Basics of Surgery for Arthritis.

Last updated Thursday, December 30, 2004

Knee surgery

Can surgery help arthritis of the knee?

The knee supports a lot of weight and is subject to lifelong demands. It is prone to injury because of its exposed position and the stress it must bear.

For a painful knee that has not improved through therapy, the orthopedic surgeon can offer a number of surgical procedures. They include arthroscopy, synovectomy, osteotomy, and total joint replacement. All of these offer relief from pain, and joint replacement can improve both stability and mobility. Both cemented and non-cemented components are now available.

Credits

Some of this material may also be available in an Arthritis Foundation brochure. Contact the Washington/Alaska Chapter Helpline: (800) 542-0295. If dialing from outside of WA and AK, contact the National Helpline: (800) 283-7800.

Adapted from the pamphlet originally prepared for the Arthritis Foundation by John Lavorgna, MD, Jeffrey T. Nugent, MD, G. James Sammarco, MD, and Leo Whiteside, MD. This material is protected by copyright.

Disclaimer

This resource has been provided by the University of Washington Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine as general information only. This information may not apply to a specific patient. Additional information may be found at http://www.orthop.washington.edu or by contacting the UW Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.

How useful was this page or article? This article is rated out of 5 stars (196 ratings). Not useful at all Not very useful Useful Very useful Extremely useful