When both knees are severely affected by arthritis, replacing both at once may seem like an appealing way to get through treatment only once. But bilateral knee replacement also means managing one recovery involving both legs.
If you've watched a parent or neighbor spend a week in the hospital after a hip or knee replacement, you might assume that's just how it goes. Not anymore. Here in Oklahoma City, a growing number of patients are walking out of surgery.
Bilateral joint replacement refers to replacing both hips or both knees during the same surgical session. This differs from staged replacement, where one joint is treated first and the second procedure is performed weeks or months later.
Hip replacement is often thought of as a procedure reserved for later in life. Many younger patients carry this assumption into their first consultation, particularly those who have spent years managing juvenile arthritis.
Most people assume hip replacement means weeks of restricted movement, a list of things you can't do, and muscles that need months to recover. For a long time, that assumption was completely justified.
9800 Broadway Extension
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Oklahoma City, OK 73159
2002 12th Avenue NW
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Ardmore, OK, 73401
