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How to Prepare for Knee Replacement Surgery

All surgeries carry some inherent risks. While much of an operation's success comes down to your surgeon's care and capabilities, there are a number of ways you, the patient, can reduce your risk of complications during and after the procedure. Prepare properly for knee replacement surgery to minimize risks and to help ensure a speedy recovery that lets you get walking again as soon as possible.

  1. Deciding on Knee Replacement Surgery

    • Knee replacement surgery begins with an informed decision to undergo the procedure after your orthopedic surgeon has recommended it and fully explained the entire process from preparation through the operation and the recovery, its risks and the expected results. Your surgeon uses various tools -- such as a physical examination, medical history, X-rays, blood tests and other tests -- to determine nature of the joint damage and whether knee replacement surgery is an appropriate step. It is generally deemed appropriate only after other, less invasive, lower-risk courses of treatment have been exhausted. You must be an eligible candidate for general anesthesia to have many types of knee replacements, too.

    Types of Knee Replacement

    • How to prepare properly for your knee replacement surgery depends in part on what type of procedure you're having. The type affects how invasive the operation is; how high particular complication risks are; what sort of anesthesia is used; how long you're sedated; the extent to which muscles, tendons and other internal parts are manipulated; how long the expected recovery lasts; and how difficult and painful the recovery is expected to be. Talk to your surgeon in depth about the type of surgery you will undergo, such as partial knee replacement, full knee replacement or custom fit knee replacement.

    General Physical Preparations for Surgery

    • Your surgeon will supply a list of ways to prepare for your knee replacement, many of which are tailored to individual health factors and concerns. Follow them all. In general, it is recommended you quit smoking and avoid consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol in the weeks leading up to an operation. Eat a well-balanced diet high in vitamin C to promote tissue healing. Forgo aspirin or other blood thinners that interfere with clotting, in addition to any other medications your surgeon advises you to discontinue. While your knee pain may interfere with your ability to be physically active, try to exercise regularly to maintain energy and fitness levels in the time leading up to your procedure.

    Practical Considerations

    • Find out how long you'll remain in the hospital after surgery. Make any necessary preparations for your absence from home. Also make arrangements for someone to pick you up at discharge. It's unlikely you'll be able to drive for some time afterwards, so arrange for someone to take you to follow-up appointments, to help with grocery shopping and other errands and to otherwise assist with mobility needs.

    Preparing Your Home

    • Rearrange furniture and clear floors around your home to facilitate easy navigation and to prevent falls. If you won't be able to access upper or lower floors, make any necessary preparations for this inconvenience, too. Figure out where you can sit comfortably with your affected leg elevated during recovery. Consider installing safety bars in you bathroom and shower, along with railings on any stairs you'll have to walk on.

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