Knee Replacement Surgery

Spend time preparing your home to help keep yourself safe during your recovery. Set up an area on the first floor of your home where you are able to rest and recover comfortably without having to go up and down steps for the first few days. You may also want to set up a small table nearby with books or remote controls for the television. Be sure to arrange for someone to stay with you the first few days after surgery.

Knee replacement surgery usually lasts about two hours. You are given anesthesia during the procedure as your surgeon removes damaged cartilage and fits the artificial replacement joint in the knee. After surgery, you go to a recovery room.

A physical therapist begins working with you shortly after your knee replacement surgery – and a machine is used to work on gentle motion while you are in the hospital. It’s important to keep up with exercises to strengthen the knee and leg and restore motion to the knee.

Most of the time, you should expect to be in the hospital for two to three days. Your surgeon discharges you once you are able to get out of bed or a chair on your own and use the bathroom.

Rehabilitation after knee replacement surgery is important to help your recovery and improve your strength and motion in outpatient physical therapy. Your physical therapist teaches you exercises you can safely do at home and offers recommendations on how often you should perform them. Your care team also shares how to care for your incision and ways to reduce or control the swelling down after surgery, including regularly icing your knee.