Indications & Candidates for Surgery
Who is a good candidate for knee replacement surgery? orthopedic doctors decide whether their patients are eligible for knee arthroplasty or not based on multiple factors. The presented symptoms by the patients aren’t enough to indicate their eligibility for surgery, however, the severity and the duration of knee pain are also taken into consideration. Non-tolerable Long-lasting knee pain that showed no improvement with anti-inflammatories and analgesics may indicate the need for surgery.
First, doctors should have a detailed medical history and perform a clinical examination on the affected knee carefully. Then they ask for a radiological investigation to assess the degree of knee damage and deformity. There should be radiological evidence of irreversible deformity, liability to fracture, or bowing of the joint before considering surgery. If the patient is elected to knee arthropathy, he must get his blood tested for any infection that may affect the outcome of the surgery.
The common diseases that could be presented with the previously mentioned manifestations are:
1) Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disorder that affects the articulating surfaces of the cartilages and bones forming joints. The articulating cartilages also act as protective cushions and covers for the bones, so when they wear out, they expose the covered bones to friction. The friction of the knee bones causes progressive pain, stiffness and may induce inflammatory reactions.
Primary (for unknown cause) osteoarthritis is the most common indication of knee arthroplasty. Osteoarthritis is more common among old people, obese and pregnant women. Orthopedics usually consider knee arthroplasty as a last resort for knee osteoarthritis as they prefer to start with conservative medications and lifestyle modifications.
