How to increase the longevity of a knee replacement

 A natural part of aging is wear and tear on joints.  For some people during their lifetime, due to either excruciating aches or pains, difficulty in walking, or arthritis taking its toll, knee pain may become so unbearable making it inevitable that it will need to be replaced. 

Knee replacements are one of the most common joint replacement surgeries done in the United States with more than 600,000 performed each year.  A total knee replacement (TKR) surgery is one of the most successful procedures in all of medicine with the most common reason for it being osteoarthritis.

Over the years, knee replacements have improved tremendously.  Having a knee replaced is a long process - the surgery, medications, healing, and the necessary physical therapy all take time for a knee replacement to be successful.  The goal of any joint replacement in the body is to be able to achieve several decades of a functioning joint if and before it needs replacing again.

Today, most knee replacements can last up to at least 20 years or more. That is the good news.  In fact, a study on how long knee replacements last that are still functioning, found up to 96% of patients still got good functioning out of their new knee 20 years after being replaced. 

But even though most patients who have a knee replaced can expect their new joint to last for many years, there are those few who end up having to undergo TKR surgery much sooner than expected.  Very few people relish the thought of having to do a second surgery on their knee.  It’s major surgery, costly, painful, and takes time away from work and daily activities.  Fortunately, there are several things one can do to avoid this scenario of having to undergo the knife a second time so soon. 

·      Wait as long as possible to have the surgery

No one wants you to suffer in pain or disability longer than you have to.  But think of it in this way – the younger you are when you have a knee replacement, the more likely you’ll eventually have to have a second revision at some point in your life.  Younger patients, such as those in their 50s or younger, tend to be more active meaning they have a high likelihood of needing that knee replaced again sometime in their 70s. 

·      Be choosy in what activities you do

After a knee replacement surgery, your doctor may place restrictions or give you advice on what activities you can do and which to avoid.  In order to make your new knee last as long as you can, be careful that you are not placing excessive stress on the knee replacement causing the parts to wear out more quickly.  These activities could include playing baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer, high-impact aerobics, gymnastics, jogging, and powerlifting.  Even playing golf is iffy.  Swinging a golf club places higher force than jogging on the knee implant and therefore, may be discouraged by your doctor.  Activities that should be okay include bicycling, swimming, walking and hiking, low-resistance weight lifting, skiing, and elliptical machines.  Always consult with your orthopedic surgeon to be sure what they recommend. 

·      Maintain a healthy body weight

An important part of taking care of an artificial knee is maintaining a healthy body weight.  When you walk, your knees endure a force equivalent to about three to six times your body weight.  Each extra pound of body weight adds about 3 to 6 pounds of pressure to your knees.  The more you weigh, the more pressure you put on your artificial knee causing the joint to prematurely deteriorate.  Plus excess weight also increases your risk of needing a replacement for your other knee especially if it is already showing signs of osteoarthritis.  Reach and maintain an appropriate body weight to make your new knee last as long as possible.

·      Avoid complications

All surgeries come with risks including a total knee replacement. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, serious complications occur in less than 2 percent of cases, but it is still important to be aware of the risks before you enter the operating room.  From complications with anesthesia, blood clots, to post-operative infections, discuss with your orthopedic surgeon and anesthesiologist, all possibilities of complications that could occur and how to lessen the likelihood of this happening.