Alternatives to Knee Joint Replacement

Chronic and debilitating knee pain limits activity and can have a significant impact on a person's life. Arthritis is often the cause of knee pain and deterioration. Knee joint replacement may be the right approach for those whose arthritis does not respond to other treatments. The procedure is not right for everyone, however. People who are morbidly obese, have unhealthy skin around the knee, a terminal disease or have a knee infection are candidates for alternatives to knee joint replacement (see Reference 1).

Unloader/Offloader Braces

Several types of knee braces exist. Some are worn after injury, some are worn for protection during contact sports and others are designed to limit mobility--and promote recovery--after surgery. For arthritis sufferers, special braces are designed to transfer weight from one area of the knee to the other. Some people find the braces cumbersome and uncomfortable, however. Those who prefer wearing a brace to knee joint replacement should talk to their doctor about appropriate fitting products. FamilyDoctor.org notes that braces help some people more than others (see Reference 4).

Knee Osteotomy

Knee osteotomy is a surgical procedure that is recommended for people who have damage to a particular area of the knee rather than the entire knee. Surgery consists of removing or adding a portion of bone to the tibia or femur, which helps ease the load from the damaged part of the knee. MayoClinic.com reports that many people who undergo the procedure eventually need a total knee replacement, typically around 10 to 15 years following the knee osteotomy (see Reference 2).

Arthroscopy

Arthroscopy is a common procedure. More than 4 million people undergo the surgery worldwide every year, according to the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (see Reference 3). The surgery requires a surgeon to make tiny incisions around the knee. He then inserts small cameras to view the joint on a television monitor. The cameras allow the surgeon to probe the area, remove damaged tissues and smooth worn cartilage. In contrast to knee joint replacement surgery, the recovery time is much shorter. Aftercare includes gentle exercises to restore movement and keeping the incision site clean and dry with dressings.