Sunday, February 1, 2009

Replacement Surgery For Arthritis

By Amy Clark

Arthritis is an affliction characterized by irregular inflammations affecting the human body's joints or articulations. The hips, elbows, fingers and knees are the main targets of this condition.

Types of Arthritis

Arthritis occurs in different forms. Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis, is caused mostly by the aging process, but may also happen as a consequence of some lesions, malformations, or infections, of the knee. Less common but just as devastating forms of arthritis are the following: psoriatic arthritis, gouty arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthritis Treatment

Various types of treatment are available for arthritis symptom management. These can range from physical therapy, medications, to surgical procedures.

The latter, known collectively as arthritis knee surgery, has a range of more specialized forms - for instance, knee replacement surgery, arthroscopy, and knee osteotomy. The exact type of surgery depends on several factors, like the severity and degree of the pain.

What is Knee Arthritis Surgery?

Depending on the severity of the disease, the most recommended option for treatment is often arthritis knee surgery.

Arthritis frequently develops in steps, progressively damaging the cartilaginous tissue in the tissue joints. In its early stages, anti-inflammatory remedies and exercise programs are the chief treatment modes. However, as the condition worsens, the surgical option turns into a crucial and urgent recourse.

What is Arthroscopy

Arthroscopy is considered as a less invasive surgery in arthritis treatment. The procedure consists of fixing cartilage tissue and ligament damage in the knee and the other joints. In an arthroscopy surgery, a small device resembling an endoscope will be inserted in the afflicted region via a small incision.

Despite the fact that the efficacy of arthroscopy remains a point of contention, most proponents confirm the benefits efficiency of the procedure when used in relevant scenarios.

Signs that an arthritis suffer needs an arthroscopy procedure are: painful knee pops, instability of the knee joint or knee wobbling, a prickling feeling when moving the knee joint, and inflammation or swelling of the affected areas.

Knee Osteotomy: Better Option for Younger Patients

In the case of younger individuals, these arthritis sufferers only commonly experience degradation of just one area of the knee joint. For this reason, they are not encouraged to undergo complete knee replacement surgery.

Occasionally, arthritis also manifests as knock-legged or bow-legged aspects, which consist of a joint reorientation, so that the joint's weight center is moved from its damaged part to its healthy part. In these cases, osteotomy is often the best option.

The Hybrid: Partial Knee Replacement Surgery

Considered a "hybrid" of both knee osteotomy and complete knee replacement surgery, partial knee replacement surgery is to a large extent less invasive than complete knee replacement surgery. This surgical procedure is performed through the replacement of the degraded region of the affected articulation with prosthetics, while the healthy areas are left alone to allow for healing. This surgery is encouraged for severe cases of arthritis restricted to specific areas of articulation. Compared to complete knee replacement surgery, this surgical procedure necessitates more tiny cuts and allows for a faster period of recovery.

Knee Replacement Surgery

For a majority of arthritic cases, the most sensible decision is complete knee replacement surgery. This type of procedure involves the complete removal and replacement of the injured tissue with metal or plastic prosthetic implants.

Associated Risks: Arthritis Knee Surgery

Similar to a good number pf major surgeries, patients who have undergone arthritis knee surgery are vulnerable to thrombosis, nerve damage, infections and some anesthesia risks.

Additionally, this procedure includes certain post-surgery risks, such as instability of the affected joint, kneecap dislocation/fracture, and even decreased mobility or reduced range of motion.

The Pros and Cons of Arthritis Knee Surgery

In spite of the risks linked to the procedure, arthritis knee surgery has a lot of pros that can help arthritis sufferers. The chief advantages are, among others, substantial pain alleviation, increased mobility, as well as a significant betterment of an individual's health and wellbeing. Furthermore, in a timeframe of 6 months subsequent to the procedure, the previously afflicted joint may resume its full functionality.

On the other hand, this type of surgical procedure also includes a few noticeable drawbacks. For example, post-surgery patients may feel some pain and discomfort in the time after the procedure. Additionally, using a prosthetic joint can be noisy and may draw some attention. Sometimes, difficulties in movement may possibly develop. Plus, depending on the kind of prosthetics used, the prosthetic knee can have restricted usability, such as only ten to fifteen years before it needs to be replaced again.

The above said, however, if we weigh the discomfort evident in a few cases versus the considerable potential for successful results, it is fairly easy to figure out that the pros of this type of surgery definitely outweigh its cons. - 16650

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