Arthritis means inflammation of one or more of the joints. It can affect any joint in the body, but it is most common in the knee. The most common symptoms of arthritis are pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Knee arthritis can make it difficult to perform routine tasks like walking or climbing stairs. For many people, it is a major source of lost work time and severe impairment.
End-stage arthritis occurs when the articular cartilage is gradually worn away, resulting in bone-on-bone grinding of the joint surface. End-stage arthritis causes pain as well as a loss of function and movement, significantly limiting daily activities.
In the initial stage, medications and physical therapy can help to alleviate the signs and symptoms. However, when it comes to end-stage arthritis, surgical repair is the only option.
If arthritic pain is causing disability and nonsurgical treatment is not working, the orthopaedic surgeon may suggest total knee replacement surgery. The surgeon will remove the damaged cartilage and bone and replace them with new metal or plastic joint surfaces to restore knee function.