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Spanish Translation

Knee Replacement Surgery: Pros and Cons

Knee Replacement Surgery: Pros and Cons (00:02:37)
Video Transcript

[Dr. Tomek] "When non-operative treatment no longer controls knee pain, swelling, and other symptoms, surgery is something that we discuss with patients.

And the surgery that most often gets discussed is total knee replacement.

In knee replacement, we replace the damaged part of the knee with a metal-and-plastic implant that duplicates the function of the knee and allows bending and rotation of the knee that is much more comfortable than it would be in a severely arthritic joint.

The major benefit of knee replacement is that it reduces pain in the majority of patients.

In addition, it improves knee function.

The ability to painlessly bend and straighten the knee and to put weight on it allows patients to get back to activities that they may have avoided for a long time, such as walking, going up and down stairs and even certain sports ...

The downside of knee replacement is that a small number of patients may experience surgical complications, including infection, blood clots, heart or lung risks, which in a small number of patients can be fatal.

Other patients don't get complete pain relief and may continue to have knee pain for years after the operation that doesn't get better."

[Susan] "I think, in general, I'm able to do most things that I did before the surgery.

It's a different type of discomfort and pain.

I try to do everything I did before. I gave up the bicycle. That I don't do.

But other than that ... I cut the lawn. I do the gardening.

I work in the yard in the summertime a lot."

[Dr. Tomek] "There may be patients who are at greater risk for undergoing knee replacement ... patients who are older ...

have more medical conditions, including heart and lung disease or diabetes ...

may want to weigh the advantages versus disadvantages of undergoing this procedure.

Those patients should have a detailed discussion with their physician or provider to determine if knee replacement is truly the right treatment for them.

In the long term, as knee implants age, some patients may need another operation to replace parts of the implant that have worn out or to replace pieces that have loosened from the bone."

[Azell] "I know that the knee was good for 15 years.

So I figured if I didn't run, it would last longer.

And so that's why I decided to ride ... ride the bike.

If I had to have it replaced again, I would.

When I'm in my seventies, I think I'll be fine.

I think I'll still be riding, still be walking, you know, and able to have a quality of life that I'd like to keep."

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