Are Total Knee Replacements Used Too Often?

According to the Center’s Orthopedic & Neurological Care & Research:

• By 2030, total knee replacement surgeries are projected to grow 673% to 3.5 million procedures per year
• About 60% of all knee replacement operations are performed on women
• Approximately 85% of knee replacements will last for 20 years
• Nearly half of American adults will develop knee osteoarthritis in at least one knee in their lifetime
• 80% of osteoarthritis patients have some degree of movement limitation
• More than 90% of people who have knee replacement surgery experience a dramatic reduction in knee pain

If you have suffered from an injury at work in Pennsylvania that requires total knee replacement, a Lancaster job injury lawyer can help you with your workers’ comp claim so that you can recover all the financial losses related to such extensive and extended medical care. We understand the laws in Pennsylvania and have experience dealing with severe, long-lasting injuries of all types.

About Total Knee Replacements

Total knee replacements have become a regular culprit in Pennsylvania workers’ comp claims. They may occur when a worker has a preexisting condition, such as arthritis, which is then aggravated by a work injury, or when the work injury itself causes damage to a previously healthy knee.

Part of the problem is unrealistic expectations. Candidates for the procedure are often told that total knee replacement is the “cure” for their chronic knee pain or that the procedure will “reduce knee pain by X%.” However, research has suggested that a significant number of total knee replacement recipients are unhappy with the results and that a substantial number of recipients weren’t even ideal candidates in the first place.

Still, it cannot be discounted that most people do well with their total knee replacement. Nonetheless, as is the case with any type of surgery, the procedure does carry certain risks, which may include:

• Injury to related nerves
• Unexpected bleeding
• Infection
• Clots
• Limited motion of the knee
  

As discussed, all of this comes with the risk that the procedure simply won’t relieve your pain in any meaningful way.

Minimally Invasive Total Knee Replacement

There is a procedure called “minimally invasive total knee replacement,” during which a smaller incision is used and is often performed under general or spinal anesthesia. This procedure causes less damage and is easier to tolerate and recover from. It may not, however, provide adequate repair or relief from pain. A Lancaster Job Injury Lawyer at Vanasse Law LLC can help you discuss your options with your doctor and select the best procedure for your particular circumstances.

Learn More About Knee Replacement Surgery From a Lancaster Job Injury Lawyer

Whether you’re considering total knee replacement or minimally invasive total knee replacement, you need to look at all of your options and how each impacts your workers’ comp claim. A Lancaster Job Injury Lawyer at Vanasse Law LLC can help you with your claim; simply contact us for a same-day response and a free consultation.