A knee replacement is normally performed under general anaesthetic, which means
you are asleep during the operation. During the operation, your whole existing knee joint is replaced with a new prosthetic knee joint this takes between one and two hours. You will have a cut (incision) of about 15 cm (6-8 inches) at the front of your knee where the replacement will take place. Usually, you will stay in hospital for 4-6 days, but you may have to stay longer if necessary.
A knee replacement usually takes up to two hours. Your surgeon will make a single cut (10 to 30cm long) down the front of your knee.
Your kneecap is moved to one side to reach the knee joint. The worn or damaged surfaces are removed from both the end of your thigh bone and the top of your shin bone. The surfaces are shaped to fit the artificial knee joint. The new joint is fitted over both bones.
Sometimes the back of your kneecap is replaced with a plastic part. This is called patellar resurfacing.
After the new joint is fitted, the skin cut is closed with stitches or clips and covered with a dressing. Your knee will be tightly bandaged to help minimise swelling.
If you need them, you can take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Follow the instructions in the patient information leaflet that comes with the medicine and ask your pharmacist for advice.
The exercises recommended by your physiotherapist are a crucial part of your recovery, so it’s essential that you continue to do them.