Knee Care

Dr. Henry Backe is an integral part of the Orthopaedic Specialty
Group, P. C. team for over 25 years. Dr. Backe’s exceptional surgical skills are complemented by a personable style and dedication to the highest quality patient outcomes and satisfaction. He is a board certified orthopaedic surgeon and is fellowship trained in the area of hand and wrist and joint replacement.

Bilateral Knee Replacement

Knee Specialist In The Greater Fairfield & Shelton Areas

Dr. Henry Backe treats knee conditions at his offices in Fairfield and Shelton, Connecticut. Dr. Backe of Orthopaedic Specialty Group P. C. , is a specialty trained orthopaedic surgeon specializing in knee conditions and injuries. As a leader in Orthopaedics, Dr. Backe offers innovative and less-invasive treatment options and state-of-the-art technologies that benefit his patients in many ways.

FAQs on Bilateral Knee Replacement

Bilateral Knee Replacement

When the cartilage has worn away in both knees, an artificial knee (called a prosthesis) can take its place. The surgery to implant both of the prosthesis is termed a Bilateral Knee Replacement. Only the surface of the joint is removed – the arthritic ends of the bones are replaced with new metal and plastic surfaces. The knee replacement recreates almost normal function of the knee, and its main goal is to relieve pain.

What is a Simultaneous Bilateral Total Knee Replacement?

A Simultaneous staged procedure means to replace both knees on the same day, under one anesthesia. This takes place in the same surgical event, within one hospital stay and is followed by a single rehabilitation period.

What is a Staged Bilateral Total Knee Replacement?

The Staged procedure means that both knee replacements take place as two separate surgical events. Surgeries are performed several months apart one from the other, requiring two hospital stays, two anesthesias and two rehabilitation periods.

Benefits

What are the advantages of a Simultaneous Total Knee Replacement?

The advantages of having a Simultaneous procedure include: only one surgical event, single anesthesia, shorter overall hospital stay and the possibility of rehabilitating the patient symmetrically.

What are the advantages of a Staged Total Knee Replacement?

The advantages of having a Staged procedure include apparently lower stress level for the cardiovascular system, less complications related with the heart and the deep veins, as well as lower possibility of requiring banked blood after surgery. This is an excellent choice for a patients with cardiac, vascular or pulmonary diseases or above 80 years old.

Potential Complications

What are the disadvantages of a Simultaneous Total Knee Replacement?

The disadvantages of having a Simultaneous procedure include a probable risk increase in cardiovascular complications and a higher possibility of requiring banked blood after surgery. This procedure is not available to every patient with problems in both knees, because it implies a high stress for the cardiovascular system. Only patients in a good health condition are appropriate candidates, and special emphasis should be made for an adequate patient selection. Also the initial rehabilitation is slightly more difficult as you lose “no good leg to stand on”.

What are the disadvantages of a Staged Total Knee Replacement?

The disadvantages of having a Staged procedure include that it requires two hospital stays, two anesthesias and delays full return from disability.

FAQ

Who should have a Bilateral Total Knee Replacement?

The most common reason for a Bilateral Total Knee Replacement is severe arthritic pain equally symptomatic in both knees, that interferes with the patient’s activities of daily living and significant reduces the patient’s quality of life. Usually complaints are worst with weight bearing activities, as standing and walking. Untreated, knee arthritis is usually painful, functionally limiting, it compromises the patient’s independence and progresses over time. Another indication is several deformities in both knees, in which not correcting both knees deformities at the same time will compromise the clinical result.

Is there any contraindication for a Simultaneous procedure?

Yes. There are some contraindications and this is why Dr. Backe believes that the selection of the appropriate patient determines the outcome of the simultaneous procedure. The usual contraindications for knee replacement include an active knee infection and severe neurologic compromise of the leg. This procedure is also relatively contraindicated in patients with concomitant cardiac, lung, and/or vascular disorders that may increase the possibilities of potential problems. Patients above 80 years old should not have a simultaneous procedure due to the risks that it involves.

Who would be the ideal candidate for a Simultaneous procedure?

The ideal candidate for a Simultaneous Total Knee Replacement should be younger than 80 years old, without associated cardiac, pulmonary or vascular diseases. This patient should also complain of severe arthritic pain equally symptomatic in both knees, that interferes with his/her activities of daily living and significantly reduces the his/her quality of life.

Recovery

What are the results in terms of function and relieve of pain?

In both type of procedures, Simultaneous and Staged, results are excellent and equivalent in terms of relieve of pain and daily activities. Patients should expect a greater than 95% chance of success at 15 years.