Post-operative nursing care
A full set of health education materials will be distributed to post-operative patients. In addition to informing them to come back for follow-up as instructed, patients will be reminded to continue the muscular strength rehabilitation exercise, to avoid improper postures and actions, and to control their weight. Also, patients are advised to consult a dentist for any dental problem and to notify the physician that they have received a joint replacement surgery and need antibiotics to prevent bacteria from entering the artificial joint which may cause severe infection when they have inflammation of the wound or need to receive other surgeries.
FAQ
- Is there other option than an artificial joint surgery for osteoarthritis?
Degenerative joint diseases are usually irrecoverable, even modern medical technology cannot completely restore a damaged joint. For minor or primary arthritis, we can try the conservative treatment, such as NSAID (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs), hot padding and weight control, or even some healthcare medication, such as glucosamine or intra-articular hyaluronic acid. When conservative treatment is ineffective but the condition is not severe enough for a joint replacement surgery, arthroscopic lavage of the knee can help to relieve some pain. - When should we need an artificial joint replacement?
Artificial joint replacement is considered when the damage of the joint is severe and normal life is affected due to the severe pain, even after conservative treatment or long-term use of analgesics. - Risk of surgery?
All surgeries have risks. Artificial joint replacement is a regular surgery and has particular risk. However, patients with heart disease, hypertension and diabetes history must inform their orthopedists or surgeons to make joint consultation and assessment with other specialists before the surgery. Also, patients are always advised to take medication to control the condition. - What is the life of an artificial joint?
This is common question. In fact, there is no definite answer. In general, 90% patients can use an artificial joint for more than 10 years in normal uses. However, an artificial joint is more likely to loosen or wear out in younger patients or patients with greater activity power or body weight. At present, there are high-durability artificial joints that can work for a longer time. - What are the common complications of an artificial joint replacement surgery?
Infection: Post-operative infection is the most destructive. It can happen a few days or even a few years after the surgery. Antibiotics is administered to minor cases, and lavage or artificial joint removal and replant after the infection is cured is necessary for severe cases. The mortality rate is about 1%.
Loosening: It is the most common post-operative complication of an artificial joint replacement surgery. For example, the mortality rate in 5 years from the surgery is about 1-3% to total knee replacement.
Dislocation: This is more common to patients after total hip replacement, and the morbidity rate is about 1%. In most cases, it can be manually restored by an orthopedist if occurred not long after the surgery. Rarely will it need an operative restoration. After the restoration, patients will need to wear an abduction brace for a while to protect the hip.
Wear and breakage: The occurrence of wear and breakage is reducing as the design and materials of artificial joints are improving.
Other: Vein and nerve damage, fracture, vein thrombosis, joint instability etc. Though there are many of them, they rarely happen.
Short film
Post-operative rehabilitative exercise
Patient feedback
60-year-old Ms Yu-li Lee-Ma complained about knee pain since her fifties, and it even hurt every step she made. Last year, she plucked up her courage for a MIS of the knee joint replacement. Compared with traditional surgery, the length of the wound of an MIS reduced to 8-12cm, and operative time to about 1 hour. More importantly, the post-operative recovery was fine. Now, she can carry her grandson, who is over a dozen kilos, on by back for a stroll and escort her old-aged mother-in-law to the hospital. This way, her children can work without worry, and she was glad to have the surgery.
