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What is Knee Arthritis?
The joint surface is covered by a smooth articular surface that allows pain-free movement in the joint. Arthritis is a general term covering numerous conditions where the joint surface or cartilage wears out. This surface can wear out for several reasons; often the definite cause is not known. Arthritis often affects the knee joint. When the articular cartilage wears out, the bone ends rub on one another and cause pain. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis. It occurs with aging and use.
What are the Causes of Knee Arthritis?
There are numerous conditions that can cause arthritis but often the exact cause is never known. In general, but not always, it affects people as they get older (osteoarthritis). Other causes include:
- Trauma (fracture)
- Increased stress such as overuse and overweight
- Infection of the bone
- Connective tissue disorders
- Inactive lifestyle and obesity (overweight). Your weight is the single most important link between diet and arthritis, as being overweight puts an additional burden on your hips, knees, ankles, and feet.
- Inflammation (rheumatoid arthritis)
What are the Symptoms of Knee Arthritis?
Knee arthritis causes pain and decreased mobility of the knee joint. The cartilage lining is thinner than normal or completely absent. In the arthritic knee, there is an absent joint space that shows on X-ray. In the normal knee, there is a normal joint space. The capsule of the arthritic knee is swollen. The degree of cartilage damage and inflammation varies with the type and stage of arthritis. Bone spurs or excessive bone can also build up around the edges of the joint. The combinations of these factors make the arthritic knee stiff and limit activities due to pain or fatigue.
How is Knee Arthritis Diagnosed?
Doctors diagnose knee arthritis with a medical history, a physical examination, and X-rays of the affected joint. During the physical examination, your doctor will examine the affected joint for swelling, pain, tenderness, and assess the joint’s range of motion. An X-ray of the knee may show a loss of the joint space and bone spur formation.
There is no blood test for knee arthritis.
What is the Treatment for Knee Arthritis?
There is no known cure for knee arthritis. However, there are several treatments and lifestyle modifications that can help you ease your pain and symptoms. The objective of the treatment is to reduce pain, improve joint movement, and prevent further damage to the joint. The treatment of knee arthritis involves:
Medications: Medications may include different classes such as anti-inflammatory drugs, steroid injections, artificial joint fluid injections, and other drugs.
Lifestyle modifications:
Some of the lifestyle modifications include:
- A moderate exercise program
- Use of heat or cold treatments
- Eating a healthy and well-balanced diet
- Getting adequate rest
- Losing weight
- Protecting your joints with the use of assistive devices such as splints or braces to support the weakened joints
Physical therapy: Your physical therapist will teach you exercises to keep joints flexible and improve muscle strength.
Surgery: Surgery is usually considered if non-surgical treatment fails to provide relief. Joint replacement surgery is considered as an option when the pain is so severe that it affects your ability to carry out normal activities.
What is Total Knee Replacement?
Total knee replacement, also called total knee arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure in which the worn out or damaged surfaces of the knee joint are removed and replaced with an artificial prosthesis.
What are the Indications for Total Knee Replacement?
Total knee replacement surgery is commonly indicated for severe osteoarthritis of the knee. Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis. It is the most common form of knee arthritis in which the joint cartilage gradually wears away, and often affects the elderly. Your doctor may advise total knee replacement if you have:
- Severe knee pain that limits your daily activities (such as walking, getting up from a chair or climbing stairs)
- Moderate-to-severe pain that occurs during rest or awakens you at night
- Chronic knee inflammation and swelling that is not relieved with rest or medications
- Failure to obtain pain relief from medications, injections, physical therapy or other conservative treatments
- A bow-legged knee deformity
What is Subvastus Muscle-Sparing Total Knee Replacement?
Subvastus Muscle-Sparing Total Knee Replacement (SV-MS TKR) is a surgical technique in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) that prioritizes preserving the vastus medialis muscle and its neurovascular integrity. Unlike traditional approaches that often involve extensive manipulation or splitting of the quadriceps muscles, the subvastus approach focuses on minimizing soft tissue trauma, which is a key determinant of recovery outcomes.
What is the Procedure for Subvastus Muscle-Sparing Total Knee Replacement?
Subvastus Muscle-Sparing Total Knee Replacement Surgical Technique includes the following steps:
- Incision: A medial parapatellar incision is made, extending distally without transecting muscle fibers.
- Retraction: The vastus medialis is gently mobilized to expose the joint capsule.
- Bone Preparation: Standard techniques are employed to prepare the femur and tibia for prosthesis placement, ensuring alignment and stability.
- Prosthesis Placement: Implants are secured with precision, followed by thorough irrigation and closure.
What are the Advantages of the Subvastus Approach Sparing Total Knee Replacement?
Some of the advantages of the Subvastus approach include:
- Enhanced Postoperative Recovery: You can experience reduced pain and improved range of motion due to minimal soft tissue disruption.
- Preservation of Quadriceps Strength: By sparing the vastus medialis, the approach helps maintain your knee's extensor mechanism, crucial for activities like walking and climbing stairs.
- Reduced Rehabilitation Time: Early mobilization is typically possible, facilitating a quicker return to daily activities.
- Minimized Risk of Complications: The approach reduces the likelihood of extensor lag, infection, and wound healing issues compared to more invasive methods.
What is Robotic-Assisted Knee Replacement?
Robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery is an alternative to the conventional knee replacement procedure. It is performed using robotic-arm technology that allows your surgeon to precisely perform the surgery through a smaller incision as compared to traditional surgery.
Mako SmartRobotics™ for Total Knee Replacement
Mako SmartRobotics™ is an innovative solution for many suffering from painful arthritis of the knee. Mako uses 3D CT-based planning software so your surgeon can know more about your anatomy to create a personalized joint replacement surgical plan. This 3D model is used to pre-plan and assist your surgeon in performing your total knee replacement.
In the operating room, the surgeon guides Mako’s robotic arm within the predefined area, and Mako’s AccuStop™ technology helps the surgeon stay within the planned boundaries that were defined when the personalized pre-operative plan was created. By guiding your doctor during surgery, Mako’s AccuStop™ technology allows your surgeon to cut less by cutting precisely what’s planned to help protect your healthy bone and preserve soft tissue.
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