How Are Knee Replacements Performed?
Knee replacement surgery is conducted under general or regional anesthesia. The surgeon opens the knee joint and removes the damaged cartilage and bone surfaces. Then, metal and plastic implants of appropriate size are placed on the joint surfaces. These implants are fixed to the bones using special cement or pressure application. Post-surgery, the patient's rehabilitation process begins, involving physical therapy and exercises to enhance knee functionality.
In Which Cases Are Knee Replacements Applied?
Knee replacements are typically recommended for patients who do not respond to other treatments such as medication, intra-articular injections, or physical therapy. They are especially advised in cases of severe osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and traumatic joint damage. Knee replacement is chosen when pain is severe, and daily activities are hindered, aiming to improve the patient's quality of life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Robotic-Assisted and Patient-Specific Knee Arthroplasty in Istanbul
At İSOM Orthopedic Clinic in Istanbul, advanced knee replacement surgery is performed using kinematic alignment principles and computerized robotic precision. Robotic-assisted joint replacement ensures that sub-millimeter surgical accuracy is maintained throughout bony resection, protecting the collateral ligaments, posterior cruciate ligament, and surrounding neurovascular bundles.
Modern knee arthroplasty employs premium biocompatible bearing surfaces, combining forged titanium or cobalt-chromium femoral components with highly cross-linked polyethylene inserts enriched with antioxidant vitamin E to minimize poly wear debris and osteolysis.
Patients traveling to Istanbul for total or unicompartmental knee replacement receive comprehensive pre-operative 3D computed tomography modeling, personalized surgical planning, and rapid-recovery anesthesia protocols designed to permit ambulation within hours of surgical completion.
- Robotic Navigation Accuracy: Achieves prosthetic positioning within 1 millimeter and 1 degree of ideal mechanical alignment.
- Tissue-Preserving Approaches: Minimizes quadriceps disruption for accelerated quadriceps motor recruitment and reduced post-operative discomfort.
- Multimodal Blood Conservation: Utilizes intravenous and topical tranexamic acid, completely avoiding the need for allogeneic blood transfusions.
- Rapid Rehabilitation Pathway: Dedicated orthopedic physical therapists initiate continuous passive motion and gait re-education on day zero.
Post-Operative Recovery Milestones and Implant Longevity
The recovery timeline following knee replacement at İSOM is structured to support safe, sustainable healing. During the initial 48 hours, multimodal analgesia combining adductor canal blocks with local infiltration analgesia provides durable pain relief without compromising quadriceps strength, allowing patients to ascend and descend stairs comfortably prior to hospital discharge.
Long-term prosthetic clinical studies demonstrate that contemporary fixed-bearing and rotating-platform knee designs achieve 20- to 25-year implant survivorship exceeding 95 percent when implanted with precise ligamentous balancing and anatomical restoration.
- Day 1 to 3: Hospital stay with progressive assisted ambulation, cryotherapy swelling control, and deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis.
- Weeks 2 to 6: Restoration of knee flexion to 110-120 degrees, weaning off walking aids, and driving resumption upon quadriceps stabilization.
- Months 3 to 12: Progressive return to low-impact recreational activities, including cycling, swimming, doubles tennis, and hiking.
Frequently Asked Questions About Knee Replacement in Istanbul
Consult Our Orthopedic Specialists
Contact our medical team in Istanbul for questions about your diagnosis, surgical options, and appointment scheduling.