Is it safe for a 72-year-old female with a history of diabetes to undergo knee replacement surgery?

Question

Hello doctor,

My wife is 72 years old and has diabetes and hypothyroidism. Both are under control. She gets pain very often in the knees, especially while climbing down the stairs. Please suggest whether she has to undergo knee replacement of the right knee. Or can we postpone for some more years? Is it safe to undergo surgery as she has diabetes? I have shared the X-rays of the last two years. Kindly review them.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thank you for your query.

I reviewed the reports (attachment removed to protect the patient's identity). Your wife has severe osteoarthritis with high-grade osteoporosis of the bones. The X-ray and your detailed description of the symptoms indicate your wife's severe suffering. She is on painkillers and muscle relaxants that are not good at this age. It is the right time to go for total knee replacement surgery at the earliest to recover from the surgery sooner. Once you come nearer to the 80s, it will still be difficult to get over the major surgery. We should plan stepwise for a more painful knee first, then the second knee in a few months. Going for both knee surgeries together will be a burden at this age.

I hope this has helped you. Thank you.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Kindly revert back if you have any further concerns.

Thank you.