Delaying Knee Replacement Surgery May Diminish Health The longer patients wait and allow their knee issues to affect them, the more it impacts overall health. For instance, an inability to walk without pain may lead to avoidance of exercise and weight gain which will put even more pressure on the painful knee.
What happens if knee replacement is not done?
If you wait too long to have surgery, you put yourself at risk of experiencing an increasing deformity of the knee joint. As your condition worsens, your body may have to compensate by placing additional strain on other parts of the body (like your other knee).
How long can you go without knee replacement?
“A recent article in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery found that about 90 percent of people wait longer than necessary to have knee replacement surgery, often waiting two years or more beyond the point at which they are considered a reasonable candidate for the procedure,” Dr. Hansen said.
What is the best age to have a knee replacement?
In summary, TKA performed between the ages of 70 and 80 years has the best outcome. With respect to mortality, it would be better to perform TKA when the patients are younger. Therefore, the authors of these studies believe that from 70 to 80 years of age is the optimal range for undergoing TKA.
What is the life expectancy of a total knee replacement?
In 85% to 90% of people who have a total knee replacement, the knee implants used will last about 15 to 20 years. This means that some patients who have a knee replacement at a younger age may eventually need a second operation to clean the bone surfaces and refixate the implants.