4 Types of Knee Surgeries for Arthritis
Arthritis can be much more debilitating than most people realize, and it can form in the knee for a variety of different reasons including post trauma, wearing away of cartilage, and congenital conditions. There are three different types of arthritis that you can develop in your knee and there are four different types of surgeries to consider as treatment.
3 Types of Arthritis
If you do develop arthritis in your knee, it will be one of the three following types:
- Post Traumatic – This develops after you have suffered from some type of knee injury like a fracture, tear in the meniscus, or ligament damage. The problem can develop many years after the actual injury.
- Rheumatoid (RA) – Actually an inflammatory condition, RA that affects the knee will destroy the cartilage between the joint. Because this is a congenital condition, rheumatoid arthritis can develop at any time in your life.
- Osteoarthritis – This is the most common type of arthritis to affect the knee and is a degenerative condition that slowly progresses and wears away the cartilage in the joint. Generally, this condition will develop in patients who are middle aged or older.
No matter the type of arthritis from which you suffer, it can be very uncomfortable and can severely affect your quality of life. The joint will become swollen and stiff. You may have trouble bending or straightening your knee and it will get worse over time. Other Il layout di un tavolo per online dipende anche dalla versione del gioco. common symptoms of arthritis in the knee include:
- Pain in the morning or after sitting for a long time.
- Pain that increases after strenuous activity.
- Weakness in the knee or knees that lock or buckle.
- Changes in the weather causing the knee to be more painful or tender.
Surgical Options
After you have been diagnosed with knee arthritis, surgery may be the best option to alleviate the condition and give you back your quality of life. There are four different surgical options available and you will need to discuss them with your orthopedic surgeon to determine which would work best for you and your condition.
- Arthroscopic – This type of surgery makes use of fiber optics so that the orthopedic surgeon can see your knee joint through a smaller incision. The same fiber optics will be used to remove and clear away any debris left over from torn cartilage.
- Cartilage Grafting – This type of procedure is only used in very specific situations when the cartilage loss can be limited. Grafting will include replacing the cartilage and is best used in arthritis situations related to injury.
- Osteotomy – During this procedure, either the bone above your knee (the femur) or the one below (your tibia) will be cut so that the surgeon can better realign your knee and relieve pressure that causes pain and swelling.
- Arthroplasty – This knee replacement surgery is used for severely damaging cases and can be done as a partial or total procedure. The knee joint cartilage will be replaced with a prosthetic that is made from different materials depending on the situation.
If you have arthritis in your knee, it is important to seek treatment. It is likely going to get worse and you may get to a point when you can”t comfortably stand anymore. There are different surgical procedures that can alleviate the symptoms, but it is very important for you to discuss your options with your orthopedic doctor.
These procedures are used in different situations, depending on the damage to the cartilage, your overall health, and the type of arthritis from which you suffer. With the right surgical procedure, you don”t have to continue suffering from the pain and stiffness of the debilitating condition.
Surgeon’s Advice | Leon Mead MD Orthopedic Doctor | 730 Goodlette Road North, Suite 201 Naples Florida 34102 | Phone: (239) 262-1119