Revolutionary new knee replacement could see patients walking just TWO HOURS after surgery

Revolutionary: Knee replacement surgery may no longer leave patients bedridden for days

Medics have come up with a new system of knee replacement that could see patients walking just two hours after surgery.



Most patients who undergo the new method are allowed to leave hospital within 36 hours and some are able to go home within a day of going under the knife.



Consultant orthopedic surgeon Tony Smith at North Wales NHS Trust devised the system with a team of physiotherapists, anaesthetists, nurses and hospital managers.

They combined their ideas with the latest innovations from Australia, Copenhagen and the USA.



Instead of being laid up in bed for at least 24 hours, patients are encouraged to bend their legs to almost 90 degrees as soon as possible and to take their first new steps.



The concept is so alien to most patients that the team has had to set up a joint school to prepare them for what is in store.



The system combines new aesthetic techniques with highly effective pain management.



Anti-depressants and drugs traditionally used to treat fits are being employed, as medics have discovered they can act as pain killers.



Innovative: Tony Smith, who is leading the team of experts

About 2,000 patients will benefit from the improvements in the next 12 months alone.

The new techniques can also be used for hip and ankle treatments.

Mr Smith said: ‘The fact is that many of these patients are better than those who are in hospital for six days or longer in other hospitals.



'We're not pushing them out until they are ready.’



Audrey Hughes, 71, of Wrexham, speaking minutes after the surgery, said she was delighted with how things were going.

The level of success has also stunned nurses trialling the new system.



Senior ward nurse Anita Gittins, said: ‘I've worked here for 20 years and I can't believe how quickly they are recovering.



‘Instead of getting caught up in managing bed rotas as patients slowly convalesce, they are getting down to treating the patients.'

Former Flintshire councillor Ron Evans, who had a double knee replacement using the old techniques, is acting as patient advisor.



He said: 'When I had my knee operations I was in for 11 days.



‘What has been done here is amazing.’



Programme manager Neil Windsor, who is now advising the Department of Health, said: ‘We had the Health Minister Edwina Hart visit recently and we had a knee patient in the day before for her to meet but unfortunately for her he had left by the time she came round.



‘He was out in 24 hours and that is not unusual.’



Mr Smith added: ‘What we've had to achieve here is a culture change. Now what we're doing could be used across the board for elective surgery.’

