Total Knee Arthroplasty Tunisia

The surgical procedure for replacing a Total Knee Arthroplasty or TKA in Tunisia is to change the knee joint by a piece in the lower portion of the femur and another one in the upper part of the tibia. It is indicated when the articular cartilage of the knee is destroyed either primitive conditions or by osteoarthritis, the most common situation is the secondary with other diseases (traumatic, rheumatic …). The material which constitutes this prosthesis is a component of stainless steel and polyethylene.

Why TKA operation ?

The wear of the cartilage unfortunately is irreversible and osteoarthritis does not heal spontaneously. The natural evolution is towards a deforming joint damage, a painful stiffness and walking increasingly becomes difficult if not impossible.

Indeed, a defective joint following a fracture or wearing an articular cartilage for example, can cause pain and difficulties in walking.

In cases where medical treatment fails to relieve patients who suffer from osteoarthritis or complex fracture squealed knee or other diseases, this surgery may be proposed which aims at giving the patient the function of walking without pain. Today, the installation of total knee prosthesis provides results increasingly satisfactory. Complications are increasingly rare. Several types of PTG are currently available depending on the patient and the type of pathology.

Before surgery

It is necessary that the patient does not suffer from particular dental and urinary tract infection. A preoperative assessment is required for this purpose. If the patient is diabetic, diabetes must be balanced for a month before the surgery.

The patient is hospitalized 24 before the surgery .The preoperative evaluation requested by the surgeon before the surgery must contain the following:

1. Blood test :

Blood cell abnormalities (CBC)

Rhesus blood group

A hepatic and renal assessment.

Fast blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin.

Serology, hepatitis B and HIV.

2. A potential outbreaks screening :

Total knee replacement is a foreign body that could become infected postoperatively and a focus of infection somewhere in the body can be its origin. Before the intervention, so it is imperative to identify and deal with potential outbreaks:

• A visit to the dentist : Any dental infection or neglected tooth root should be treated before the completion of the total knee prosthesis….
• A urine culture (urine culture) : Urinary tract infections, especially for women and diabetics, can be asymptomatic. This review will be carried out before surgery and infections must be treated well before fixing a date for surgery.

3. A pre anesthesia consultation : 

This includes a full clinical examination, particularly cardiology, preoperative laboratory tests, electrocardiogram and a chest radiograph.

4. An X-ray of the knee to be operated :

with a magnification of 100% and telemetry radiographs of two legs to set the size of the implants as well as defining sections to achieve.

Hospitalization for a total knee replacement

Admission to the clinic will take place one day before surgery. a shower with the Betadine is mandatory before surgery.

The day of the surgery of total knee replacement premedication is often prescribed with anxiolytics before the surgery.

The surgery lasts 1:30 to 2:00. After surgery, the patient is monitored in the recovery room depending on its recovery.

After the recovery room, the patient is taken back to his room. Exceptionally, for fragile patients, postoperative monitoring will be done in a post-operative intensive care unit.

After placement of a total knee replacement, the patient might face pain intensity and it is variable and changing. This pain will be managed with painkillers and anti-inflammatory.

The average length of hospitalization for a knee replacement is five to ten days.

Immediate operative results

Monitoring is both medical and paramedical. Pain killers continue as appropriate.

Walking will be immediately and rehabilitation will continue for a month every day.

The day after surgery

The patient is placed in the chair, or sitting on the bed.

An initial got up in the room with one or two steps, if the state allows.

The first steps with total support and in the bedroom with two canes or a walking frame will start on 2nd postoperative day.

The Redon will be removed from the 2nd or 3rd postoperative day.

The 5th postoperative day patients can get out of the service, with a return home if the discharge criteria are met. For older patients, one or two additional days may be necessary.

The procedure of release

Painkillers and anti-inflammatory will be adapted to pain and patients.

Blood thinners: a daily subcutaneous injection for a month and an anticoagulant is mandatory; preventively; after a total knee replacement, because the risk of phlebitis is important, despite the early return to walking.

The dressings will be revised every two days.

Instructions and precautions to be respected

We must show the patient with total knee arthroplastic surgery how to lie down, sit down, get out of bed, using the toilet, pick an object up and down stairs or get into a car, etc ..

Rehabilitation

It is paramount, beginning on 1 postoperative day.

In the greater majority of cases, the rehabilitation is practiced at home. A stay in a rehabilitation center is rarely indicated except where necessary.

What you must remember

Total knee replacement is a well codified procedure that gives excellent results, in most cases, with complete or nearly complete disappearance of pain 3 months after surgery.

Walking will take place with two canes and full support at the beginning, then from the second to third week, relay by a cane. Walking without a cane can be gained from 4th to 5th week.

Driving will be allowed from the 6th week, if the recovery is satisfactory.

Post operative care

In Tunisia

Our surgeon and our assistant medical staffwill look after you throughout your stay, ensuring the smooth progress of your recovery. A meeting is planned with the surgeon after the surgery and visits will be handled by our assistant medical staff at the hotel.

Back home

Once you return home, our surgeon and assistant medical staff maintain contact with you either by email; phone or Skype to make sure everything is perfect. If necessary, a follow up with your doctor can also be ensured through our surgeon.

TKR results

The outcome of this cosmetic surgery in Tunisia is noticed in one month.

Total Knee arthroplasty cost 

The price of the Total Knee replacement surgery in Tunisia with Cosmetic Tour starts from5400euro.