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Anatomy of a Knee Failure
Knee replacement surgery is the most common joint replacement procedure. Approximately 581,000 knee replacements are performed each year in the United States.
In severely diseased knee joints, knee replacement surgery (also called knee arthroplasty) can:
- Help relieve pain.
- Restore knee function.
- Correct leg deformity.
- Help individuals resume near-normal activities.
Common reasons for knee replacement surgery are to repair joint damage caused by various forms of arthritis. |
Osteoarthritis
The "wear and tear" caused by osteoarthritis is the most common reason for having knee replacement surgery. Osteoarthritis usually occurs in people 50 years of age and older. It is more prevalent in people with a family history of arthritis. This condition may be due to an old injury or infection in the knee joint. Usually there is no obvious cause.
In osteoarthritis, the smooth cartilage that lines the inside of the natural joint wears away. This results in a narrowing of the joint space. As a result, bone comes directly in contact with bone, which can be very painful. Cysts and erosions in the bone ends can occur. Bone spurs (small bone growths) can form around the joint. All of these changes ultimately lead to increased pain and stiffness of the joint.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammation of the tissue surrounding the knee. This can cause deterioration of cartilage and other parts of the joint. The chronic inflammation can damage the cartilage and eventually cause cartilage loss, pain, and stiffness.
Traumatic Arthritis
Traumatic arthritis can follow a serious knee injury. A knee fracture or severe tears of the knee ligaments may damage the cartilage that covers the bone ends. This can cause knee pain and limit function.
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