The joints in the body are protected by fluid and cartilage which serves as a shock absorber. Arthritis is the result of this cartilage being destroyed, resulting in inflammation, swelling and pain. Arthritis of the knee is initially treated non-surgically, but in patients with severe joint damage and intractable pain, surgery is often the final course of treatment.
Arthritis Forms
There are two major forms of arthritis: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is caused by the gradual deterioration of cartilage in the knees, often as a result of physical stress. The pain and swelling is the result of bone-on-bone contact. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is caused by the immune system attacking the lining of the knee joint. leading to inflammation and tissue destruction.
Knee Compartments
The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons explains that the type of surgery that is used to treat knee arthritis depends on how much of the knee is damaged. The knee can be divided into three "compartments" which describe areas where bones can touch each other. The inside compartment (medial compartment) describes the area on the inside of the thigh where the femur (thigh bone) and tibia meet and represents the most common site of osteoarthritis. The lateral compartment is where the outside of the femur and tibia meet and can be damaged in women or obese patients. The kneecap compartment is the area between the kneecap and the bottom of the femur. If multiple compartments are damaged, more invasive surgical procedures may be necessary.
Procedures
According to the New York Times Health Guide, there are a number of different surgical procedures that can be performed to treat arthritis of the knee. The simplest procedure is called arthroscopy, in which the surgeon passes a small flexible camera into the knee to visualize and remove any damaged tissue. With an osteoplasty, the edges of the bones are trimmed so that the joint is better aligned. The most invasive surgery is an arthroplasty, in which the damaged joint is replaced with prosthetic parts. Depending on the extent of the damage, an arthroplasty can be performed on one damaged compartment or the entire knee joint can be replaced.
Effectiveness
Following arthroplasty, approximately 80 percent of patients report that they can walk for longer distances than they could before the procedure and 50 percent say they are better able to climb stairs, says the New York Time Health Guide. Arthroscopy also can be highly effective and offers a fast recovery. A study published in the January 2008 issue of Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, found that within one week of arthroscopic knee surgery, 82 percent of patients had resumed walking and light activity and after four weeks all study subjects had resumed normal activities.
Side Effects and Complications
Although many patients experience some pain relief and improved endurance after knee surgery, the benefits of the surgery can require several weeks to become apparent. Patients need to engage in a course of physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around the joint. There are a few complications that can arise from knee surgery, including infections in the surgically treated knee and blood clots, which result from the blood flow being decreased during the surgery.
