Arthritis in the Knee & Knee Joint (Knee prosthesis) - Therapy

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Arthritis in the Knee. Therapy

What types of treatment are available for knee arthritis?

Arthritis does not mean an artificial joint immediately. For many patients this is certainly a clear improvement, but there are numerous options in the first instance for treating arthritis of the knee conservatively &; i.e. without an operation.

We at Schön Klinik always give the treatment of pain top priority. The combination of medication, physiotherapy, electrotherapy or X-ray irradiation can possibly alleviate knee symptoms – especially at an early stage. In individual cases products that build up cartilage can bring an improvement.

Preserve the patient's own joint - Operations for Arthritis of the Knee.

With meniscus or cartilage damage the joint can be cleaned out by arthroscopy of the joint.

Only when all the conservative options have been exhausted in terms of improving pain and mobility should an operation be given consideration. An artificial joint does not need to be used straightaway. There are surgical procedures available which clean the natural joint - for instance a corrective osteotomy. This may possibly avert or delay an implant.

Small meniscus and cartilage damage can be reconstructed with a joint endoscopy operation (arthroscopy). A corrective operation (osteotomy) can improve the statics of the natural joint. This can also correct malpositions such as bandy legs and knock knees. If ligaments are damaged and the knee joint particularly unstable because of this, a joint stabilisation operation is recommended.

Comparison: Joint cleansing versus prosthesis

Osteotomy versus partial knee replacement (unicompartmental knee arthroplasty - UCA)

Artificial joint? Or preferably joint cleansing? Which method is suited to which patient...

Cleansing versus prosthesis

Artificial joint - the right point in time.

Damaged. Destroyed. Total damage: If arthritis in the knee is already far advanced, an artificial joint replacement is the final option. When should you decide on this? „Professor Dr. Pavel Dufek, Consultant Orthopaedist at Schön Klinik Neustadt is certain that the right time for an operation has come when your quality of life is considerably impaired.&ldquo.

„The correct time to operate is when mobility is severely reduced, the pain has become hard to bear and conservative measures have not eased symptoms sufficiently – then most certainly the right time has come for an operation.“

Artificial joint - what is possible today?

When it comes to deciding on a knee prosthesis, what has been there up to now is not just removed and replaced by something artificial. All that is replaced is simply the uppermost layer of the joint bone. The prosthesis so to speak is superimposed and the joint bones receive a new surface. So the prosthesis takes on the function of the joint cartilage. It ensures that the femur, tibia and patella do not rub against each other. It is fitted as a place holder. There are two different types of artificial knee joints: The partial surface replacement described in professional terms as a 'unicondylar (unicompartmental) resurfacing of the knee joint'. A complete surface replacement is also possible. This is described as a knee endoprosthesis. Fitted and adjusted down to the last millimetre with the aid of a computer, an artificial knee joint sits as if cast into place.

Computer utilisation during surgery

Using computer navigation artificial joints can be fitted with greater precision.

Artificial knee joints can be inserted and fitted with greater precision with computer assistance.

Computer-navigated insertion of a prosthesis.

Individual knee prostheses.

Today's prostheses are made to be very individual. The artificial joint should imitate as best possible the mechanics of the person's own joint. Depending on the extent of the arthritis, bone quality, joint stability and axial misalignment, we make an individual choice of possible implants here at Schön Klinik in the period prior to the operation. The patient's age, gender, bone quality, weight and, last but not least, the activities of daily living also play a role in this decision. At the present time an artificial joint will last from 8 to 15 years. Then it has to be replaced by a new one.