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Arthritis Knee

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of knee arthritis. Also called wear-and-tear arthritis or degenerative joint disease, this is characterized by progressive wearing away of the cartilage of the joint. As the protective cartilage is worn away by knee arthritis, bare bone is exposed within the joint. Other causes are Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteonecrosis and following injury.

Knee arthritis typically affects patients over 50 years of age. It is more common in patients who are overweight, and weight loss tends to reduce the symptoms associated with knee arthritis. There is also a genetic predisposition of this condition, meaning knee arthritis tends to run in families. Other factors that can contribute to developing knee arthritis include trauma to the knee, meniscus tears or ligament damage, and fractures to the bone around the joint.

The most common symptoms of knee arthritis are:

Pain
Stiffness of the knee
Swelling of the joint
Tenderness along the joint
A feeling the joint may "give out"
Deformity of the joint (knock-knees or bow-legs)

Treatment options

i) Non operative

Anti-inflammatory medication
Glucosamine supplementation
Life style modification
Physiotheraphy
Hyaluronate injection into the joint.

ii) Operative Treatment

In severe Osteoarthritis when nonoperative treatment fails Total Knee Replacement is the only option available. This gives excellent results. The pain is relieved permanently and deformed knee also get corrected.