Arthritis is an affliction characterized by irregular inflammations affecting the human body's joints or articulations. The hips, elbows, fingers and knees are the main targets of this condition.
Types of Arthritis
Arthritis occurs in different forms. Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis, is caused mostly by the aging process, but may also happen as a consequence of some lesions, malformations, or infections, of the knee. Less common but just as devastating forms of arthritis are the following: psoriatic arthritis, gouty arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis Treatment
Several modes of treatment are available for arthritis management. These may range from physical therapy, medication therapy, to arthritis surgery.
The latter, known collectively as arthritis knee surgery, has some more specialized kinds - for example, knee osteotomy, arthroscopy, and knee replacement surgery. The exact type of arthritis surgical procedure is determined by many factors, such as the extent and severity of the arthritis pain.
Knee Arthritis Surgery
Based on the state of the pain experienced, the best option for treatment is often arthritis knee surgery.
This disease often progresses in parts, slowly damaging the cartilage tissues in the joints. In the early part of the disease, anti-inflammation therapies and physical exercise programs are the main treatment modes. However, as the disease deteriorates, the surgical route turns into a pressing and vital need.
Arthroscopy: A Less Invasive Option
Arthroscopy is considered as a less invasive surgical option in treating arthritis. The procedure involves the repair of ligaments and cartilage tissue damage in the knee as well as the other joints. In the surgery, a tiny apparatus akin to an endoscope will be inserted in the affected region through a tiny incision.
Although the success of this procedure remains a debatable issue, a number of proponents confirm the benefits efficiency of this procedure when applied in suitable scenarios.
Signs that an arthritis suffer needs an arthroscopy procedure are: painful knee pops, instability of the knee joint or knee wobbling, a prickling feeling when moving the knee joint, and inflammation or swelling of the affected areas.
Knee Osteotomy
In cases of younger patients, they only commonly have deterioration of only one part of the knee joint. It is for this reason that they are not advised to go for complete knee replacement surgery.
In some cases, arthritis also manifests as knock-legged or bow-legged cases, which are characterized by a joint reorientation, such that the weight center is transferred from its damaged region to its healthy region. In such instances, osteotomy is usually the best option.
The Hybrid: Partial Knee Replacement Surgery
Called a "hybrid" of both osteotomy and complete knee replacement surgery, the procedure known as partial knee replacement surgery is to a large extent less invasive than complete knee replacement surgery. The surgery is executed through replacing the degraded area of the afflicted articulation with prosthetics, as the healthy areas are left alone to allow for healing. This procedure is advised for severe cases of arthritis confined to specific portions of articulation. Compared to complete knee replacement, this surgical procedure requires smaller cuts and calls for faster period of recovery.
Knee Replacement Surgery
For a number of arthritis patients, the most practical decision is complete knee replacement surgery. This type of surgery involves completely removing and replacing the damaged joint tissue with metal or plastic prosthetics.
Arthritis Knee Surgery and Associated Risks
Akin to the majority of major surgeries, post-operative arthritis knee surgery patients are vulnerable to nerve damage, infections, thrombosis and various anesthesia risks.
Additionally, this procedure includes certain post-surgery risks, such as instability of the affected joint, kneecap dislocation/fracture, and even decreased mobility or reduced range of motion.
The Pros and Cons of Arthritis Knee Surgery
Regardless of the potential risks associated to the surgery, arthritis knee surgery offers a lot of pros that may benefit arthritis sufferers. The primary advantages are, to name a few, significant pain relief, increased mobility, plus a significant betterment of the patient's overall wellbeing. Additionally, in a period of six months after the surgery, the formerly affected joint can most likely recover fully.
On the other hand, this type of surgical procedure also provides a few perceptible cons. For example, patients may possibly experience soreness and discomfort in the period of time after the surgical procedure. Moreover, using a prosthetic joint may be noisy and may draw some attention. In some cases, movement difficulties may potentially arise. Similarly, depending on the prosthetic type used, the fake knee may have limited usability, such as only 10 to 15 years before a new replacement knee is needed.
That being said, however, if we weigh the discomfort manifested in a few cases against the huge potential for successful post-surgery results, it is fairly easy to conclude that the pros of this type of surgery certainly exceed its cons. - 16083
Types of Arthritis
Arthritis occurs in different forms. Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis, is caused mostly by the aging process, but may also happen as a consequence of some lesions, malformations, or infections, of the knee. Less common but just as devastating forms of arthritis are the following: psoriatic arthritis, gouty arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis Treatment
Several modes of treatment are available for arthritis management. These may range from physical therapy, medication therapy, to arthritis surgery.
The latter, known collectively as arthritis knee surgery, has some more specialized kinds - for example, knee osteotomy, arthroscopy, and knee replacement surgery. The exact type of arthritis surgical procedure is determined by many factors, such as the extent and severity of the arthritis pain.
Knee Arthritis Surgery
Based on the state of the pain experienced, the best option for treatment is often arthritis knee surgery.
This disease often progresses in parts, slowly damaging the cartilage tissues in the joints. In the early part of the disease, anti-inflammation therapies and physical exercise programs are the main treatment modes. However, as the disease deteriorates, the surgical route turns into a pressing and vital need.
Arthroscopy: A Less Invasive Option
Arthroscopy is considered as a less invasive surgical option in treating arthritis. The procedure involves the repair of ligaments and cartilage tissue damage in the knee as well as the other joints. In the surgery, a tiny apparatus akin to an endoscope will be inserted in the affected region through a tiny incision.
Although the success of this procedure remains a debatable issue, a number of proponents confirm the benefits efficiency of this procedure when applied in suitable scenarios.
Signs that an arthritis suffer needs an arthroscopy procedure are: painful knee pops, instability of the knee joint or knee wobbling, a prickling feeling when moving the knee joint, and inflammation or swelling of the affected areas.
Knee Osteotomy
In cases of younger patients, they only commonly have deterioration of only one part of the knee joint. It is for this reason that they are not advised to go for complete knee replacement surgery.
In some cases, arthritis also manifests as knock-legged or bow-legged cases, which are characterized by a joint reorientation, such that the weight center is transferred from its damaged region to its healthy region. In such instances, osteotomy is usually the best option.
The Hybrid: Partial Knee Replacement Surgery
Called a "hybrid" of both osteotomy and complete knee replacement surgery, the procedure known as partial knee replacement surgery is to a large extent less invasive than complete knee replacement surgery. The surgery is executed through replacing the degraded area of the afflicted articulation with prosthetics, as the healthy areas are left alone to allow for healing. This procedure is advised for severe cases of arthritis confined to specific portions of articulation. Compared to complete knee replacement, this surgical procedure requires smaller cuts and calls for faster period of recovery.
Knee Replacement Surgery
For a number of arthritis patients, the most practical decision is complete knee replacement surgery. This type of surgery involves completely removing and replacing the damaged joint tissue with metal or plastic prosthetics.
Arthritis Knee Surgery and Associated Risks
Akin to the majority of major surgeries, post-operative arthritis knee surgery patients are vulnerable to nerve damage, infections, thrombosis and various anesthesia risks.
Additionally, this procedure includes certain post-surgery risks, such as instability of the affected joint, kneecap dislocation/fracture, and even decreased mobility or reduced range of motion.
The Pros and Cons of Arthritis Knee Surgery
Regardless of the potential risks associated to the surgery, arthritis knee surgery offers a lot of pros that may benefit arthritis sufferers. The primary advantages are, to name a few, significant pain relief, increased mobility, plus a significant betterment of the patient's overall wellbeing. Additionally, in a period of six months after the surgery, the formerly affected joint can most likely recover fully.
On the other hand, this type of surgical procedure also provides a few perceptible cons. For example, patients may possibly experience soreness and discomfort in the period of time after the surgical procedure. Moreover, using a prosthetic joint may be noisy and may draw some attention. In some cases, movement difficulties may potentially arise. Similarly, depending on the prosthetic type used, the fake knee may have limited usability, such as only 10 to 15 years before a new replacement knee is needed.
That being said, however, if we weigh the discomfort manifested in a few cases against the huge potential for successful post-surgery results, it is fairly easy to conclude that the pros of this type of surgery certainly exceed its cons. - 16083
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