Once the decision for knee replacement surgery has been made, patients typically undergo a series of tests before the actual surgery date. This can be a lot to take in, especially for the individual that just wants the painful knee fixed, but each test serves a specific purpose to make sure the surgery and recovery go as smoothly as possible.
These pre-operative checks are broadly divided into two groups: assessments of the knee itself, and general health and fitness for anesthesia.
Typically knee-specific measures include:
- Standing x-rays of the knee (and sometimes the entire leg) to assess alignment and joint space
- Physical exam (range of motion and ligament stability testing)
- Additional imaging (e.g. MRI) may be asked in some cases if there is any suspicion of involvement of soft tissues.
General health assessments commonly include:
- Blood tests: blood count, sugar levels, kidney and liver function, clotting profile
- An ECG and a cardiac assessment if required to confirm the heart can safely tolerate anesthesia
- Chest X-ray and basic lung function tests, especially for patients with a history of breathing problems
- Review of current medications, especially blood thinners, which may have to be changed before surgery
Further consultations with the relevant specialists are usually arranged for those with existing conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease to ensure these conditions are well controlled prior to the operation. This is not a sign that something is wrong, but a normal part of ensuring the safest possible outcome.
This process, done with an orthopedic surgeon in Indore working together with the anesthesia and physician teams, generally means fewer surprises at the last moment and a better idea of what to expect the day of surgery. While choosing the best orthopedic doctor in Indore for this stage, the emphasis is usually on explaining in detail each test and what it is testing for instead of just listing it.
