Total Knee Replacement in Athens

What changes in the knee

Despite the name, the whole knee is not taken out. A few millimetres of worn cartilage and bone are removed from the thigh bone and the shin bone, and metal surfaces take their place. A liner of hard-wearing polyethylene sits between them and plays the part of cartilage. In some cases the back of the kneecap is resurfaced too.

The side ligaments, muscles and tendons stay where they are. That is why balancing them well during surgery matters so much.

Who it suits

Advanced knee osteoarthritis that shows clearly on the X-ray.
Pain that limits walking, stairs and sleep.
Treatment without surgery that has been tried properly and is no longer enough.
General health that allows the operation to be done safely.

If the wear is limited to one compartment, a partial replacement may be discussed, with a shorter recovery.

Conventional or with robotic assistance

The operation can be done with classic instruments or with robotic assistance. In the second case, the CORI® system maps the knee during surgery and helps place the parts exactly as planned.

Both ways give very good results. See in detail what CORI® robotic knee replacement adds and what it does not.

The operation, step by step

Anaesthesia. Usually a spinal with light sedation.
Approach. One incision at the front of the knee.
Bone preparation. The worn surfaces are removed with millimetre accuracy.
Trial. Trial parts are used to check movement, stability and how the kneecap tracks.
Final parts. They are usually fixed with a special cement.
Closure. The whole operation takes about one to two hours.

The first days

You stand up with the physiotherapist on the same day or the next. Pain is controlled with a combination of medicines and ice, so that you can do your exercises. For some weeks you take blood-thinning medication to prevent clots.

You leave hospital once you walk safely with aids and manage a few stairs, usually within a few days.

How far the new knee will bend

Bending is won through daily work in the first weeks. A common first target is 90 degrees, which is enough for sitting and stairs. Most everyday activities need around 110 to 120 degrees.

Full straightening matters just as much. A knee that does not straighten tires you with every step. The window for gaining movement is the first two to three months, which is why steady physiotherapy counts for so much.

The results, honestly

Most patients get great pain relief and return to walking, travelling and their activities. The new knee is not the knee you had at 30, though. A small share of patients continue to have some discomfort or stiffness.

Satisfaction is higher when expectations are right from the start: less pain and a better daily life, not a return to running and jumping. Modern implants usually work well for many years, often more than 15 to 20.

The risks

Infection, blood clots, stiffness, ongoing pain and, less often, loosening of the parts over the years. Specific measures are taken against each one: antibiotics, blood thinners, early movement. Your own risk depends on your general health, weight, smoking and diabetes. We will go through them one by one before you decide.

What to ask before you decide

Do I need a total or a partial replacement?
Will robotic assistance be used for my knee?
How many days will I stay in hospital?
When does physiotherapy start and how long does it last?
What can I do from now to reach surgery in better shape?

Common questions

How painful is a knee replacement?

The first weeks are painful, and the pain is controlled with medication and ice. It drops steadily and, for most people, at three months it is clearly less than the pain before surgery.

When will I walk without aids?

Most people put the aids away within four to six weeks. Timing differs from person to person.

I live abroad. Can I have the operation in Athens?

Yes. The first step is a review of your X-rays. Plan to stay close for the first weeks of follow-up and ask your surgeon when it is safe to fly.