Frequently Asked Questions
General
An orthopaedic surgeon is a doctor who specialises is surgical repair of conditions affecting bones and joints.
There is no difference.
Funds differ on what they cover.
The definitive way to find out is to call your health fund and ask if you are covered for joint replacement (not reconstruction).
Total Knee Replacement - Ask if you are covered for Item number 49518
Total Hip Replacement - Ask if you are covered for Item number 49318
Hip Concerns
Hip replacement is estimated to last between 20 and 30 years.
Recovery takes 8 weeks to the point where safe travel is achievable, but you will be walking on the same day of your surgery.
This depends on the degree of stiffness prior to surgery. You may safely practice tieing your shoe laces after the 3 week time point, after anterior hip replacement.
You may surf after recovering from hip replacement. Some people start after 6 weeks, but Dr Fleming suggests planning on return to better waves after the 12 to 16 week point post surgery.
Anterior hip replacement is performed through the front of the thigh avoiding cutting tendons off from the hip bone. Posterior hip replacement is performed through the buttock, the tendons are cutt off the hip bone and need to be repaired and heal after surgery.
Early hip arthritis may be better managed with gentle strength training but moderate to severe hip arthritis is made worse with excercise.
Exercise tends to worsen hip arthritic pain after a certain stage.
The scar is positioned at the top of your thigh and it is usually 8cm in length.
Knee Concerns
Sporting injuries such as ACL injuries may require joint reconstruction where the Cruciate Ligament is reconstructed with the use of a tendon either taken from your own leg or from a donor (allograft).
For ACL reconstruction ask your health fund if you are covered for Item Number 49542Â
After right total knee replacement it is reasonable to delay driving until you have full control of your brake foot reaction time - this may take 6 weeks.
After arthroscopic knee surgery you will usually be ready to drive by the 2 week post op point.
When you feel you are ready to start driving take someone with you and practice in a safe area outside of peak road hoursÂ
Knee reconstruction is the term given to procedures where we perform soft tissue surgery of the knee such as ACL reconstruction.
Knee replacement is where athritic surfaces are replaced with artificial smooth implants effectively resurfacing the joint.
ACL tears are often treated with ACL reconstruction where a tendon graft is placed and tensioned in the knee to replace the old torn ACL.
The knee comprises 3 parts- should any of these parts be arthritic and the other parts are in good condition then just the single part may be replaced, termed a partial knee replacement.
The first 6 weeks after knee replaceemnt will take you to about 60% of the healing journey.
By 3 months, you will be at 75%, and by one year you will have completed the recovery.
It is best to wait 6 weeks after joint replacement.
You should also take aspirin daily for 3 days over the flight period, and use calf compressor stocks when flying to reduce the risk of DVT.
Knee braces are particularly poor at preventing ACL injury. They can serve to remind us to be cautious with an injured knee. Some braces are helpful to prevent recurrent injury to the collateral ligaments.
It is estimated that a knee replacement will last between 20 and 30 years.
Early knee arthritis may be managed with physiotherapy/exercise and certain medications. Advanced arthritis may require a form of knee replacement surgery.