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Header image courtesy of Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong
Every year in Hong Kong, we get multiple reports of people getting injured during outdoor activities, especially hiking, not to mention various other injuries you could sustain through sports activities. Any sort of joint injury is no laughing matter; if not treated properly, they could lead to serious issues down the line. We’ve consulted with the experts at Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong on joint replacement surgery, in case the day comes and you (touch wood) end up needing such an option.
Replacement arthroplasty, more commonly known as joint replacement surgery, is a type of orthopedic surgery where an arthritic or dysfunctional joint surface gets replaced with a prosthesis. Undergoing such a procedure can relieve pain, restore range of motion, and improve walking ability, which all leads to the improvement of muscle strength. Usually, this treatment will be considered when the patient suffers from severe joint pain or dysfunction that cannot be otherwise alleviated by less invasive forms of therapy.
There are various types of replacement arthroplasty for joints such as shoulders, ankles, or fingers, but by far the most commonly done are for hips and knees, as these are the joints which bear most of our body weight for the majority of the time. The elderly and athletes in particular will more likely find the joints in their knees deteriorating to the point of pain.
Knee replacement in particular is a complex surgery, involving removing damaged cartilage, soft tissue, and certain ligaments, the ends of the femur and tibia being cut to shape, and metal components being affixed onto the bones. This operation typically involves substantial postoperative discomfort, as well as lots of physical rehabilitation. Mobility aids are most likely needed, and the recovery period may last six weeks or longer.
Patients should think about the procedure when the pain can no longer be effectively controlled and starts impairing mobility and quality of life.
Those whose knee joints have severely degenerated, or whose entire knee joints are paining them, will be recommended a total knee replacement. If patients only have part of their knee damaged, they can consider a partial knee replacement, which replaces the medial knee with an artificial joint.
Luckily for us in Hong Kong, the answer to that question is yes. Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong’s Joint Replacement Centre are working in conjunction with their recently introduced pre-anaesthetic clinic to further enhance recovery speed for patients.
The advancement of joint replacement technology now means that a unilateral joint replacement surgery can take only around one hour, with reduced bleeding due to smaller surgical incisions. This Fast Track Recovery approach can speed up recovery time, shorten hospital stays, and reduce the rate of complications and mortality.
Gleneagles is currently Hong Kong’s only private hospital that has a regular pre-anaesthesia clinic specialising in providing pre-operative assessment to patients who are due to undergo surgery. With these detailed pre-op procedures in place, the hospital’s anesthesiologists can formulate safe and appropriate anaesthesia plans for each patient to reduce any possible side effects—a particular concern in the elderly.
Through this assessment, personalised post-operative pain management plans can be developed as well. This is essential in reducing post-op pain and important in the patients’ subsequent rehabilitation.
With the Joint Replacement Centre implementing the Fast Track Recovery approach, the joint replacement surgery has advanced by leaps and bounds. Previously, patients would be able to walk by the next day after the surgery, but Gleneagles has achieved a breakthrough, where some patients can do so as soon as one hour after surgery—imagine undergoing knee replacement surgery and then being able to walk from the operating theatre to the ward afterwards!
Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong provides all-inclusive medical packages which include doctors’ fee, anaesthetic fee, the procedure, a two-bedded standard room, implant, and more. Fee advisory will be provided before admission, so patients can understand their fees in advance and guarantee the price they will be paying.
In addition, if you’re a Hospital Authority’s patient, Gleneagles is offering a special offer on their all-inclusive medical packages, including orthopaedics procedures such as joint and hip replacement, anterior cruciate ligament, trigger finger release, and more. Those eligible can enjoy 20 percent off the price of their package; this offer will last until 31 August 2020. Click here to find out more.
The above information is for reference only. If you have persistent health problems or any further questions, please consult your health care provider.
A state-of-the-art private hospital committed to providing Hong Kong people with high-quality and accessible healthcare services. It provides 500 beds and a comprehensive range of clinical services spanning more than 35 specialties and subspecialties. Gleneagles is the first private hospital in the city to offer all-inclusive medical packages as part of its efforts to provide price assurance and transparent pricing structure.
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