Knee Arthritis & Total Knee Replacement

 

Your knee joint works like a hinge at the junction of two bones, the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia). The ends of the bones are covered with a thick cushion of soft, white cartilage. If this cartilage is damaged or worn away, the underlying bones rub together, causing the pain and inflammation of arthritis.

 

"Arthritis" is an inflammation of a joint causing pain, swelling, stiffness, instability and often deformity. Severe arthritis interferes with a person's activities and limits lifestyle. The primary reason for a total knee replacement is to reduce pain and to improve your quality of life. It also helps to restore motion, straighten the leg; improve stability and the function of the joint. In total knee replacement, the surface of the joint is replaced with metal and plastic surfaces which can function similar to a normal joint.

 

This is accomplished by surgically trimming the arthritic ends of the bones and replacing them with new metal and plastic surfaces. In reality, a total knee replacement is a "resurfacing" of the joint. Most of the supporting ligaments, tendons and muscles around the knee joint are retained. The new joint's surfaces mimic the natural knee it replaces.

 

Although the idea of getting an artificial knee joint may be intimidating, it is one of the safest and most effective medical procedures.

 

 

What Patients Should Have a Total Knee Replacement?

 

Total knee replacement is recommended for patients with arthritis who have severe pain and limited function which significantly affects quality of life. The most common reason to have a total knee replacement is to relieve arthritic pain. The pain may not be excruciating at any particular time, but it is often chronic and disabling. Everyone's pain is different, and the degree of pain sufficient to justify surgery should be decided by the patient and the doctor together.

 

Painful and arthritic knees can become unstable, causing falls and other injuries. Climbing stairs, getting up from chairs and extended walking can also be difficult.

While most arthritic knees are the result of degenerative arthritis or osteoarthritis, other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, trauma, prior surgeries, instability and tumors can also be relieved by total knee replacement.

 

 

What Is the Long-Term Prognosis for Total Knee Replacement?

 

On an individual basis it is impossible to predict how long a knee replacement will last. With newer materials and techniques, the lifespan of knee replacements continue to increase. The studies of modern knee replacement report clinical survivorship of up to 97% of total knee implants at 12 to 15 years.

 

Total Knee Replacement Specialty Surgery hyderabad

 

Dr Neelam V. Ramana Reddy

                                    MS Ortho; MCh Ortho (UK)

Consultant Joint Replacement Surgeon

WockhardtBone & JointHospital

King Koti, Hyderabad.