Simultaneous Bilateral Knee Replacements

06/06/2022 11:14

Experts of Viet Duc University Hospital have successfully performed knee replacement in both sides at the same time known as Simultaneous Bilateral Knee Replacements for a 69-year-old patient, resident in Ha Tinh. This is a difficult technique and  has many challenges for the surgeon because the patient has just undergo one surgery instead of two times as usual.

 

“2 in 1” surgery – Freeing patients from constant pain

 

That is the patient B.O, 69 years old comes from Ha Tinh, diagnosed a severe bilateral knee osteoarthritis. He came to Viet Duc University Hospital for chief complaints : Pain, restricted movement of his knee on both sides continuously for 2 years. The patient has met many the doctor and received medical treatment at many places but his knee problem was not improved.

 

 

Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Manh Khanh – Deputy Director of the Institute of Orthopedic Trauma, Head of the Department of Upper Extremity Surgery and Sports Medicine, Viet Duc University Hospital, said: after having checked Mr. B.O, we found the axial torticollis, both legs crooked in about 15 degrees made him difficulties in walking. X-ray study, there are all typical signs of knee osteoarthritis: two narrow joints, with cartilaginous defects, dense subchondral foci, bone spurs below the femur, and facet deformity. That is a grade IV of bilateral knee osteoarthritis. Due to severe degeneration, no responding to medical treatment, so we decided to replace both his knees. After consulting with the surgical team including surgeon and anesthesiologist, and explaining to the patient and his family, on April 22, we performed a simultaneous knee replacement on both sides for the patient.

 

The surgery duration was about 70 minutes. On 3^rd after surgery, the patient was stable and starting with the rehabilitation and exercise and able to walk with a walking frame.

 

 

Outstanding advantages

 

Being a pioneer in bringing arthroscopic knee surgery to Vietnam since the 2000s, and also the first doctor of Viet Duc University Hospital to perform arthroscopic knee surgery, knee replacement, and total hip replacement for patients, Assoc.Prof. Nguyen Manh Khanh – Deputy Director of the Institute of Orthopedic Trauma, Head of the Department of Upper Extremity Surgery and Sports Medicine, Viet Duc University Hospital has set a record with over 30,000 surgeries in more than 20 years of practice, of which 10,000 were knee arthroscopy, improving the quality of life for thousands of people. Assoc. Pr. Khanh shared: Normally, patients with knee osteoarthritis on both sides are indicated for knee replacements should undergo 2 surgeries. The time interval between two surgeries can be from few weeks to few months, depending on many factors such as health, psychology, economic conditions… of the patient.

 

Replacing knees at the same time on both sides has many advantages: the patients should go through only one operation instead of two surgeries as usual (only one time local anesthesia/ general anesthesia); Save travel time and well as the costs of laboratory tests, surgery, drugs during the hospitalization; After surgery, the patient is able to do exercise for both legs at the same time; Relieve anxiety for patients when they have to go to the hospital for surgery two times; Shorten hospital stay, able to return to work and daily activities soon.

 

 

However, this technique also needs to be ensured by many factors including: Good experience and qualified surgeons; modern facilities and equipment; pain relief during and after surgery. In addition to conventional pain relief during the knee replacement at Viet Duc University Hospital such as spinal anesthesia, endotracheal anesthesia, the epidural analgesia and post-operative multimodality treatment protocols are applying, ensure that the surgery is safe, fast and highly effective. On the other hand, the patient is healthy prior surgery that is a good condition for success of surgery and rehabilitation after surgery, Assoc. Pr. Nguyen Manh Khanh added.

 

 

With the increasing rate of knee osteoarthritis and knee injuries due to daily-life and sports accidents in Vietnam, knee replacement surgery – a complex and specialized technique in orthopedic surgery opened a “golden” opportunity to help many people with severe, long-term knee osteoarthritis avoid the risk of permanent disability, bringing them back to daily activities and work soon.