Knee Arthritis Treatment options
Knee Arthritis Treatment options follow the same principles laid out on hip arthritis treatment.
Muscle strengthening exercises focusing on leg extension and avoiding kneeling and squatting are essential. Appropriate use of anti-inflammatory medication can be helpful particularly if there is swelling.
Aspiration and Knee injection is a treatment option for elderly patients unsuitable for anaesthesia or suffering with extensive Rheumatoid arthritis etc.
Knee arthroscopy is a well-established minimally invasive option that is very effective in debridement of meniscal tears and shaving of early to moderate degenerative change. It is
ineffective in treating advanced knee arthritis and it is important to have diagnostic clarity before considering this option. This can be achieved usually with load-bearing x-rays and MRI.
Knee replacement either as a partial patellofemoral or inner unicompartmental joint replacement remains an option in younger patients who develop premature arthritis and have a single compartment involvement. The outcomes are not as successful as for
total joint replacement.
Total Knee replacement is the preferred option for older patients when there is extensive degenerative change. Surgery is undertaken through the front of the knee and the respective bony surfaces replaced with a surface replacement composed of a metal femoral implant articulating with a plastic tray sitting on a tibial support base plate. The components may be cemented or uncemented.
Patients are in hospital for approximately 3 days. Recovery focuses on early mobilisation with attention on regaining knee movement. Water-based rehabilitation is particularly helpful.
