WHAT ARE THE SURGICAL OPTIONS FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE?
There are several surgeries that can treat knee OA. In general, knee replacement surgery is the best known, ultimate surgical treatment for knee OA. It is the closest thing to a cure for osteoarthritis. Knee replacement can be considered when the knee is completely worn out (“bone on bone”), with severe pain that has failed conservative treatment. In this procedure, a metal and plastic implant is placed to basically “replace” the entire worn out knee joint. For more information, click HERE.
In certain cases, depending various factors, other surgeries may be considered.
Partial knee replacement: When painful OA is focused only on one side of the knee joint, it is possible to replace only the arthritic portion. Partial replacements can be done in one of the main knee joint compartments, or at the kneecap joint. However, partial knee replacements are not helpful if there is arthritis throughout the joint. Also, if OA develops elsewhere in the joint after partial replacement, then a second surgery to replace the entire joint may eventually be needed.
Osteotomy is a surgical procedure involves cutting bone to realign a knee joint damaged by severe OA. This procedure can allow younger patients a few more years of moderate physical activities while awaiting an eventual total knee replacement.
Arthroscopy: Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery that allows access to the knee joint to perform operations without making large incisions. For knee OA, arthroscopy can be utilized to “clean up” damage that has accumulated in the knee. This surgery has become controversial but can be useful in a few specific scenarios.
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