Total Knee Replacement Surgery, Arthritis, Diagnosis & Treatment of Osteoarthritis
Orthopedic Doctor in Indore, Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Vinay Tantuway
March 12, 2022
Acl Reconstruction Surgery, ACL surgery, Arthros Clinic
July 18, 2022
TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT
Total knee replacement, also called total knee arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure in which the worn out or damaged surfaces of the knee joint is removed and replaced with an artificial prosthesis.
What is Arthritis (Also called: joint inflammation) ?
The knee is made up of the femur (thighbone), tibia (shinbone) and patella (kneecap). The two menisci, soft cartilage between the femur and tibia, serve as a cushion and help absorb shock during motion. Arthritis is a common disorder that affects your joints. It can cause pain and inflammation, making it difficult to move or stay active. There are many types of arthritis. Each form causes different symptoms and may need different treatments. While arthritis usually affects older adults, it can develop in men, women and children of any age.
Arthritis is most common in the following areas of the body:
- Feet.
- Hands.
- Hips.
- Knees.
- Lower back.
Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis. It is the most common form of knee arthritis in which the joint cartilage gradually wears away, and often affects the elderly.
Diagnosis of Osteoarthritis
A health care provider will obtain a medical history, review symptoms, and perform a physical exam to check for tenderness, swelling, redness, flexibility, and any bony enlargements of the joint(s).
Medical tests or procedures that may be ordered to confirm an osteoarthritis diagnosis include the following:
- Blood tests
- X-rays
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Arthrocentesis
- Arthroscopy
In Other Words, Your doctor will diagnose osteoarthritis based on your medical history, physical examination, and X-rays. X-rays typically show a narrowing of the joint space in the arthritic knee.
Treatment of Osteoarthritis
1. Arthroscopy
2. Joint replacement
Risks and Complications of Total Knee Replacement
As with any major surgery, the possible risks and complications associated with total knee replacement surgery include:
- Knee stiffness
- Infection
- Blood clots (deep vein thrombosis)
- Nerve and blood vessel damage
- Ligament injuries
- Patella (kneecap) dislocation
- Plastic liner wearing out
- Loosening of the implant
What do I need to know about the condition?
The knee is a hinge joint, formed by the end of the thighbone (femur) and the end of the shin bone (tibia). The bones are coated in cartilage, which acts as a cushion between the two bones and allows the knee to move. In front of these bones is the kneecap (patella) which glides in a groove on the end of the thigh bone.
Total knee replacements are usually performed for people who have arthritis that is getting worse and is no longer responding to other treatments. The most common type of arthritis is osteo-arthritis, which happens with aging or previous injury to the knee joint.
