Knee Arthritis

Are you suffering from Pain in the Knee? Stiffness and aches in the morning? Have you previously injured your knee and now it is giving you trouble?

If you are, there is a high chance you are suffering from knee arthritis.

Knee Arthritis is a term used to describe knees affected by inflammatory or degenerative disease processes. Knee arthritis can occur on its own, or as part of a general condition affecting other joints or other parts of the body.

Common symptoms of knee arthritis includes pain, stiffness and locking. They can be worse at different times of the day, and aggravated by activities such as climbing stairs. Knee arthritis can limit activities of daily living such as squatting, getting up from the floor, and in severe cases, even walking. Patients with severe knee arthritis often have to curb their activities and lifestyle.

Why does knee arthritis occur? As mentioned before, it can occur as part of a systemic medical condition such as gout, rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. In some cases, knee arthritis is due to previous Knee Injury or Surgery, such as meniscal removal after meniscal tear. Thus, knee arthritis can occur in active sportsmen. However, in many cases, knee arthritis has no obvious cause other than degeneration. In such situations, it is known as osteoarthritis.

What can be done for Knee Arthritis? First, an accurate diagnosis of the knee arthritis is crucial. This will require an evaluation by a doctor, x-rays and possibly some blood tests. Once the diagnosis is made, medications can be given to treat the pain and the underlying causes. Physiotherapy can also be prescribed for sufferers of knee arthritis to strengthen the thigh muscles. In selected cases of knee arthritis, surgery may be offered.

There are many types of surgery possible, depending the severity and extent of the knee arthritis. Keyhole surgery can be performed to remove loose bony fragments causing pain. In more severe cases of knee arthritis, replacement of the knee surfaces is a comon, effective and accepted way to remove pain and restore function.

With adequate treatment, many patients with Knee Arthritis are able to return to their desired level of  activity and independence.

Is Makoplasty Suitable for Your Painful Knees?

Many people suffer from knee pain in Singapore. One common cause is knee arthritis, where the surfaces of the knee that face each other are gradually worn down. In the majority of patients, the inner half of the knee is more affected than the outer half. This is aggravated by the bow-leggedness that many of these patients have which cause additional pressure on the inner half. As the inner half gets more worn down, the bow-leggedness worsens and a vicious cycle starts.

For patients whose pain is largely in the inner half of the knee and whose outer half is essentially healthy, Partial Knee Replacement is an effective method of treatment.

Recently introduced is Makoplasty in Singapore . This is a form of robotic knee surgery for partial knee replacement in Singapore. In knee replacement surgery, the damaged surfaces are removed by cutting into the bone around the knee. The angle of the cuts are also planned to allow the knee to be straightened. By using scanned images and computer guidance, Makoplasty plans the cuts to give the best possible alignment. A robotic arm is also used to enable the surgeon to make the cuts as accurately as possible.

The advantages of Makoplasty include:

1) More accurate alignment, allow higher success rate in terms of pain relief and return to normal function.

2) Less cuts to the knee, resulting in less pain after surgery.

3) Shorter hospital stay, as patients are able to walk earlier. Also, as the pain is less, pain is easily controlled with oral painkillers that patients can take at home.

Also, as the patients start to walk earlier, Makoplasty in Singapore has the potential to be associated with less complications related to bed rest such as deep vein thrombosis (clots in veins) and infections.

So, if you do suffer from severe knee pain in one part of the knee, undergoing Makoplasty in Singapore is one option you should discuss with your surgeon. It may be the means by which you are able to return to your active lifestyle.