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Knee Arthritis

Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more of your joints. The primary symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness. Any joint in the body may be affected by the disease, but it is particularly common in the knee.

Knee arthritis is caused by thinning of the cartilage of the knee joint, usually due to injury or ‘wear and tear’ over time. This can make it hard to do many everyday activities, such as walking or climbing stairs.

There are more than 100 different types of arthritis. The most common types of arthritis affecting the knee are:

  • Osteoarthritis

Age-related, this type of arthritis usually occurs in people aged 50 years and older but may occur in younger people too. This is due to wear and tear, where the cartilage that cushions the bones of the knee softens and wears away. The bones then rub against one another, resulting in knee pain and stiffness.

  • Rheumatoid arthritis

This is a disease in which the synovial membrane that surrounds the knee joint becomes inflamed, swells and thickens. This swollen membrane occupies more space in the knee area, resulting in cartilage loss, pain, and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of a group of disorders termed “inflammatory arthritis.”

  • Post-traumatic arthritis

Usually occurring after a serious knee injury, the fractures of the bones surrounding the knee or tears of the knee ligaments may damage the articular cartilage over time, which results in knee pain and limiting knee function.

While arthritis is mainly an adult disease, some forms affect children.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

The most common symptom of knee arthritis is knee pain. Other symptoms of knee arthritis include:

  • Stiffness or swelling in the joint that makes it difficult to bend or straighten the knee
  • Pain or swelling that worsens after a period of inactivity (such as after sitting and resting, or when waking in the morning)
  • Worsening of pain after physical activity
  • Loose fragments of cartilage and tissue that causes a ‘locking’ or ‘sticking’ sensation during movement. There may be a cracking or grinding sound known as crepitus

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS?

Risk factors of knee arthritis include:

  • Weight

Being overweight puts additional stress on your knee joints

  • Wear and tear

Activities that involve the repetitive use of the knee joint result in excessive wear and tear

  • Aging

As we age, our risk of knee arthritis increases

  • Gender

Women are at higher risk to certain types of arthritis

  • Family history

 

  • Previous knee injuries

If you have suffered from a previous knee injury, your joints are more likely to develop arthritis

 

WHAT IS THE DIAGNOSIS?

A history of the injury and a physical examination of the knee will be conducted by the Doctor. Your doctor will focus on the area of tenderness and range of motion of your knee.

Imaging tests will be taken, such as an x-ray, a MRI and a CT scan if more information is required. These can help provide a more detailed picture of the knee joint, which allows the doctor to check for bone spurs or changes in the bone formation. If your doctor suspects you have certain types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, he may also take a blood test sample.

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS?

Treatment options for knee arthritis include both nonsurgical and surgical treatment.

Nonsurgical treatment options include:

  • Exercising

Exercise helps to reduce weight, hence reducing the pressure on the knee joints which contributes to knee arthritis. Studies have shown that individuals who exercise experience reduced pain.

  • Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy helps to strengthen your knee joints and increase range of motion, which can help to reduce pressure on the knees.

  • Knee aids

Knee aids such as a knee brace or a compression sleeve helps support the knee joint.

  • Injections

Injections such as corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid can be injected directly into the knee to for pain relief.

Surgery for knee arthritis is recommended when nonsurgical methods fail to relieve the pain. Surgery aims to repair or remove damaged portions of the knee joint to provide pain relief. Surgery options include:

  • Arthroscopy

For arthritis that is accompanied with a degenerative meniscal tear, arthroscopy is used to treat a torn meniscus.

  • Cartilage grafting

For younger patients who have small areas of cartilage damage, cartilage grafting is used to replace damaged cartilage.

  • Synovectomy

If the joint lining damaged by rheumatoid arthritis, synovectomy is used to reduce pain and swelling.

  • Osteotomy

If you have early-stage osteoarthritis that has damaged only one side of the knee joint, osteotomy is used to reshape the thighbone or shinbone to relieve pressure on the knee joint

  • Arthroplasty (partial or total knee replacement)

This removes damaged cartilage and bone, and a metal or plastic piece is inserted to replace it.

 

WHAT IS THE RECOVERY PROCESS AFTER SURGERY FOR KNEE ARTHRITIS?

Depending on the type of surgery performed, the recovery period varies. Typically, you will be using a knee brace or crutches. Physiotherapy may also be recommended to help you regain muscle strength and restore range of motion in your knee.

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