The minimally invasive quad sparing surgical technique makes the recovery process after knee replacement surgery a pleasant experience for patients.
NewZNew (Chandigarh) : Gone are the days when patients needed a walker or stick to for weeks after undergoing knee replacement surgery. Using the latest surgical technique, patents can now walk pain free up to a km within 3 days of bilateral knee replacement with minimal pain and without any walking aids.
This was elaborated at a press conference in Chandigarh by renowned knee specialist, Dr. Vineet Sharma. He showed a series of patients who have undergone knee replacement with this technique and are walking up to a km or more within 3 to 4 days of surgery. Dr. Sharma elaborated on the surgical technique, the minimally invasive quad muscle sparing technique in which the surgical cut through the muscles is very small. Using this innovative technique, patients have negligible pain after surgery and are able to walk with a few hours of knee replacement. Most patients can walk up to a km within 3 days of surgery without the help of any walker or cane. Traditionally, patients used to stay in the hospital for 7 days after surgery, but with this technique, over 90 percent of patients are going home with 2 to 3 days of surgery. Patients are able to climb up and down the stairs the very next day after surgery. Most patients are walking around 2 to 3 km within 2 weeks of surgery.
Added to this technology is the technique of reduced tissue trauma surgery in which the soft tissues injury at the time of surgery is minimal, leading to a very rapid and pain free recovery. Dr. Vineet Sharma has done over 1000 knee replacements with this technique in the last 3 years.
Patients who have undergone surgery with this technique told us how scared they were before surgery anticipating a painful and prolonged recovery period. A few of them were very hesitant to undergo surgery as they had heard about the need for prolonged physiotherapy, walking aids and need for pain killers. But they were surprised at the rapid recovery they had and the minimal need for pain killers. None of the patients needed a walker or stick after 2 days of surgery. Lot of patients informed us that they were able to drive the car within a week of surgery.
The whole process of knee replacement has been modified slightly starting from the physiotherapy before surgery, pre-emptive analgesia, anesthesia techniques, the surgical procedure as well as the post-operative pain management and rehabilitation. These small modifications in the process have made dramatic improvement in the result of surgery and the whole experience for the patient has become pleasant and pain-free.
