Bilateral Total Knee Replacement

Arthritis can cause a lot of damage to the knee joint and for a lot of people it will require a bilateral total knee replacement to get them back on their feet. This type of surgery will require working on both knees during the same surgical procedure. This is often the best option because if both your knees are damaged then only dealing with one is not going to help too much. In fact must fixing one knee could have negative consequences because the way you would walk following this could put a strain on your hips.

What Does Bilateral Total Knee Replacement Actually Involve?

These days a bilateral total knee replacement can be done using minimally invasive techniques. This means that the incisions are smaller and so recovery can be faster. This will only available in some cases though and for a lot of people the only option will be to have the more traditional surgical procedure which leaves a larger scar. Here are just some of the things you can expect with bilateral total knee replacement.

Before your Bilateral Total Knee Replacement Surgery

• The doctor and anaesthetist will need to get you to sign a consent form. They should explain the procedure and answer any questions you might have.
• The night before surgery you may be expected to fast from midnight; in some cases you will be able to have a light breakfast if your surgery is in the afternoon.
• If it is required you will be given a pre-med before going doing to theatre; this is given to help relax you before surgery.
• When you arrive in the anaesthetic room you will be asked some questions and then you will be put to sleep.

After your Bilateral Total Knee Replacement Surgery

• You will usually wake up in the recovery room following your bilateral total knee replacement surgery. You will be kept here until you are well enough to be brought back to the ward. When you first wake up you will likely like feel woozy (like you were a bit drunk) and you may have a bit of nausea or pain. If this is the case then the recovery nurse will be able to assist.
• Once it is deemed safe you will be returned to the ward.
• The ward nursing staff will continue to monitor your condition closely in order to ensure that you have no unexpected bleeding or other complications.
• If your nausea is controlled then you will probably be able to start eating and drinking again. Always make sure to get the all-clear by the nursing staff before you start eating.
• If everything is progressing as planned then on the second day you will have the physiotherapist teaching you some simple exercises.
• The nursing staff will continue to monitor your surgical wound until it is fully healed.
• When you are ready you will be mobilised on your feet either by the physiotherapist or the nursing staff