Knee Prosthesis
The knee joint between the knee, thigh and tibia is protected by a knee cap on the front, allowing the
knee to move easily. The bone surfaces in the joint are covered with articular cartilage. Ties that are
fixed structures that stick to both tibia are the main structures that fix the knee joint. Tendons are
structures that have one end attached to the bone and the other end attached to the muscles and
transmit the muscle movement to the bone. These muscles can manage the knee movements such
as running, walking, climbing stairs. Knee prosthesis is recommended as a good option if the knees
that start to get damaged with age and trauma do not respond to exercise, medication, intra knee
injection and physical therapy. The knee prosthesis is the reconstruction of the joint surfaces of the
three beakers. Damage to the knee can be easily seen with preoperative examination. The surgery
can be done with peripheral nerve block, spinal, epidural or general anesthesia. The average age of
the operation depends on the size of the destruction of the knee, but it is an average of 1.5 hours. It
is very important to provide infection control so that the prosthesis can function after surgery. For
this reason, you should be very careful about the medications you will use after the surgery, your
physician's prescribed exercises, and you have to be careful about the protection of your weight.
This practice, which has been recommended for people with a certain age in the past, but can now
be used at every age with a prolonged prosthesis life of 25-30 years. In addition to the quality of the
prosthesis used, the person using the prosthesis pay attention to the weight, general health
conditions, and activities to keep the body moving but not harming it.
How is the daily return to life after knee prosthesis operation?
You can walk 1 day after the operation.
Hospitalization is 3-4 days, depending on the nature of your operation.
Ice will be applied to the knee during hospitalization.
After a day of surgery, you should twist your knee and start your physician-assisted exercises with
physiotherapist to strengthen your muscles. Keep in mind that you will continue with these exercises
until you have fully earned your knee functions. Usually all knee functions return at 6 weeks.
Do not interrupt your blood thinners and take your painkiller if you have pain.
Call your doctor immediately if your fever will rise above 38 degrees and If you have pain in your leg
and If you have swelling in your toes.
Your stitches are taken within an average of 15 days and you can then bathe. After the sutures are
taken, physical therapy is started. Your physiotherapy will continue until the end of the third month,
usually 3 days a week. Physical therapy should be performed by experienced physiotherapists.
You can leave your walker and you can switch to walking stick. You should use the walking stick on
your sturdy side. If you have two-sided operation, you can use it until the 2nd week. You can leave
your walking stick in 3-4 weeks completely. After the 4th week you can be more active, you can
drive. Your physiotherapist can slowly start to sportive activities after a period of 1.5 months. You
can return the sportive activities completely at the end of 6 months. During the 3-6 month period,
Swelling and feeling the prothesis are considered normal during the 3-6 months period.
You can start walking normally after 30 days later from the operation.
How long is the life of the knee prosthesis?
It depends to patient’s age, gender, weight and movement of the person. The life of prosthesis is
around 25-30 years when used correctly. It can be expected that the life span of the prosthesis may
be reduced by 5-10 years in those who work under heavy work conditions or who do heavy sports
and persons over 100 kilos.

How do you know that your prosthesis is filling It’s life?
When the prosthesis starts to loosen and wear out, it causes pain. In this case, the wear and loosen
parts of the prosthesis must be replaced. This revision operation is more difficult and requires
advanced experience than the first prosthetic operation.

Hip Replacement
The hip joints are the most commonly applied joints of the prosthetic surgeon. Hip prostheses are
applied because of cartilaginous tumors, hip circumference fracture, deterioration of hip joint
cartilage, and cartilage wear mostly caused by bone erosion. The most important complaint is pain.
Symptoms such as shortening of walking distance due to pain, difficulty in wearing shoes or socks,
shortening of the leg may also may seen. In addition to orthopedics and traumatology specialists,
physiotherapists, nutritionists and endocrinologists also evaluate the patient if there are other
accompanying health problems.
After the surgery:
Do not sit on the floor, low chair or stool.
Do not sit cross-your legs.
Do not use old fashion toilets that you crouch.
Put a pillow between your legs for at least 8 weeks lying on your back.
Step with sturdy leg first before you go up the stairs. Step with your surgical leg before you go down
the stairs.
Make your prayer in the chair.
Do not carry heavy loads, do not do heavy work.

BY OP. DR. MEHMET YAVUZ CIRPICI MD.

DERINDERE HOSPITAL