Recovery after total knee replacement surgery. Hospital stay

One of the main fears most people have when undergoing knee replacement surgery is the recovery time after surgery. Immediately after the operation and still in the hospital, the patient will be in an intensive care unit for approximately 3 hours until vital signs are normalised and the patient recovers from the effects of the anaesthetic.

Right after, the patient will be taken to his or her room, where he or she will stay for an average of 5 days, depending on the individual case. During the hospital stay, the patient will learn a series of care procedures and will be taught what to do to speed up recovery as much as possible, as well as how to take care of the wound and the new prosthesis.

After surgery and once in their room after leaving the resuscitation room, work will be carried out on a series of fronts to avoid post-operative complications and prepare the patient to leave the hospital and return home.

Learning to manage pain

After total knee replacement surgery, the patient will feel some pain in the joint, so the nursing team will give the patient medication to help control the pain and make the patient as comfortable as possible. 

Pain management with analgesics is very important for postoperative recovery, as you should start walking and using your knee as soon as possible to strengthen it. If the patient is in a lot of pain, he or she will probably avoid using the joint, greatly delaying recovery. If the pain is severe and prevents the patient from making a comfortable recovery, they should contact their surgeon for help.

Preventing the formation of blood clots

Preventing blood clots after surgery is necessary for almost all surgical interventions. In the case of total knee replacement surgery, the surgeon will take a number of measures to prevent blood clots from forming, including the use of special joint stockings, inflatable leg coverings or anticoagulants. In addition, immediately after total knee replacement surgery, the foot and ankle will be stimulated to increase blood flow to the leg muscles, thus preventing swelling or blood clots.

Physiotherapy

There are some devices, such as continuous passive motion machines, that can help prevent postoperative stiffness in the early stages after surgery by reducing swelling by keeping the leg elevated and improving blood circulation by moving the leg muscles. The surgeons' recommendation and what most patients do is to start exercising the knee the day after the total knee replacement intervention. Generally, a physiotherapist specialised in traumatology will teach you a series of exercises to strengthen your leg and recover the joint movement that will allow you to walk and carry out daily activities after surgery.

Preventing postoperative pneumonia

Due to anaesthesia, painkillers and the long time spent in bed, some patients may experience shallow breathing. This can lead to partial collapse of the lungs making patients more susceptible to pneumonia. The way to prevent this problem is to take frequent deep breaths, and the nursing team can provide a spirometer to help you take deep breaths.

In order for the patient's recovery to be optimal after total knee replacement surgery, the guidelines set by the medical team must be followed, as the better the recovery work is done in hospital and then at home, the sooner and better the patient will be able to return to their daily activities. During the stay, the patient will also be taught the exercises and guidelines to follow for recovery at home.

If you have a knee condition and have already been prescribed arthroplasty as a solution, you can request a free surgical consultation with one of our specialists.

Alleviate your knee pain now, get to know the specialist to assess your case in a face to face consultation, and then decide together whether surgery is the best solution for your knee problem. Click below to make an appointment: