Mercy Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Kamala Littleton Discusses Bilateral Knee Replacement Surgery

Knee replacement surgery is becoming more common in the U.S. Doctors perform more than 700,000 procedures a year. Now some patients are opting to have both knees done in back-to-back procedures.

That includes Anita Andersson, who 10 months ago could not walk in high heels with ease or play tennis.

She had both of her knees replaced last November, one right after the other.

“I wanted to have them close so I don't have to go through the agony and the waiting and all that twice,” Andersson said. “So that's what I did. That's tough.”

According to orthopedic surgeon with Orthopedics and Joint Replacement at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, MD, Dr. Kamala Littleton, bilateral knee replacement is a good option for patients who want to get the ordeal of surgery over with.

“There are different ways you can do it,” Dr. Littleton said. “You can do both knees at the same time. The patient that we looked at today, we did one knee, then about two weeks later did the other. I like that for certain people, but it is a lot harder work than just a single knee replacement.”

Bilateral knee replacement is not for everyone because it is hard work.

“You have to have a great support system at home,” Dr. Littleton said. “You have to have a great physical therapist and you have to have a patient with a really good heart about doing what they need to do to get better.”

Andersson agrees.

“It took some months with therapy, pain, bending knees and crying, but it's worth it,” she said. "It's worth it.”

To view Mercy orthopedic surgeon Dr. Kamala Littleton’s interview regarding double knee replacement surgery, click here.