Knee
Can Both Knees Be Replaced at the Same Time? Pros, Cons, and Recovery
Key Takeaways Both knees can be replaced during one operation or as staged procedures, with the most suitable approach depending on your overall health, arthritis severity and personal circumstances. Simultaneous bilateral knee replacement offers one hospital stay and one rehabilitation period but involves a more demanding early recovery because both knees heal at the same…
See MoreBone-on-Bone Knee Arthritis: Does It Always Mean You Need a Knee Replacement?
Key Takeaways A bone-on-bone finding on an X-ray does not automatically mean you need knee replacement, as treatment decisions are based on symptoms, function, and quality of life as well as imaging. Many people continue to benefit from non-surgical care, including physiotherapy, activity modification and other conservative treatments, even with advanced arthritis. When symptoms significantly…
See MoreACL Reconstruction Surgery Cost in Australia: Who Pays What
Key Takeaways Medicare Benefits Schedule item 49542 has a schedule fee of $1,577.30, with Medicare paying 75%, or $1,183.00, for admitted private patients. Around 88% of privately insured patients had an out-of-pocket cost, typically near $1,100 and ranging from about $300 to $4,300. Hospital and theatre charges of around $5,500 sit apart from specialist fees…
See MoreKnee Replacement Recovery Week by Week: The Pattern Physios Recognise
Key Takeaways Most people walk with support within hours of surgery, and the first fortnight is about swelling, wound care and gentle bending. Weeks 3 to 6 restore movement and walking confidence, while weeks 6 to 12 rebuild lasting strength. Driving usually resumes from around two weeks after a left knee in an automatic and…
See MoreX-Ray vs MRI Before Knee Replacement: Which Scan Do You Really Need?
Key Takeaways Weight-bearing x-rays are usually the most useful imaging test for assessing knee arthritis and planning knee replacement, as they show the joint under normal load-bearing conditions. MRI is most valuable when soft tissue structures, such as the meniscus, ligaments or cartilage, need further assessment or when symptoms and x-ray findings do not clearly…
See MoreWhat Tests Will I Need Before Knee Replacement Surgery?
Key Takeaways Pre-operative tests help confirm your surgical plan, assess your fitness for anaesthesia and identify any health issues that should be managed before knee replacement. The specific tests you need depend on your health, medications and surgical plan, and may include imaging, blood tests, heart checks and an anaesthetic assessment. Abnormal test results do…
See MoreWhich Knee Replacement Is Right for You? How Your Surgeon Decides
Key Takeaways Partial knee replacement is best suited to arthritis confined to one compartment with healthy ligaments, while total knee replacement is generally recommended for more widespread joint damage, deformity or instability. Your surgeon will assess imaging, ligament stability, alignment, range of motion and symptoms to determine which procedure is most appropriate. Partial knee replacement…
See MoreSigns Your Knee Arthritis Has Progressed Beyond Non-Surgical Treatment
Key Takeaways Persistent pain, reduced mobility, night pain and declining relief from non-surgical treatments may indicate that knee arthritis has progressed and should be reassessed. The decision to consider surgery is based on a combination of symptoms, physical examination, imaging findings and how arthritis is affecting your daily life, not on a single test or…
See MoreReturning to Golf, Tennis, and Other Sports After Knee Replacement: What to Expect
Key Takeaways Returning to sport after knee replacement is usually a gradual process guided by strength, balance, range of motion and how your knee responds, rather than by time alone. Low-impact activities such as golf, doubles tennis, cycling, swimming and bowls are generally suitable for many patients, while higher-impact sports require individual discussion with your…
See MorePartial Knee Replacement vs Knee Osteotomy: Which Preserves Your Joint Better?
Key Takeaways Knee osteotomy and partial knee replacement both treat arthritis confined to one part of the knee, but they do so in different ways and suit different clinical situations. Osteotomy preserves the natural joint by changing leg alignment, while partial knee replacement resurfaces the damaged compartment and preserves the healthy parts of the knee.…
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