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Knee Replacement (questions to ask surgeon)? Options
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emily
#1 Posted : Saturday, February 27, 2010 2:42:03 PM Quote
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Posts: 89
Hi friends,
as some of you may know (as posted in other forum thread) my mum has recently been diagnosed with avascular necrosis (AN) which is where the bone dies due to the blood supply not reaching it. Sadly it is feared that the other knee is now affected aswell, the cause of this is still unknown but the consultants are being great and giving lots of support at this difficult time and ensure us that they will get to the bottom of this.

Next week we are to see the ortheopedic surgeon to plan what we are going to do, we know the knee has to be removed and quite possibly both of them.

Can anyone advise me on any specific questions i should be asking about the procedure and the surgeon?

Do you think it appropriate to ask the surgeon about his history on doing these ops, eg success rates etc... or does it show a lack of trust/respect?

Any advice/suggestions appreciated.
emilyXXX.
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jeanb
#2 Posted : Saturday, February 27, 2010 6:53:43 PM Quote
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Location: Timperley
Hi Emily

I have taken this from the website of my surgeon, Phil Turner. He is absolutely brilliant and operates only on the knee so I think you need someone who does not perform replacements on joints other than the knee.

I think it pays to search around for the best you can find. Mr T is knee surgeon to Sale Sharks, Man United and some of the England squad.

I think it is vital that you ask every question you can think of, and also make notes of the answers. My first knee was very complicated due to the severe erosion and I needed to know what was what for my own peace of mind. I guess your Mum will be the same.

Hope it helps.

Love Jeanxx

Are my symptoms really bad enough to require surgery?
Are there any other reasonable alternatives to surgery that I have not tried?
What can I expect from the operation - will it actually cure the problem or just improve the situation?
Do I know what the operation will actually involve?
What sort of anaesthetic will be available?
How long will I be in hospital?
How long will it be before I get back to a normal life?
What will I need in the way of rehabilitation - and can I put in the time and effort?
What are the specific risks of the operation? (see section on risks and complications)
Could there be further problems in the future?

It is known that the results of surgery are related to the experience of the surgeon. It is perfectly reasonable to ask your surgeon the following questions if you feel they are relevant to your situation.

How many of these operations do you perform?

All surgeons should keep an up to date log-book of operations they have done.

How many of these operations are done in the unit where I will have my surgery?

The results are not just related to the number of operations the surgeon has done, but also how many are done in the unit or hospital.

What complications has your surgeon experienced with this operation?

Not only should your surgeon have an up to date log-book, but he should record and audit the outcome and complications.

For many operations, patient information sheets are available. You should read those specifically produced by your surgeon as they relate to their standard practice which does vary from surgeon to surgeon.

The information sheets for Phil Turner are included at the end of each section on the specific operations under "Surgical Procedures".
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LynW
#3 Posted : Saturday, February 27, 2010 8:12:10 PM Quote
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Joined: 12/4/2009
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Location: Thornton Cleveleys
Hi Emily

Wow what a brilliant and useful reply! Ask, ask, and ask some more. Any surgeon worth considering will be happy to provide answers to all the questions Jean has listed. If you don't get a satisfactory response then is the time to move on and find an alternative.

Although you and your family are going through a difficult time it is important that you try to remain positive, easy for me to say I know. Advancement in knowledge of the knee mechanism means that total knee arthroplasty (knee replacement) produces highly successful outcomes and is improving all the time. At least now a diagnosis has been made and the referral to an orthopaedic surgeon imminent you are making excellent headway.

Very best wishes to you and your mum for a positive and informative outcome next week.

Lyn x
My son, Ian, completed the BUPA Great North Run on 15th September running for the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS). You can read his story at http://www.justgiving.com/ianlukewilson

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Tabbycat
#4 Posted : Saturday, February 27, 2010 8:48:55 PM Quote
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You might find the National Joint Registry useful - http://www.njrcentre.org.../njrcentre/default.aspx
Carol
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emily
#5 Posted : Sunday, February 28, 2010 11:20:00 AM Quote
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Posts: 89
Many thanks ladies for your replies,
the list of ?'s Jean are very useful, many thanks for this. The NJR Carol is good to see how many ops each hospital has carried out, i just hope we get a good surgeon who has lots of experience but i guess everyone feels like that. Lyn, thanks for your kind words and support, i like ya signature very much, so true too!
On top of all of this my mum has also been diagnosed with a fracture in one of her vertibres, it all seems to be going wrong for her! Things can only get better surely!
Thanks again
emilyXXX.
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