Patient walks within 6 hours of total knee replacement

            By 1 2 1 News Reporter

Chandigarh, 28^th August:-- Gone are the days when patients used to be in bed for 2 to 3 days after knee replacement surgery due to pain. Now patients can walk within a few hours (6-8 hours) of knee replacement and even go home within 24 hours of surgery with care from the Orthopaedic Rapid Recovery Team at the Advanced Hip and Knee Clinic. This was explained to the media by renowned Orthopaedic & Knee Replacement Surgeon, Dr. Vineet Sharma at his clinic in Chandigarh.

Dr. Vineet Sharma did total knee replacement on a patient from Ladakh, Mrs. Gyalstenchok on 16^th August in the morning and was able to walk with minimal pain and discomfort within 6 hours of surgery. Another patient, Mrs. Ravinder Kaur, from Morinda walked within 8 hours of knee replacement surgery with a walker. She could walk without a walker or a stick within 18 hours of surgery and went home pain free after 2 days of surgery.  Another patient, Mrs. Swarn Lata had both her knees replaced just 2 weeks back. She was walking pain free within 24 hours of surgery with minimal assistance. She could go home within 3 days of surgery with just a walking stick. None of these patient required blood transfusion after surgery.

Dr. Vineet Sharma elaborated that with the technique of reduced tissue trauma surgery and rapid recovery protocol, patients have almost no pain after surgery and can walk unassisted within 6-8 hours of surgery.  Anaesthetic and operating techniques have been modified to minimise stress on the body during surgery, resulting in a quicker recovery time for patients and reducing the average length of hospital stay from over 8 days to just 2-3 days, informed Dr. SPS Bedi, chief anaesthetist at the clinic.  The technique comprises of modern anaesthesia techniques like nerve blocks, pre-emptive analgesia, without using any tourniquet or epidural catheters.  If patients have minimal pain after surgery, the confidence to walk without any support is enhanced. Dr. Sharma said that he has been using this technique for last 8 years now and over 90% of his patients go home within 3 days of surgery and almost none of the patients need to use a walker after 2 days. Dr. Vineet Sharma informed that with refinement in surgical and anaesthesia techniques and modern high performance implants, he will be able to perform knee replacement on a day care basis with patient coming for surgery in the morning and going home in the evening with minimal pain and no assistance.

The technique involves patient education before surgery, minimally invasive surgical technique, latest pain control measures and support of anaesthesia, nursing and physiotherapy staff. The team also offers a comprehensive education package, delivered by a highly skilled multi-disciplinary team prior to surgery which continues through to long term follow-up care.

Dr. Vineet explained that with rapid mobilization after knee replacement, patient don't have to be bedridden for days, thus reducing the incidence of deep vein thrombosis and pressure sores, greatly enhancing the recovery process after surgery.  Patients can recover within the comfort of their home. With patients going home within 2 days of surgery, the overall cost of the surgery is also reduced by almost 25 to 30 %. The requirement for blood transfusion with this technique is almost nil, even when both knees are replaced at the same time.