Knee replacement surgery removes damaged cartilage and bone from the joint surface, then replaces it with a metal and plastic implant that restores alignment a`nd weight-bearing function. The procedure typically takes 1 to 2 hours under spinal or general anaesthesia. Surgeons reshape the femur and tibia ends before fitting implant components that mimic natural knee movement. Most patients begin walking with support within 24 hours after surgery.
According to Dr. Sumit Badhwar,best orthopedic surgeon in Noida, “The precision of bone cuts and implant alignment during surgery directly determines how well the knee functions for the next 15 to 20 years.”Struggling with knee stiffness that won’t respond to medication or physiotherapy? Book Appointment
What happens during each stage of the surgery?
The sequence doesn’t change regardless of the patient’s age or condition, because each step sets up the one that follows it.- Anaesthesia: Spinal block is the standard pick since it numbs everything below the waist without putting the patient to sleep, but the anaesthetist switches to general if there’s a spinal deformity or if the patient simply can’t hold still long enough for needle placement
- Exposing the joint: One vertical cut, roughly 15 to 20 centimetres, goes straight down the front of the knee and then the kneecap gets moved to the side so the surgeon is looking directly at the cartilage damage with nothing blocking the view
- Cutting bone: This is where the jigs come in, metal guides clamped to the femur and tibia that dictate exactly how much bone and cartilage gets removed, down to the millimetre, so the implant sits at the correct anatomical angle
- Fixing the implant: Metal caps are pressed or cemented onto the freshly cut surfaces depending on how strong the bone is, and a polyethylene spacer locks between them to act as the new cushion that lets the joint bend and straighten without grinding
What does recovery look like after this procedure?
Most people underestimate how much the first six weeks shape the final result, and that’s where complications either show up or don’t.- Within hours: The patient sits up in bed and bears partial weight on the operated leg with a walker at the bedside, not because it’s comfortable but because stagnant blood pooling in the calf is a real clot risk that early movement directly counters
- Rehab begins: A physiotherapist starts passive and active knee bending by day two, and the weekly targets keep shifting since the range a patient manages on day 7 rarely matches what they’re doing by day 21
- Leaving hospital: Discharge happens around day 3 or 4 for most cases, and the walker typically gives way to a cane once quadriceps strength picks up enough to stabilize the leg during normal walking, usually somewhere around the second or third week
- Longer arc: Climbing stairs without thinking about it, sitting cross-legged on the floor, walking a full kilometre without soreness, these milestones land between month 3 and month 6 although some residual stiffness in the mornings can take nearly a year to fully go away
Why choose Dr. Sumit Badhwar?
Dr. Sumit Badhwar holds an MCh in Orthopaedics with over 16 years of surgical experience, 350+ total knee replacements and 275+ hip replacements with a 100% success rate and zero post-operative infection, UK training in sports medicine from Nottingham University, and that depth of hands-on joint replacement work shows in outcomes that patients don’t have to second-guess. What patients consistently mention is how clearly the procedure gets explained before surgery, with 3D imaging and pre-operative visuals that show exactly what’s happening inside the joint, so there’s no confusion walking into the operating room. Call Now: +91 99586 11221FAQs
1) Is knee replacement surgery painful?
Spinal anaesthesia and post-operative medications keep pain well controlled.2) How long does the surgery take?
Usually between 1 and 2 hours from incision to closure.3) When can I walk after knee replacement?
Most patients bear weight with a walker within 24 hours.4) How long do knee implants last?
Current implants function well for 15 to 20 years or more. References:- Knee Replacement Surgery Overview — National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
- Total Knee Arthroplasty Outcomes — PubMed / National Library of Medicine
