Knee Replacement - Special instructions post operatively:

Basically there are no special instructions for knee replacement patients except to continue with the exercises, especially the bending and to avoid excessive strain The knee may continue to be swollen for a while but in time this will normalise.

In order not to strain the joint the patient should avoid:

  • Repetitive heavy lifting / or pushing heavy objects
  • Excessive stiar climbing
  • Putting on weight – maintain a healthy weight at all times
  • Inactivity – the joint should be kept mobile
  • Impact loading sports such as jogging,skiing and aerobics – it is better to ask the doctor      or physiotherapist before starting a new sport or activity
  • activities that involve quick stop/start motion, twisting or impact stresses such as jumping
  • Excessive bending when weight bearing such as climbing steep stairs
  • Kneeling
  • Low chairs

Some patients may have to continue having a heparin injection for a while after the surgery- this will be prescribed in the hospital. The hospital staff will continue to administer the injection after discharge from the hospital – either by the patient coming to the hospital or the nurses will visit the hotel.

The patient will see the Consultant and the physiotherapist before they fly back to the UK. Any queries they may have can be addressed at this time. However the physiotherapist can always be contacted through the hospital or through the Personal Care Manager and will contact the Consultant on the patients behalf if the patient has a problem that the physiotherapist cannot sort out.

Note:

Some patients opt to do both knees at once. This obviously has its problems because they will have two stiff legs initially making it difficult to stand up. However it is possible to consider doing both legs together if the patient has someone to help them. I wouldn’t however recommend this to patients who intend travelling alone, or are very stiff and immobile pre operatively.

St James Hospital is MRSA free. A Cell saver is available to collect the patients blood that is lost during surgery and to return it to the patients blood system immediately post surgery. This option is usually preferred by patients who would not wish to have a donor transfusion after surgery.