Knee osteoarthritis

From greek.doctor
  • 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