Knee Arthritis – Overview

Knee arthritis is the inflammation of the knee joint. The knee is the most usually affected joint by arthritis. Daily tasks such as sprinting, climbing stairs, and walking become quite tough in this condition. Although there are more than 100 varieties of arthritis, osteoarthritis, posttraumatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis are the most prevalent types that affect the knee. The thighbone, shinbone, and kneecap are the three bones that make up the knee joint. Articular cartilage is the slippery, smooth substance that covers the ends of the bones that make up the knee joint. When the knee is bent and straightened, it cushions and protects the bones. When this cartilage withers away, bones scrape against one another, causing arthritis in the knee, says Dr. Prashant Arya, a renowned orthopaedic doctor in North Kolkata.

Symptoms

The most common sign of arthritis is inflammation and discomfort in the knee. Aside from that, there are other signs and symptoms, such as:

  • Knee joint gets swollen and stiff
  • Knee bending and straightening become difficult
  • Having the sensation that your knee is locking or sticking
  • While moving, there is a grinding, clicking, snapping, or creaking sound
  • With the change in weather, there is an increase in pain

Knee Arthritis Types

Osteoarthritis – Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent type of knee arthritis, and it happens when the cartilage in the knee wears away. The bones rub against each other, resulting in painful bone spurs.

Rheumatoid arthritis – Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy cells. The immune system mistakenly believes that healthy tissues are toxic, causing the immune system to attack them, eventually destroying the joint.

Post-traumatic arthritis – It is a kind of arthritis that occurs due to an injury. As a result of previous injuries, the knee joint is overworked, resulting in arthritis.

Gouty arthritis – It is a condition that occurs when uric acid crystals begin to form in the knee joint. According to the orthopaedic specialist doctor in Newtown, it can result in a great deal of discomfort, inflammation, and swelling.

Knee Arthritis Causes

Osteoarthritis – This type of arthritis is produced by the wear and strain on the knee joint on a regular basis.

Rheumatoid arthritis – The exact cause of this type of arthritis is unknown, but hereditary factors may be involved.

Post-traumatic arthritis — This type of arthritis is caused by past injuries such as cartilage tears or sprains, as discussed above.

Gouty arthritis – It can be caused due to family history of gouty arthritis, the use of certain drugs, obesity, or advanced age.

Treatment

While there are at-home remedies like applying heat or ice and wearing braces or bandages, as well as non-surgical treatment options such as radiofrequency ablation and viscosupplementation, surgical treatment is often considered the best option. Various surgical methods can be carried out by the orthopaedic surgeon in Salt lake, including:

Cartilage transplant – This technique involves replacing damaged knee cartilage with tissue grafts to help the knee regain its normal function. This treatment may potentially be used to avoid knee replacement surgery.

Partial knee replacement – Only the diseased cartilage is removed in partial knee replacement, while the ligaments are left intact. This technique aids patients in gaining a greater range of motion while also allowing them to recover more quickly. This method results in minimum blood loss.

Total knee replacement – The knee joint is totally replaced with a prosthesis or an implant in this surgery.