Page 30 - Waterfall_Issue 6_2022

Waterfall News

Injury or previous trauma
Injury or trauma to the knee can bring
on the onset of osteoarthritis.

Overuse
Certain occupations and sporting
activities with repetitive loading on
the knee joints can lead to the earlier
development of osteoarthritis.

Developmental abnormalities
Knock knees or bowing of the leg put a
higher strain on the one side of the knee
joint, leading to early osteoarthritis.

TREATMENT Knee replacement prosthesis.
Treatment of osteoarthritis can be
divided into conservative and surgical
management. No treatment will stop very good and favourable results When mentioning knee replacement
the progression of osteoarthritis of the when using these medications. to patients, some feel like you are
knee. There are, however, some forms of Anti-inflammatory medication is swearing at them. However, many
treatment that can slow its progression. given regularly to patients with patients come to me after knee
osteoarthritis. This helps to reduce replacement surgery to say: “You were
Activity modification, the symptoms because arthritis is an right, I should have done this long
exercise and weight loss inflammatory disease of the cartilage. ago.” Knee replacement has shown
Since all three of the above are risk objectively and subjectively to be the
factors for developing osteoarthritis of Lots of research has been done only long-term solution to osteoarthritis.
the knee, they are a good starting point and is still being conducted on
to slow down the rate of progression. the different injections that one There are different types of replacement
Try to avoid activities that put excessive can inject into the knee joint. The surgeries that can be performed – from
strain on your knees, including repetitive three main injectables are: unicodyalar replacement or the so-called
motion and loading of the knee. • Cortisone or steroid injections. These ‘half knees’ where only one or two of the
Water aerobics and swimming are work by lowering the inflammation in three articulation surfaces are replaced,
good examples of exercise activities the knee. to total knee replacement, where all
that could aid in weight loss without • Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), where three are replaced at the same time.
putting strain on the knees. One blood is taken, and the platelets Many advances have been made in the
must also change from high intensity with growth factors are injected different types of prostheses used.
exercising to low-intensity exercising. into the knee joint. These injections
Diet modifications are helpful for those work precisely the opposite way to The longevity of the implants has
people for whom obesity is a risk factor. cortisone, by using the body’s immune changed from lasting about 10 years to
response to fight the inflammation. the ‘new’ prosthesis that has been shown
Physical therapy and • Hyaluronic acid or the so-called to last for more than 25 years. This,
walking aids ‘gel’. These work on the principle together with technological advances
Physical therapy can help in of providing a barrier and fighting in surgery, such as robotic-assisted
strengthening the muscles around the inflammation. surgery, has achieved optimal results
knee and correcting the biomechanics. in total knee replacement surgery.
In addition, walking aids can help to SURGICAL MANAGEMENT
unload the knee in certain areas and Surgical management of osteoarthritis FINAL WORDS
thus slow down the progression. has changed immensely over the Osteoarthritis of the knee is a debilitating
last 50 years. Conservative surgery, disease that can take away some of
Medication especially in the early stages of the joys of life. It can alter your daily
There is very little to no scientific osteoarthritis, is keyhole surgery or lifestyle, but with the right management
research that shows that over-the- arthroscopic cleaning of the knee. strategy, it does not need to. There
counter medication helps with This is mostly performed to slow the is hope at the end of the tunnel.
osteoarthritis. That said, I do, however, progression of arthritis until knee
see a lot of patients in my practice with replacement surgery can be performed. “Doc, I can’t walk, but I can run….!”

28 Waterfall Issue 6 2022