1. Is joint replacement surgery scary? For patients with osteoarthritis, joint replacement surgery is actually joint surface replacement surgery. Simply put, it is the removal of worn and damaged cartilage and bone spurs from the joint surface and replacement with metal and ultra-high polymer polyethylene in the appropriate area as the moving surface of the joint, thus relieving pain. Joint replacement surgery is not as serious as one might think, and is routine for joint specialists, with surgery times generally taking about an hour, or even faster in some cases. 2. How do I choose a knee prosthesis? There are manufacturers of knee prostheses in China and abroad, and each company has different types of knee prostheses, so there is a wide variety of knee joints available. Total knees can be divided into CR knee prostheses, which retain the posterior cruciate ligament, and PS knee prostheses, which do not retain the posterior cruciate ligament, both of which are suitable for first-time knee replacement patients. Depending on whether the prosthetic spacer is mobile or not, there are movable spacer and fixed spacer knee prostheses. Depending on the flexion angle of the prosthesis design, there are high flexion prostheses and normal prostheses to meet different patient requirements. The choice of which type of knee joint should be decided by the doctor according to the condition. 3. What is the efficacy of knee replacement, i.e., to what extent can joint function be restored after knee replacement? For patients with common osteoarthritis, function is basically normal after surgery and they can perform household chores, walk up and down stairs, travel, hike, climb mountains, and ride bicycles. The acquisition of these functions is the result of the joint efforts of the physician, the patient, and the rehabilitator; one of the three is essential. We should not force every patient to achieve perfect function; after all, some activities are no longer suitable for 70-year-olds. We should choose the purpose and method of exercise according to the patient’s own requirements, without forcing the patient to endure painful exercise. However, a range of motion from 0 to 100° is necessary and easy to achieve. 4. What is the cost of knee replacement? How many days of hospitalization? How many years will it last? Depending on the type of artificial joint used, the cost of hospitalization (including the cost of the artificial joint, surgery, medication and examination, etc.) varies. In our department, the hospitalization cost for unilateral knee replacement is about $45,000 if an imported joint prosthesis is used, and about $25,000 if a domestic joint prosthesis is used. If the patient requires a higher quality of life after surgery or requires a special type of prosthesis due to medical factors, the hospitalization cost will change accordingly. After hospitalization, we first examine your physical condition, evaluate your heart and lung function, and develop a surgical plan, which takes about 2 to 3 days. After surgery, if you recover well, you can be discharged to a rehabilitation center or to do functional exercises at home after 1 week. The usual length of stay for joint replacement surgery is 7 to 10 days. Artificial joints are made of metal and polymer plastic, following the shape of a human joint. These materials have undergone rigorous experimental testing and are safe and reliable. Elderly people who do not exercise much can generally use them for more than 20 years. Of course, the service life of artificial joints also has a lot to do with the level of skill of the doctor, experienced doctors install the right size, accurate position, fit tightly, the joint life is naturally longer. 5. Can I reoperate if the surgery fails? Yes, if the prosthesis is loose, infected or unstable after the replacement surgery, it can be operated again. 6. Do I need to be reviewed after surgery? Regular review is recommended after knee arthroplasty, as the surgeon will be able to determine the improvement of the clinical condition, which will help guide the patient to a better recovery and prolong the life of the prosthesis. The review should record the improvement of clinical symptoms, measure the joint movement angle, perform the necessary imaging, and register the joint scoring scales (HSS score of knee, WOMAC health questionnaire, Harris score of hip).