ADULT RECONSTRUCTION
Osteoarthritis of the knee and Knee replacement surgery.
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a name for a number of conditions that cause pain in the joints.
There are over 100 different types of arthritis and they can affect any joint.
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis or OA, is one of the oldest and most common types of arthritis. It is characterized by the breakdown of the joint's cartilage. Cartilage is the part of the joint that cushions the ends of bones. Cartilage breakdown causes bones to rub against each other, causing pain and loss of movement.
Most commonly affecting middle-aged and older people, OA can range from very mild to very severe. It affects hands and weight-bearing joints such as knees, hips, feet and the back.
How Is It Diagnosed?
Physicians make a diagnosis of OA based on a physical exam and history of symptoms. X-rays are used to confirm diagnosis. Most people over 60 reflect the disease on X-ray, and about one-third have actual symptoms.
an example of OA of the knee
Caption: Normal Knee
Treatment Options
Your surgeon will first try to treat you with medication. He might also advise you to lose weight and send you for physiotherapy. If this does not work, you might be a candidate for joint replacement surgery.