Al-Diriyah Hospital: A rehabilitation program restores mobility to a patient after joint replacement surgery

Al-Diriyah Hospital , part of the Third Riyadh Health Cluster has added another success story to its record of medical achievements by ending the suffering of a patient in his sixties who had been experiencing severe mobility difficulties following knee replacement . The medical team was able to restore hope to the patient through a precise and intensive rehabilitation program, enabling him to completely abandon crutches and regain his ability to walk and resume a normal life with full independence.

The importance of post-operative medical rehabilitation

The rehabilitation phase is the cornerstone of successful joint replacement surgery. Medical studies indicate that surgery alone is insufficient to restore vital joint function without a specialized physical therapy program. This type of program aims to prevent joint stiffness, strengthen muscles weakened by pre-operative immobility, and improve neuromuscular balance. In the case of the patient in his sixties, the rehabilitation department received him suffering from severe pain and significant limitations in his range of motion, with almost complete reliance on walking aids. This necessitated immediate intervention according to the latest treatment protocols.

Details of the treatment plan and recovery stages

The specialized team at Al-Diriyah Hospital designed a tailored treatment plan based on a comprehensive and thorough functional assessment of the patient's condition. The initial phases of the plan focused on passive and active exercises to restore the knee's full range of motion, alongside exercises to strengthen the fine muscles surrounding the replaced joint to ensure its stability. The treatment program also included intensive exercises to improve proprioception (proprioceptive balance), with a carefully planned progression in walking exercises and stair climbing to ensure the body's safe adaptation to the new movement patterns.

Strict adherence to the treatment plan has yielded tangible and rapid results, as the patient regained his ability to walk freely without any external assistance, and recorded a significant decrease in indicators of pain associated with movement, enabling him to return to practicing his daily activities with confidence.

Institutional excellence and keeping pace with Vision 2030

This medical achievement is part of the services offered by the hospital's Center of Excellence for Robotic Joint Replacement Surgery, a model for healthcare transformation in the Kingdom. The center employs the latest global technologies and protocols in surgery and rehabilitation to ensure optimal patient outcomes and minimize hospital stays.

This step reflects the commitment of the Third Riyadh Health Cluster to achieving the objectives of the Health Sector Transformation Program within the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aims to facilitate access to health services, improve their quality, and provide integrated and comprehensive health care that enhances the quality of life and enables patients to resume their normal and effective roles in society.