For our beloved grandparents grappling with the burden of osteoarthritis, undergoing knee surgery can make a significant difference in their everyday lives. This surgical procedure can be the difference between debilitating daily pain and embracing a life free from constant discomfort.
For the elderly, knee surgery can be a truly transformative experience that grants them relief, gives them independence, provides a painless existence, and significantly improves their overall quality of life. However, knee surgery is a significant procedure fraught with many challenges for elderly patients.
What challenges do elderly patients present, and what are the reasons behind them? What should one expect from knee surgery, and how can one prepare to work around those challenges? With insights from a top knee surgeon in Mumbai, Dr. Niraj Vora, let us find answers to these common questions today.
Challenges Faced by Elderly Individuals in Knee Surgery
Weakened Immune System:
Our immune system gradually weakens as we age, rendering us more vulnerable to infections. Major surgical procedures, with their incisions, carry a higher risk of infections, making it more challenging for elderly patients.
Reduced Bone Density:
Our bone density declines with age, affecting surgical procedures. In some cases, reduced bone density makes it difficult to secure implants, as noted by a top knee replacement surgeon in Mumbai, Dr. Niraj Vora.
Slower Healing Process:
A weaker immune system reduces bone density, and the aging process collectively slows down the natural healing process. This extension of healing timelines increases the risk of infection as a side effect.
Pre-existing Health Conditions:
Every elderly individual bears the brunt of certain pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes, respiratory issues, and heart diseases. These conditions further complicate the overall recovery process.
Limited Mobility:
Pre-existing knee problems can result in limited mobility, complicating the recovery and rehabilitation. Addressing mobility issues becomes crucial for effective postoperative care.
Increased Sensitivity to Medications:
Due to pre-existing medical conditions and aging, elderly individuals become more sensitive to medications, including pain relievers and anaesthesia.
Higher Risk of Complications:
The advanced age of the elderly makes them prone to post-surgery complications like blood clots, pneumonia, and, in some cases, adverse reactions to anaesthesia.
The above challenges are hurdles for older people to achieve a pain-free and independent life. These unique cases require exceptional knee surgical expertise and perfect rehabilitation, recovery, and pain management to ensure proper healing.
Knee Surgery for the Elderly: How to Prepare
Preparing an elderly individual for significant knee surgery involves a comprehensive approach that addresses the procedure’s medical, practical, and emotional aspects. “A knee surgeon conducts a thorough preoperative assessment to identify knee health and pre-existing health risks. Based on the assessment, medical optimizations, nutritional support, postoperative physical therapy, and other required modifications are performed to prepare the patient for the surgery,” says knee replacement surgery specialist Dr. Niraj Vora.
Postoperative care is tailored to the specific case of the patient, based on the evaluation, along with rehabilitation and physical therapy to ensure a smoother recovery. As discussed earlier, many factors may contribute to the slow recovery process of older people. Fatigue, pain, and logistical issues often play a pivotal role in the healing process. We also recommend a caregiver who can help the patient strictly adhere to rehab and recovery protocols.
For more information on the care elderly patients must take before knee surgery, you can contact the leading knee surgeon in Mumbai, Dr. Niraj Vora, here: +91-22-6686 8600