Is that true that knee surgery is the bloodiest surgery? And what about hip surgery?

Question

I have to have a total hip replacement and want to know how painful it is and i may also have to have some knee surgery! HELP! I would like to know everything i can about these surgeries....thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

Surgical techniques where bone is reamed out (as it is, for example, in a hip replacement where the femoral head is cut off, and the socket in the pelvis and femoral canal are reamed out to accommodate the joint replacements parts) are bloody because the marrow of bones is where blood is manufactured. Whether they are "bloodier" than some other type of surgery, I do not know. Many times blood transfusions are needed after these replacement surgeries and patients donate some of their own blood before the planned surgery in anticipation of this need. This is called "autologous donation". Then if the patient needs to receive blood after the surgery, they get their own blood back. I have had both hips replaced and each time I was asked to donate two units of my own blood which I was transfused with the day after surgery.

For lots of good information on hip and knee replacements, I recommend going to this website, designed by an ortho surgeon from Sweden as a service to patients (in English translation) and read. You will learn a lot here.
http://totaljoints.info/

As a former hip patient who is back on her feet after having both hips replaced I can attest to the success of this procedure in terms of how it restored function and relieved my arthritis pain. I am a new person with a totally different outlook on life since my surgeries. It is major surgery and requires a lengthy period of recuperation and rehabilitation but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Answer 2

Hopefully, bleeding is controlled in ALL surgeries, but knee replacement can result in a significant loss of blood. Both the hip and the knee replacement are very successfull orthopedic sugeries, and both have techniuqes which are "minimally invasive." This has reduced the surgical incision in both from about 6-8 inches to about 3 or 4. It was found that in the hip replacement, the post-surgical pain was primarily produced by the incision and not the implantation of the device itself. Therefore, reducing the size of the incision has greatly reduced post-surgical pain. This has also reduced hospitalization from 3 or 4 nights to 1 night. Your surgeon may or may not be qualified to perform the "minimally invasive technique" and you may or may not meet the qualifications for this approach.

Out of the three major joint replacment surgeries (knee/hip/shoulder). I believe that the hip is the easiest to recover from and the least painful. The most difficult thing about the THR, however, is learning how to maneuver within the post-surgical "precautions" which are usually no hip flexion beyond 80 degrees, no inward rotation of the legs, and no crossing of the legs..provided that the traditional posterlateral approach is used. These are usually in place for 3 months...depending on the surgeon. Mobility of the hip comes back much easier on its own as compared to the knee; therefore, it usually requires less physical therapy. Many finish up with a couple weeks of home therapy without ever needing to complete the outpatient course.

Most likely, you will use a walker or crutches to walk for the first couple of weekss. A physical therapist will usually come to see you in the hospital to show you how to use them. An occupational therapist will ususally show you how to use adaptive equipment to put on your shoes,etc and make safety recommendations. After the first few weeks, you might transition to a cane or nothing at all. It varies greatly depending on the person's ability before the surgery.

You will experience some degree of discomfort for serveral months after the sugery, but by the second or third month, you should be feeling very comfortable for most of the day.

Best wishes.

Answer 3

Knee surgery is NOT the bloodiest surgery and neither is hip surgery. In the case of total knee replacement, a tourniquet is used to prevent major bleeding during the operation. In the case of a total hip replacement, the surgeon uses a technique to prevent major bleeding during the procedure. In each cased, blood loss is not usually an issue unless you are taking "blood thinners" like Coumadin, Plavix or using aspirin on a daily basis. You should stop these drugs before the surgery. The anesthesiologist will discuss this with you before surgery. As for the pain you anticipate..yes..there will be pain...this is a major assault on the body...HOWEVER, pain medication is available..dont be afraid to ask for or use it. And rehab is important too. Follow the suggestions of your doctor/nurse for the best after operation outcomes.

Answer 4

The cost of HIp/Knee replacement surgery is very low in India as compared to USA,UK and Canada. You can get the surgery done there in a fraction of cost of what would you pay in USA or private UK

There is one company that is very famous in India that arranges orthopaedic surgery for foreigners in India.They are called the Forerunners Healthcare.I read a lot about them in the Newspapers and about their patient stories.

I have also read that they arrange financing for american and canadian patients as all surgery is not covered by insurance or by NHS in the UK.They also have photos pasted of their International patients.You can checkout their website.The cost savings are incredible.As a doctor i personally believe that your hip replacement surgery can be easily handled in India as the quality of healthcare available here is simply best in the world.The surgeons are USA/UK trained and facilities are 5 star.

My cousin also got her hip replacement surgery for in India through the forerunners healthcare .She is more than very happy with the results.She is totally pain free now.She just paid 25% of the amount she was quoted in USA and is all praise for this forerunners healthcare company. hope this helps.


http://www.forerunnershealthcare.com