Total Knee Replacement TKR Surgery San Antonio
Medicare Acute Care Episode
Knee replacement surgery is performed by an orthopedic surgeon, who is an MD who has received advanced training in surgical treatment of disorders of the musculoskeletal system. As of 2002, qualification for this specialty in the United States requires a minimum of five years of training after medical school. Most orthopedic surgeons who perform joint replacements have had additional specialized training in these specific procedures.
The replacement surgery can be performed in a general hospital with a department of orthopedic surgery, but is also performed in specialized clinics or institutes for joint disorders.
Definition
This is a procedure in which the surgeon removes damaged or diseased parts of the patient's knee joint and replaces them with new artificial parts. The operation itself is called arthroplasty. Arthroplasty comes from two Greek words, arthros or joint and plassein, "to form or shape." The artificial joint itself is called a prosthesis. Most prostheses have four components or parts, and are made of a combination of metal and plastic, or metal and ceramic in some newer models.
Purpose
Arthroplasty has two primary purposes: pain relief and improved functioning of the knee joint. Because of the importance of the joint to a person's ability to stand upright, improved joint functioning includes greater stability.
Pain Relief
A TKR is considered major surgery. Therefore, it is usually not considered a treatment option until the patient's pain cannot be managed any longer by more conservative treatment. Alternatives to surgery are described below.
Pain in the joint may be either a sudden or gradual development, depending on the cause of the pain. Pain resulting from osteoarthritis and other degenerative disorders may develop gradually over a period of years. On the other hand, pain resulting from an athletic injury or other traumatic damage, or from such conditions as infectious arthritis or gout, may come on suddenly. Because the structure of the joint is complex and many different disorders or conditions can cause pain, the cause of the pain must be diagnosed before joint replacement surgery can be discussed as an option.
Knee replacement surgery can be costly. To prepare for the future acquire health insurance for Texas from Selected Benefits.
Joint Function
Demographics
Description
Diagnosis/Preparation
August 28, 2010
To Learn About the top CEO's in the United States:
Robert Niblock
Frank Blake
James Ryan
Jim Humphrey
Bill Straus