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Knee replacement surgery in Germany

All over the world, the number of implanted prostheses is increasing every year, and this happens for various reasons.

First of all, patients live longer; due to constant workload their joints wear out over the certain periods of time. Currently, indications for replacement of the knee joint often include young patients with an active lifestyle, who have injuries of the knee.

Knee replacement surgery in Germany

All over the world, the number of implanted prostheses is increasing every year, and this happens for various reasons. First of all, patients live longer; due to constant workload their joints wear out over the certain periods of time.

Currently, indications for replacement of the knee joint often include young patients with an active lifestyle, who have injuries of the knee.

In addition, more and more surgeons and orthopedists become qualified for this type of surgery. What is also important, in the developed countries implants has become more accessible.

Examination before the arthroplasty

During the preparation for the operation, a mandatory examination is carried out.

It allows identifying all the risks associated with the intervention. Possible risks are assessed by an operating surgeon together with an anesthetist and attending physician.

The list of the required tests includes:

  • X-rays of the joint
  • Conclusion of therapist, dentist, and gynecologist
  • Complete blood test (hemoglobin, red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets)
  • Urinalysis
  • Coagulogram (prothrombin index, APTT, fibrinogen, orthophenanthroline test)
  • Biochemical blood test (glucose, transaminases, bilirubin, total protein, urea, creatinine, prothrombin index)
  • Fluorography
  • Electrocardiogram
  • Triplex scanning of veins and arteries of the lower extremities, in case of the pathology revealing – additional consultation of a vascular surgeon
  • Echocardiographic examination in all patients over 60 years, as well as in patients with atrial fibrillation, coronary heart disease, or myocardial infarction in the anamnesis
Photo by Fabiola Peñalba on Unsplash

When the surgery is indicated

Endoprosthetics of the knee joint includes the replacement of joint structures with an artificial prosthesis in order to restore damaged surfaces.

Total knee replacement implies the replacement of all three sections of the affected joint. With partial endoprosthetics, one or two sections of the joint are replaced while sparing the intact structures.

Surgeons consider arthroplasty performing in failure of conservative treatment in the following clinical situations:

  • Idiopathic and secondary gonarthrosis
  • Aseptic necrosis of the femoral or tibial bone heads
  • Rheumatoid polyarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis
  • Consequences of injuries and osteosynthesis of the distal end of the thigh and proximal end of the tibia (not earlier than in 3 months after removing metal structures)
  • Periarticular tumors of the femur and tibia, as well as soft tissue of the knee joint

Types of operations

The brand and type of endoprosthesis used in the clinic depends on many factors, such as needs of the patient (age, weight, level of activity and health state), experience and knowledge of the healthcare specialists, cost and results of the long-term implant using. You should discuss these issues with your doctor.

There are a number of invasive and non-invasive techniques that can potentially substitute joint replacement surgery.

Nevertheless, the effect of such interventions in most cases is short-term. In the overwhelming number of patients with the degenerative lesions of the knee joint, only endoprosthetics can guarantee a long-term result.

In general, knee replacement surgery provides patients with the two main advantages: elimination of pain syndrome and increased range of motion.

Among all surgical interventions available to date, total knee replacement has demonstrated the best result in improving patients’ quality of life.

For patients who travel to other countries in order to undergo the surgery it will be easier to follow the link knee replacement surgery in Germany and take advantage of the unique medical tourism provider Booking Health.

Thanks to the high professionalism of doctors in the best hospitals, knee replacement in Germany is connected with low surgical risks and high percentage of successful procedures.

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