Knee Surgery for Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Last updated Thursday, February 10, 2005
Review of the conditionCharacteristics of rheumatoid arthritis of the knee As with any other joint in the body, the knee joint can be destroyed by rheumatoid arthritis.
This can lead to pain, stiffness, deformity, and disability. Pain is
typically aggravated by weight bearing activity. It often occurs at
rest and interferes with sleep in later stages. Incidence and risk factors Knee involvement by RA is more common than hip involvement.
Approximately 20-30% of patients with RA will have knees affected by
this disease.Diagnosis A thorough history will determine the patient�s overall health and
functional capacity. Examination of the spine, hips, knees, ankles and
feet for joint range of motion and deformity is done. Radiographs
(X-rays) of the involved joints are obtained. These usually include
neck X-rays in which the patient is first asked to bend their head
forward, then backward. Standard x-rays of the knees with the patient
standing are obtained. Occasionally, an MRI scan, CAT scan (CT), or
Bone-scan may be necessary.Medications In early stages of RA, anti-inflammatory medications can be effective in decreasing pain and may slow the progression of joint destruction caused by RA.Exercises Once joint destruction of the knee has set in, there are no specific
exercises that can stop or arrest the development of deformity and
joint destruction. Regular range of motion exercises and weight bearing
activity are important in maintaining muscle strength and overall
aerobic (heart and lung) capacity, and help prevent the development of
osteoporosis, which can complicate later treatment.Possible benefits of knee surgery for rheumatoid arthritis Surgery can reduce the pain and swelling caused by synovitis
associated with RA, and can correct the loss of cartilage and bony
destruction associated with later stages of the disease. Surgery for Rheumatoid arthritis of the knee at the University of Washington If you are interested in making an appointment to discuss this procedure, you can request an appointment using our online referrals website. To request a referral online, please click here. You can also call 206-598-4288 (outside the Seattle area: 800-440-3280) to make an appointment.
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