Knee osteoarthritis is a common and often debilitating disease. Referral to an orthopaedic surgeon is appropriate when there are radiographic changes consistent with osteoarthritis that are accompanied by symptoms. However, the severity of osteoarthritis on radiographs does not necessarily correlate with the level of pain experienced by the patient. It is important for patients to understand that surgery is a pain-reducing operation, not necessarily a pain-eliminating one.
Total knee arthroplasty is a surgical procedure performed to relieve pain secondary to osteoarthritis of the knee. It is considered in patients who have chronic pain that is severe enough to hinder daily functioning and in cases where first-line pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic arthritis treatments are ineffective.
Knee osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that results from progressive loss of articular cartilage, usually in the setting of chronic wear and tear or many years after trauma that has caused articular irregularity.
Knee osteoarthritis, the predominant cause of chronic knee pain, often leads patients to consult their family practitioner. This complex joint disease is characterized by cartilage loss, reactive bone formation, subchondral cystic changes, joint deformity, and disruption of surrounding soft tissues, and manifests primarily as activity-related pain and functional limitation.
