Question 1

How do I know when my knee arthritis is bad enough for replacement?

Accepted Answer

Knee replacement is generally considered when arthritis causes persistent pain and loss of function that significantly affects daily activities despite appropriate conservative treatment. Most patients ultimately know when their symptoms have reached the point where they are ready for replacement.

Question 2

Can knee arthritis be treated without surgery?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Activity modification, anti-inflammatory medications, maintaining strength and motion, and weight management can help. Cortisone and viscosupplementation injections are mainstays of treatment and can often allow patients to maintain good function and tolerate their symptoms for years.

Question 3

What is the difference between cortisone and viscosupplementation injections?

Accepted Answer

Cortisone is a strong, relatively quick-acting anti-inflammatory injection, but the relief may be shorter-lived. Viscosupplementation uses hyaluronic acid, tends to take longer to work, but may provide longer-lasting relief. More information is available in the Injection section.

Question 4

How do you decide between partial and total knee replacement?

Accepted Answer

A medial compartment knee replacement may be appropriate when arthritis is primarily limited to the medial compartment with minimal changes in the lateral compartment. A patellofemoral replacement may be appropriate for isolated patellofemoral arthritis. Total knee replacement is generally used when arthritis involves multiple compartments.

Question 5

What role does robotic assistance play in knee replacement?

Accepted Answer

Robotic assistance helps plan and perform the bone preparation and implant positioning with a high degree of precision, allowing the replacement to be customized to the individual patient's anatomy and alignment.

Question 6

Is arthroscopic treatment effective for knee arthritis?

Accepted Answer

Generally, arthroscopic surgery does not provide long-term treatment for knee arthritis. It can be helpful when there are mechanical symptoms such as catching or locking, or when unstable areas of articular cartilage can be debrided and smoothed. Arthroscopy may improve these mechanical symptoms, but it does not restore the damaged cartilage or eliminate the underlying arthritis.

Question 7

Why does the front of my knee hurt when going up and down stairs or getting out of a chair?

Accepted Answer

This is often due to arthritis of the patellofemoral joint behind the kneecap. Pain is typically felt in the front of the knee and can be worse with stairs, squatting, or getting up from a chair. Patients may also notice crepitus, which is a grinding sensation behind the patella as the knee bends and straightens.

Knee Arthritis