Total knee replacement at SKHF Fujairah relieves chronic pain and restores mobility. Learn the procedure, recovery timeline, and how to book your assessment.
Knee pain often starts as a mild discomfort while walking or climbing stairs, then gradually worsens until it disrupts daily activities and wakes you at night. When conservative measures, medications, physical therapy, or injections fail to provide adequate pain relief, total knee replacement can be an effective option to restore activity and function.
At Sheikh Khalifa Hospital Fujairah, our orthopedic team performs total knee arthroplasty, patellofemoral joint replacement in selected cases, and revision procedures when prior implants fail or when complications require management. The goal is to restore knee joint function, improve quality of life, and enable a gradual return to everyday activities.
The decision to undergo knee replacement surgery rarely happens overnight. Instead, it develops gradually. An injection that once relieved your symptoms for 6 months may now provide relief for only a few weeks. Climbing the stairs at home becomes an activity that requires planning instead of being done naturally.
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), knee osteoarthritis is the main reason patients undergo total knee replacement. As damaged cartilage continues to wear away, the space within the knee joint narrows, reducing your range of motion and making every step increasingly painful.
That’s clearly noted with a 61-year-old woman from Fujairah who relied on anti-inflammatory injections for several years to manage her knee pain. At first, each injection provided relief for months. Eventually, the benefit lasted only a few weeks. She could no longer climb the stairs in her home and began avoiding even short walks that had once been effortless.
Imaging later confirmed severe cartilage loss, and her orthopedic evaluation indicated that injections were merely postponing the necessary treatment instead of altering the disease’s progression.
Many patients ask the same question she did: “Can another injection or more physical therapy help instead?“
Although this is a reasonable question, the answer is often disappointing. Corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid injections can temporarily relieve pain, but they cannot regenerate damaged cartilage or stop osteoarthritis from progressing. In fact, when the period of pain relief becomes shorter after each injection, it is often the clearest sign that conservative treatment has reached its limit.
According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), you should consider booking an orthopaedic assessment if you experience one or more of the following symptoms:
If these symptoms sound familiar, the goal of surgery is not simply to relieve pain. It is to restore movement, preserve your independence, and prevent poor knee function from placing additional strain on other joints and your overall health.
The knee joint structure consists of three main compartments: medial, lateral, and patellofemoral compartment beneath the patella (kneecap). Healthy cartilage covers the ends of the bones within these compartments, allowing the joint to move smoothly while reducing friction during walking, sitting, and climbing stairs.
As osteoarthritis progresses, the cartilage and bone gradually wear away. The joint loses its smooth surface, movement becomes increasingly painful, and everyday activities become more difficult.
During total knee replacement, your orthopaedic surgeon removes the damaged cartilage and bone from all three compartments of the knee joint. The joint is then reconstructed using durable metal and plastic components that are designed to withstand daily movement and weight-bearing.
The implant typically includes:
Together, these metal and plastic components recreate a stable, functional joint that is designed to restore movement and improve long-term mobility.
This is one of the questions patients ask most frequently.
Modern knee implants are carefully designed to replicate the natural movement of the knee as closely as possible. Within a few months of recovery, most patients report that the replaced joint feels stable and comfortable during normal movement. Many eventually stop thinking about the implant altogether as they return to their usual daily activities.
At Sheikh Khalifa Hospital Fujairah (SKHF), the orthopaedic team uses internationally recognised implant systems from leading manufacturers, including Enovis Amico, Johnson & Johnson, Zimmer, and Stryker.
Rather than selecting an implant based on brand alone, your surgeon chooses the most appropriate system according to your age, the anatomy of your knee joint, your activity level, and your long-term functional goals.
Not necessarily. The most appropriate procedure depends on how much of the knee joint has been affected.
For example, a 58-year-old patient may visit the orthopaedic clinic with pain mainly affecting the inner side of the knee. After clinical examination and imaging, the surgeon discovers that the damage extends beyond the medial compartment into multiple areas of the joint. Because the disease is no longer confined to one compartment, total knee arthroplasty (TKA) offers the best chance of achieving long-term stability, reliable pain relief, and lasting function.
So, during your consultation, ask your surgeon one important question: “Is my cartilage damage limited to one compartment, or does it involve multiple compartments of the knee?”
The answer will help determine whether partial knee replacement or total knee replacement is the most appropriate treatment for your condition.
The UAE has one of the highest obesity rates in the world. According to the World Obesity Federation, more than 35% of adults in the UAE are classified as obese. Excess body weight places additional mechanical stress on the knee joint, accelerating cartilage damage and the progression of osteoarthritis.
In addition, the UAE Ministry of Health & Prevention highlights that sedentary lifestyles, common among people who spend long hours working at desks or driving, reduce the muscle support surrounding the knee. As these muscles weaken, the joint becomes less stable, allowing degeneration to progress more rapidly.
Because of this progressive degeneration, many patients delay knee replacement surgery, hoping that weight loss alone will solve the problem.
This is exactly the case of a 64-year-old man with advanced knee arthritis who postpones surgery for two years while trying to lose weight. During that time, his walking distance becomes shorter, he begins relying on a walking stick, and he develops pain in his hip and lower back because his body is constantly compensating for the damaged knee joint.
Yet, as this example shows, although maintaining a healthy weight is important for your overall health, it cannot regenerate damaged cartilage that has already worn away.
This leads to another common concern: “If I have surgery now, will I need another knee replacement later?”
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), when modern knee implants are appropriately selected and followed by proper rehabilitation, they last 15 to 20 years or longer for most patients.
