High Flex Knee Replacement
Patients suffering from osteoarthritis, pain have become a routine of every day life. A total Knee replacement is the ideal solution to their daily problems.
High Flex Knee replacement offers a new option for those osteoarthritis patients who want to continue their active lifestyle after total knee replacement. High Flex Fixed Knee is designed to accommodate resumption of deep knee bending activities. Early diagnosis, good preoperative flexibility and appropriate rehabilitation (physical therapy) can help a patient's chance for success.
Generally, knee replacements have been designed to accommodate flexibility up to 125 degrees only. The High Flex Knee replacement is specifically designed to safely accommodate flexibility of up to 155 degrees in patients who had this ability before surgery. This means that with appropriate rehabilitation a patient can resume an active lifestyle after total knee replacement - deeply bending the knee for recreational, religious and other day-to-day activities.
Your need and desire for high flex knee replacement can be determined by your favorite activities or cultural background. Many daily activities require the ability to bend the knee beyond 125 degrees. Climbing stairs, for example, requires a range of motion from 75-140 degrees while sitting in a chair and standing up again requires a 90-130 degrees range of motion. Other activities, like gardening, playing golf or kneeling for prayer involve motions that require up to 130-150 degrees of flexion to perform.
The ideal candidate will be one who is capable of fairly high flexion before the surgery and who is willing and able to undergo the rehabilitation (physical therapy) necessary to regain flexion after surgery. Other factors such as weight and activity level are considered in determining if High Flex Knee is the most appropriate implant solution for a particular candidate.
Other Parameters important for High Flex Knee Replacement
a) Bony destruction should not be advanced in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
b) Revision survery for knee joints are not suited for high flexion
c) Ankylosed knees or fused knees cannot be replaced with a high flexion knee.
d) The thigh calf index should be above 90 degrees.
e) The patient should participate in aggressive post operative physiotherapy.
Expected Results
The results of high-flex knee replacement surgery are quite gratifying. The patient is able to sit on the floor, kneel, climb stairs and even do gardening which is not possible with conventional knee replacements.
Recovery
You would be advised to stay at the hospital for a week and shall experience some pain and discomfort which shall be controlled with medications. Physical therapy shall be started for early recovery and rehabilitation after the surgery.