During the procedure
You will be asked to undress and put on a gown. You may be asked to sign a consent form. You will then be given an anesthetic that will either numb your body below the waist or make you fully unconscious. Your leg will be cleaned with an antiseptic solution and you may be given antibiotics through an intravenous (IV) line.
Your knee will be bent as the orthopedic surgeon makes an incision over the knee joint. The damaged joint will be removed and the new prosthesis joint will be inserted. The surgeon will then test the joint to make sure it moves well and is stable. The incision is then closed with stitches, and a dressing is placed over the surgical wound.
The procedure usually takes about 2 hours and generally requires you to stay in the hospital for a few days.
After the procedure
It is normal to feel these side effects after this procedure:
- pain or discomfort
- limited movement
- fever
- nausea
- swelling in your knee and leg
If you were given general anesthesia before the surgery, you will be assigned to a hospital recovery room immediately after the surgery. As the anesthesia wears off, you may feel sore, groggy, or nauseous. Nurses will be available to assist you.
After the anesthesia wears off, you will be required to stay in the hospital overnight, at which point you will be moved to a regular ward for the rest of your stay. Before you are discharged, the doctor or nurse will explain the steps you need to take to complete your recovery at home. You will be seen by a physical or occupational therapist who will show you exercises to help with healing and ways to move about safely.
Your surgeon will follow up with you after the surgery to ensure that you are recovering well from the surgery. In general, many people are able to slowly resume most of their activities after 3 to 6 weeks. Ask your doctor about the steps you can take (i.e., physical therapy) to speed up the recovery process.