Knee replacement surgery is an invasive technique used to completely remove and replace the knee joint -- the biggest joint in the human body -- with an artificial joint. Torn ligaments, rheumatoid arthritis and repeated sports injuries can damage this joint and cause extreme pain and loss of mobility. There are many alternatives available to knee replacement surgery, and options should be discussed in detail with the orthopedic surgeon prior to making a choice.
Supports and Braces
In certain cases, such as sports injuries, the knee joint may just require time to heal. Canes, walkers and other assistive devices can help ambulation, or walking, while providing balance and stability. Some medical grade braces can be fitted by an orthopedic surgeon to keep the knee joint stabilized. A cheaper alternative is to purchase a splint or elasticized brace at a drugstore; these can promote kneecap, or patellar, stability and may decrease pain with walking and exercising.
Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is an endoscopic surgery and is minimally invasive. This type of surgery does not involve the long incisions and recovery time of knee replacement surgery, and can repair slightly damaged structures of the knee, notes the website Arthritis Insight. Sometimes used to drain excessive fluid build up behind the kneecap, arthroscopy can also be used to repair tiny tears in the ligaments supporting the knee.
Unicompartmental Knee Surgery
Known as unicompartmental knee replacement, this surgery is less invasive than traditional joint replacement. There are three parts of the knee that can be damaged: the inner, lateral and kneecap compartments. Unicompartmental surgery requires a much smaller incision than traditional knee surgery -- less than 4 cm, according to the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons. However, similar to complete knee joint replacement, those who undergo this surgery still will be allowed to engage in high-impact sports or running post-surgery.
Intra Articular Injections
Knee joint injections are an alternative to complete knee replacement. These injections can consist of steroids, such as cortisone, or cushioning fluids to decrease wear and tear on the joint. Injections must be repeated in a series for efficacy, and sometimes paired with physical therapy and stretching. The benefit of knee injections is that unless there is damage present to the knee structure, mobility and sports performance will not be limited during the injections.
