9:58 PM
It
is said that “Precaution is better than cure” but I would like to further add
to it making it “Precaution is better than cure but delay in cure is Worse”. In
any disease the delay could only worsen the situation. Same is the case with
the knee joints wherein the risks related to delaying knee replacement surgery
often involves the deterioration of the joint, increased pain, and lack of
mobility.
Depending
on the severity of the joint disease, a surgeon may need to attempt
several less invasive, non-surgical methods first (including
glucosamine, anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections, and physical
therapy). If none of these methods appear to be working or if the patient has
become sedentary due to joint pain, a surgeon may recommend knee replacement
surgery. For many of the reasons listed above, patients sometimes consciously
delay their knee replacement surgery, which can have some of these risks:
- risk of deformities developing inside and outside the joint
- risk of muscles, ligaments and other structures becoming weak and losing function
- increased pain / inability to manage pain
- increased disability/lack of mobility
- difficulty with normal activities of daily living
Delay
in knee replacement surgery has several risks linked to it which arise with
regard to the surgical procedure. For example, the risk of
deformities due to postponement tends to make knee replacement surgery a more
complicated process. The surgery may then take longer and require a longer
amount of time under anesthesia. In addition, postponement can limit the
options for knee replacement. For example, joint disease that is spotted early
on and treated may only require a “unicompartmental knee joint on the medial
side” but upon delay, destruction to the knee joint becomes so severe that a
total knee replacement is required – with possibly even the addition of a knee
cap (“patellar”) resurfacing.
Recent
studies have shown that timing does make a difference in joint replacement
surgery. An article published by the University of Toronto states that “timing
of surgery may be more important than previously realized and, specifically,
that performing surgery earlier in the course of functional decline may be
associated with better outcome.” In other words, if surgery can be performed
early it may be more successful.
When a patient is
relatively healthy and gets a knee replacement, she is more likely to recover
sooner and with fewer complications. Knee replacement surgery is not
recommended for everyone, and we do suggest that you visit your doctor and find
out what is best for you. But if you are a knee replacement surgery candidate,
postponement can lead to a number of unnecessary and avoidable issues.
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