Knee Arthritis and Knee Replacement

With time, however, the pain may become more persistent and present during low level activity. Simple pain medications such as paracetamol , or non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may help to allow activity to continue. The evidence for dietary supplements such as glucosamine or chondroitin is conflicted, with some studies showing a reduction of pain, but others showing no benefit. It does not help to regenerate cartilage.

Steroid injections may yield temporary relief for several months, but their effect is somewhat unpredictable. Repeated steroid injections increase the risk of infection, or of abnormal crystal deposition within the joint known as chondrocalcinosis.

Viscosupplementation with agents such as hyaluronic acid may also yield relief for up to 6 months. As with steroids, the effect of viscosupplementation is unpredictable, and repeated injections may be required. There is a risk with these injections of local inflammation, knee joint infection, and allergy.

An unloading brace may be of use in patients who have arthritis confined to just the inside (medial) part of their knee. The brace shifts some of the load of weight bearing to the other side of the knee, reducing pain. These braces can be very useful in younger patients who are unsuitable for joint replacement, and can also be used to predict a response to a knee osteotomy (see below).

Arthritic patients may also benefit from simple knee sleeves, which can be purchased from pharmacies. These help with swelling control, and can help to modify the sensation of pain.

Ultimately, if pain persists despite medications, and is preventing you from performing your work, leisure, and family activities, surgery may be necessary.

The surgical options include:

Total Knee Replacement (TKR)

This is most appropriate where the arthritis affects the majority of the knee, if there is significant deformity, or if there is an inflammatory basis to the arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis. It involves removal of the diseased cartilage throughout the entire knee, and replacement with a metal and plastic prosthesis. This prosthesis is ideally likely to last over 15-20 years.

Unicompartmental Knee Replacement (UKR)

The advantages of unicompartmental knee replacement are of a smaller incision, less bleeding, less post-operative pain, reduced stay in hospital, and a feeling of a more “normal” knee. It is appropriate where the arthritis is confined to one area of the knee. There are three main “compartments” of the knee – the medial (inner) compartment, the outer (lateral) compartment, and the kneecap (patellofemoral) compartment. Each of these may be selectively replaced. Arthritis may spread to other areas of the knee with time, and may require revision to a total knee replacement. The National Joint Registry shows that around 85% of UKR’s are functioning 10 years after implantation.

Knee Osteotomy

The aim of knee osteotomy is to change the weight distribution of the knee to from an area of arthritis to an area which is unaffected. This is achieved by either cutting the bone above or below the joint, and fixing it with a plate and screws at a different, pre-determined angle. To achieve a good result, there must be an area of good cartilage to shift the load to, and the meniscus of that compartment must be intact. This operation is most suitable for patients who are young and wish to perform strenuous activity, such as manual labourers. Patients are unable to fully weight bear for 6 weeks until the osteotomy heals.

The treatment of your arthritic knee depends on the pattern of arthritis present within your knee, your age, and your activity requirements. This can only be determined after a careful assessment and discussion of the pros and cons of each type of surgery.