Total Knee Replacement

Total knee replacement resurfaces a worn knee joint with metal and high-grade plastic components. We use computer-assisted alignment and a rapid-recovery protocol, with physiotherapy starting on the day of surgery. At Allergy Asthma Foundation it is carried out by an experienced team using current equipment and protocols, with clear information given before, during and after so that you know what to expect at every stage.

This page explains why the procedure is done, how to prepare, what happens on the day, and what recovery and follow-up involve. Your own consultant will go through the details that apply to your situation and answer any questions before you agree to go ahead.

Why it is done

Total knee replacement is usually recommended for one or more of the following reasons:

• Osteoarthritis of the knee causing pain that limits walking, stairs or sleep
• Stiffness and deformity that has not responded to physiotherapy, weight loss or injections
• Pain at rest or at night from an arthritic knee
• Inflammatory arthritis with joint damage
• A previous knee operation that has not relieved the pain

It is only offered when the expected benefit clearly outweighs the risks, and the decision is always made together with you. If a simpler test or treatment would answer the question or relieve the problem, that is tried first.

How to prepare

• You will have a pre-admission check of your fitness for anaesthesia, including blood tests and, where needed, an ECG.
• Tell the team about every medicine you take, especially blood thinners, and follow the instructions on which to pause and when.
• Do not eat for six hours before the operation; small sips of water are usually allowed until two hours before.
• Arrange for an adult to take you home and stay with you for the first night.
• Stop smoking as far in advance as you can — it lowers the risk of chest and wound problems.

What happens on the day

1. You are admitted on the morning of surgery and seen by the surgeon and anaesthetist.
2. Anaesthesia is given — usually a spinal injection with sedation, sometimes a general anaesthetic.
3. The worn surfaces of the thigh bone, shin bone and kneecap are removed and replaced with the implant.
4. The wound is closed, a dressing applied, and you are moved to recovery then the ward.
5. A physiotherapist helps you stand and take a few steps with a frame the same day.

After the procedure

The usual stay is three to four days. You progress from a frame to crutches to a stick over one to two weeks, manage stairs before discharge, and continue a home exercise programme. Most people drive again at six weeks and return to routine activity over three months; swelling can take several months to fully settle.

You will be given written instructions covering activity, wound or puncture-site care where relevant, which medicines to restart and when, and the warning signs that mean you should contact us or attend the emergency department. A follow-up appointment or a phone review is arranged before you leave.

Benefits and risks

The main benefit is a clear answer or effective treatment that changes what happens next — a firm diagnosis, a blocked passage reopened, symptoms brought under control, or a condition safely monitored over time. For most people the procedure is straightforward and complications are uncommon.

No procedure is entirely without risk. The ones to be aware of for this treatment include:

• Infection of the wound or, rarely, the joint itself
• A blood clot in the leg or lung, which blood-thinning treatment reduces
• Stiffness needing a manipulation under anaesthetic
• Ongoing ache or a sensation of the implant, and eventual wear needing revision after 15-20 years

The team is trained and equipped to recognise and manage these, and the consent discussion covers how likely each is in your case and what is done to reduce it.

Results and follow-up

There is no laboratory result to wait for; success is judged by pain relief and the return of movement and function over the weeks after surgery, reviewed at your physiotherapy and surgical follow-up appointments. Your consultant explains what the result means in the context of your symptoms and examination, and sets out the next step — reassurance and discharge, a change of treatment, a further test, or a planned review. With your consent a summary is sent to your family doctor so that everyone caring for you is working from the same plan.

Questions patients ask

Do I need a referral?

You can book a consultation directly to discuss whether total knee replacement is right for you. The procedure itself is arranged by the consultant after that discussion, once you have had time to consider it.

Will it hurt?

Discomfort is kept to a minimum with local anaesthetic, sedation or pain relief as appropriate to the procedure. The team will tell you exactly what you are likely to feel and will stop or pause if you need them to.

How long will I be at the hospital?

Most people are in and out within a few hours; where an overnight stay or a longer recovery is expected, that is explained clearly when the procedure is booked so you can plan around it.

To arrange total knee replacement at your nearest AAF centre, book a consultation online or request a callback. Please bring a list of your current medicines and any previous test results or discharge summaries.