read the conditions of the service here).
• Medical complications insurance: this insurance covers all eventualities that may arise during the surgery and up to 30 days after the knee arthroplasty.

If you have a confirmed diagnosis for osteoarthritis of the knee and your doctor has recommended surgery, we remind you that Operarme offers you a first consultation with the specialist free of charge.

Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, or make your first appointment with our specialists by clicking here.

• Andreu, O. M. (2002, 1 octubre). Artroplastia total de rodilla | Revista Española de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología. https://www.elsevier.es/es. https://www.elsevier.es/es-revista-revista-espanola-cirugia-ortopedica-traumatologia-129-articulo-artroplastia-total-rodilla-13038057