Double knee surgery versus single knee surgery – which is best for me?

If knee pain or problems in both your knees is interfering with your wellbeing and participation in the activities you love, you might be recommended to undergo surgery for the replacement of both knees.

There are two options to consider when you require two knees to be replaced:

Staged bilateral knee replacement in which your knees are replaced in two separate, single knee replacement surgeries.
Double knee replacement surgery in which both knees are replaced in the same operation.

As with any medical treatment, there are pros and cons to each approach.

Two single knee replacement surgeries

Pros	Cons
The staged approach allows one knee to recover before the second surgery	The overall rehabilitation process can be much longer
The surgeries are conducted months apart, giving you time to recover in-between	Total time spent recovering is longer as there are two operations to recover from
Shorter visits to the hospital	In between operations, your second knee that has not yet been replaced will need to work harder, which will be difficult if it is in poor condition
Reduced risk of complications	Higher cost
	More time off work

Double knee replacement surgery

Pros	Cons
Less total time spent in hospital	Because the surgery and anaesthesia is prolonged, there is a slight increase in complications. However, these are uncommon
One rehabilitation period is faster overall	It is not recommended for patients with heart or lung disease
One stay in hospital	Stay in a rehabilitation centre afterwards is more likely
One dose of anaesthesia	Longer surgery time
Less total time off work	More painful recovery

Whether you choose to have your knees replaced simultaneously or separately, it’s important to seek guidance from a professional before deciding. As one of the top Orthopaedic Surgeons in Newcastle and the Hunter performing double and single knee replacement surgery using advanced technologies, you can call our office if you would like more advice.

If you would like more information on our knee replacement surgeries, click below for our free specialist guide Your Complete Guide to Knee Replacement Surgery or contact us today.

2 Mar 2017

Published by Stuart MacKenzie