Procedure Description:

Knee Replacement Surgery

A knee replacement, sometimes referred to as a whole knee replacement or knee arthroplasty, is a surgical treatment used to restore the surface of an arthritis-damaged knee. The kneecap and the ends of the bones that make up the knee joint are covered in metal and plastic components. If a patient has a serious knee injury or significant arthritis, this surgery might be considered.

Arthritis can damage the knee joint in several ways. Degenerative joint disease osteoarthritis, which primarily affects middle-aged and older persons, can lead to the degradation of neighboring bone and joint cartilage in the knees. Rheumatoid arthritis can produce pain and stiffness due to inflammation of the synovial membrane and an overabundance of synovial fluid. Injury-related arthritis, or traumatic arthritis, can harm the knee's cartilage. Resurfacing damaged knee joint components and relieving severe knee pain that is not responsive to conservative measures are the two main objectives of knee replacement surgery.

Disease Overview:

Severe arthritis

Chronic discomfort, inability to do everyday chores, and difficulty walking or climbing stairs are all symptoms of severe arthritis. Arthritis can result in long-term joint abnormalities. Although some of these alterations are obvious, such as knobby finger joints, the damage is generally only detectable on X-ray.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most debilitating kind of arthritis. Despite the fact that they both belong under the "arthritis" banner and have some similarities, these illnesses are very different.

Rest, occupational or physical therapy, hot or cold compresses, joint protection, exercise, medicines, and, in certain cases, surgery to rectify joint damage are all options for treating arthritis. One or more of these may be part of your treatment strategy.

Disease Signs and Symptoms:

Severe arthritis symptoms

• Pain.
• Stiffness.
• Swelling.
• Redness.
• Range of motion has been reduced.

Disease Causes:

Severe Arthritis can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Overuse of a joint causes wear and tear.
• Age (OA is most common in adults over age 50)
• injuries.
• obesity.
• Autoimmune conditions.
• Genes or a family tree
• muscle wasting

Disease Diagnosis:

Doctors examine your joints for swelling, redness, and warmth during the physical exam. They'll also want to check how well your joints can move.

Tests in the lab

Different types of bodily fluids can be analysed to determine the type of arthritis you have. Blood, urine, and joint fluid are all regularly tested fluids. Doctors wash and numb the region before withdrawing a sample of joint fluid using a needle inserted into the joint cavity.

Imaging

These tests might uncover issues that are causing your discomfort within the joint. Here are several examples:

X-rays. X-rays are a type of radiography that uses low doses of radiation to see bone and can reveal cartilage loss, bone deterioration, and bone spurs. X-rays may not detect early arthritic damage, although they are frequently used to monitor disease development.

Tomography using a computer (CT). CT scanners use a combination of X-rays from various angles to provide cross-sectional images of inside structures. CT scans can see both the bone and the soft tissues around it.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a type of imaging that (MRI). MRIs provide more detailed cross-sectional pictures of soft tissues such as cartilage, tendons, and ligaments by combining radio waves with a strong magnetic field.

Ultrasound. High-frequency sound waves are used to imaging soft tissues, cartilage, and fluid-containing structures around joints with this method (bursae).

Ultrasound can also be used to guide the positioning of needles for extracting joint fluid or injecting drugs into the joint.