Delaying surgery does not make the implant last longer. Instead, it extends the period of chronic pain, further reduces your range of motion, limits your mobility, and negatively affects your quality of life.
If your orthopaedic surgeon recommends knee replacement surgery, continued delay will not preserve your knee joint. It simply allows further cartilage loss, increases the risk of falls, and places additional strain on other joints throughout your body.
Your knee replacement surgery journey begins well before you enter the operating theatre. At Sheikh Khalifa Hospital Fujairah (SKHF), the orthopaedic team carefully evaluates your overall health and develops a personalised treatment plan based on your condition and individual needs. The goal is not only to perform a successful replacement surgery, but also to minimise complications, support a smooth recovery, and help you return safely to your normal daily activities.
Your preparation starts with a comprehensive medical evaluation. This includes reviewing your medical history, performing blood tests, an electrocardiogram (ECG), and imaging studies. You will also meet with an anaesthetist to confirm that you are medically fit for surgery.
Your orthopaedic surgeon carefully reviews your imaging to determine the extent of damage within the knee joint and whether total knee arthroplasty (TKA), partial knee replacement (PKR), or patellofemoral joint replacement is the most appropriate option.
Once surgery has been recommended, your surgeon plans every aspect of the procedure. The implant size and surgical approach are selected according to your knee joint structure, anatomy, age, and expected activity level.
At SKHF, the orthopaedic team uses internationally recognised implant systems, including Enovis Amico, Johnson & Johnson, Zimmer, and Stryker, to help achieve long-term joint stability and function.
Your replacement surgery is performed under either general or regional anaesthesia, depending on your medical condition and the anaesthetist’s assessment.
The procedure usually takes one to two hours. During total knee replacement, your surgeon removes the damaged cartilage and bone and precisely positions the metal and plastic components to rebuild the joint surfaces and restore smooth movement.
After surgery, your medical team begins a structured recovery programme focused on effective pain relief, monitoring your vital signs, and reducing the risk of complications.
You will also receive blood thinners as part of routine care to reduce the risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), which can sometimes occur after this surgery.
Extended bed rest is no longer considered the standard approach after knee replacement surgery.
In most cases, SKHF’s inpatient physical therapy team helps patients stand and begin gentle movement within the first few hours after surgery. Early mobilisation improves circulation, restores range of motion, strengthens the muscles around the knee joint, and supports a faster, safer recovery.
You may cannot go home the same day; most patients remain in hospital for two to three days, although the stay may extend to one week depending on age, pre-existing medical conditions, and recovery progress.
Before leaving the hospital, the healthcare team explains your home physical therapy programme, medication schedule, follow-up appointments, wound care instructions, and the warning signs that require immediate medical attention.
Arrange for a family member or caregiver to help you during the first week after returning home. Although early movement is strongly encouraged, you may need help with daily activities, particularly bathing or showering, until your balance and strength improve.
Recovery after knee replacement surgery follows a gradual and predictable course. Consistently attending your physical therapy sessions is one of the most important factors in restoring movement, improving range of motion, reducing pain, and achieving the best long-term outcome.
Although every patient recovers at a different pace, most people notice significant improvement during the first weeks after surgery.
For example, one 59-year-old patient at Sheikh Khalifa Hospital followed her rehabilitation programme exactly as recommended. By the second week, she was able to take a supervised shower or bath independently. By the sixth week, she could comfortably begin climbing stairs without using a handrail. Three months later, she returned to light gardening, an activity she had stopped two years earlier because of chronic knee pain.
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), most patients regain enough range of motion to perform normal daily activities, including climbing stairs, within 4 to 6 weeks of structured physical therapy. Full recovery, including higher-impact activities, generally takes 3 to 6 months, with continued improvements for up to one year.
Below you will find the expected recovery timeline following surgery:
If your surgeon confirms that your muscle strength, reaction time, and overall recovery are adequate and you are no longer taking strong pain medication, you may also be cleared to resume driving.
One of the most important lessons from the recovery process is that the first six weeks after surgery have the greatest impact on your long-term outcome. Attending every physical therapy session and following your home exercise programme consistently play a major role in achieving the best possible result.
Like any surgical procedure, knee replacement surgery carries certain risks. However, following well-established clinical protocols significantly reduces the likelihood of complications. At Sheikh Khalifa Hospital Fujairah (SKHF), the orthopaedic team carefully evaluates each patient’s overall health before surgery and develops a personalised care plan to ensure the safest possible recovery.
One of the most recognised complications after joint replacement surgery is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). Understandably, many patients have concerns about this before deciding to proceed with surgery.
For example, a 63-year-old patient asked his surgeon about the risk of blood clots before giving consent for surgery. The surgical team explained the hospital’s blood thinners protocol, the importance of early mobilisation, and the warning signs that require immediate medical attention, including calf swelling, warmth, and redness. Conversations like these help patients understand their treatment plan and actively participate in their recovery.
Furthermore, while surgical site infection remains rare with proper sterilization and prophylactic antibiotics, the surgical team provides clear wound care instructions to the patient before discharge and schedules follow-up visits to assess healing and recovery progress.
After returning home, contact your healthcare provider without delay if you notice any of the following:
Following your physical therapy programme, taking your medications exactly as prescribed, and attending every follow-up appointment are among the most effective ways to reduce complications, achieve lasting pain relief, restore mobility, improve your overall health, and enjoy a better quality of life.
Medical Disclaimer
This article provides general medical information and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every patient’s condition is unique. Please consult a qualified orthopaedic surgeon for an accurate diagnosis and a personalised treatment plan tailored to your individual needs.
Al Faseel - Fujairah - United Arab Emirates
09-2097777
