- Osteoarthritis of the knee
- Clinical features
- Same as for hip osteoarthritis
- Morning stiffness
- Pain
- Limping
- Restricted range of motion (Flexion contracture)
- Crepitation
- Alignment deformities (Varus, valgus)
- Diagnosis
- Same as for hip OA
- X-ray
- Joint space narrowing
- Subchondral sclerosis
- Osteophytes
- Subchondral cysts
- Treatment
- Conservative
- Weight loss
- Regular moderate exercise
- Orthopaedic shoes and other walking aids
- Physiotherapy
- NSAIDs
- Surgical
- Total knee replacement
- The procedure is called knee replacement, but the name is misleading – only the joint surfaces are replaced
- It should rather be called joint resurfacing
- Most knee replacements are fixed by bone cement
- Not replaced:
- The collateral ligaments
- The posterior cruciate ligament
- The joint capsule
- Total knee replacement
- The joint surfaces of both condyles are replaced
- If both condyles are affected by OA
- Knee hemiarthroplasty (= partial knee replacement)
- The joint surface of only one of the condyles is replaced
- If only one of the condyles are affected by OA