Osteoarthritis Of Knee & Its Treatment



1)      What is osteoarthritis?
Ans: It is commonly known as wear and tear of the joint in which the normal natural cushioning of the cartilage weaves away. Due to this the cores rub more closely against   one another leading to pain, swelling, stiffness and the ability to move.
2) Who gets osteoarthritis?
Ans: It starts developing after the age of 45 -50 but younger individuals with conditions          like rheumatoid arthritis or post traumatic (after fractures around the joint) can also get it sooner. Women get it more commonly than men.
3) What are the causes?
Ans: Age, overweight (obesity), hereditary, repetitive stress, athletes, inflammatory, arthritis, metabolic disorders.
4) What are the symptoms?
Ans: Pain, Swelling, Stiffness, cracking sounds, difficulty to get in in and out of chairs & cars etc.

5) How is it diagnosed?
   Ans: Clinical examination & investigations like x-ray of knees in bending position,    sometimes MRI is needed to look at meniscus for tears etc.
6) How to treat it?
Ans: a) WEIGHTLOSS: Even small amount of weight loss can reduce pain significantly
  1. b) EXERCISE: strengthening of muscles around knee especially the quadriceps can decrease pain .Stretching exercises can help keep knee joint mobile.
  2. c) ANALGESIC + ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES: Can help control symptoms & reduce knee inflammation.
  3. d) INJECTIONS like steroids & hyaluronic acid may be beneficial
  4. e) BRACES: To unload the worn out compartment can help the knee pain
  5. f) FOOD SUPPLEMENTS: Chondroitin & glucosamine are safe to try but benefits may be modest.
  6. g) PHYSIOTHERAPY: + OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY: Activity modification, How to do or change the way you do things around the house to reduce pain.

  1. h) SURGERY: JOINT PRESERVING AND JOINT SACRIFICING
  • Arthroscopy to debride the worn out surfaces & clear loose cartilage may help.
  • Realignment osteotomy to correct the deformity to make it straight may help.
  • UNICOMPARTMENTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT: Partial or half knee replacement has known success but the criteria to do it are strict.
  • TOTAL JOINT EPLACEMENT –Final Solution, preferably over 60 years surgery has risks but results are good .Various materials have been used like stainless steel, cobalt, chromium alloys, titanium alloys, zirconium & polyethylene .The most important part of a knee replacement is soft tissues balancing. If the knee is very deformed the soft tissue balancing is more difficult &conventional knee replacement may not work .For a knee replacement you have to stay in hospital for 5-7 days. Operation takes around 70 -90 minutes. It is usually done under regional anaesthetists .Recovery takes around 3 months, swelling may last for 6 months.


By Dr.Sabyasachi Ghosh,
D.Ortho,MRCS,FRCS, Trauma & Ortho
Sr.Consultant – Orthopaedic & Joint Replacement Surgeon
Neotia Getwel Healthcare Centre
Uttorayon ,Siliguri
Ph-0353 -305 3000|3063


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