Pros & Cons of Knee Replacement Surgery

Knee replacement surgery is a procedure often recommended for people who no longer have sufficient cartilage between the bones of the knees, typically as a result of arthritis. When pain medication, exercises or injections meant to provide relief do not help knee pain and stiffness, it might be time to talk to your doctor about knee replacement surgery. Two common methods are total knee replacement and partial, or unicompartmental, knee replacement.

Pro--Pain Relief

• The biggest advantage to knee replacement surgery is pain relief. After the initial pain associated with surgery and recovery time, including several weeks of therapy, your knee replacement should allow you to perform normal activities without pain.

Pro--Duration

• Knee replacement surgery is a long-lasting fix. Depending on your age, physical condition and lifestyle, your knee replacement could last a decade or for the rest of your life.

Pro--Elimination of Other Remedies

• Before knee replacement surgery, people often have to repeatedly go to the doctor for injections that temporarily reduce friction between the surfaces of the bones in the knee. They also may have to regularly take high doses of anti-inflammatory drugs, which can cause kidney damage. Surgery should put an end to these practices.

Con--Cost

• Any surgery is expensive, and knee replacement surgery is no exception. Knee replacement surgery is covered by most insurance plans, but remember that you might still have to pay a deductible and coinsurance.

Con--Complications

• One of the most common complications of knee replacement surgery is the formation of blood clots. Other dangers, although rare, include infections, nerve damage, complications from anesthesia or heart attack or stroke.