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What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a common degenerative condition in which the cartilage that normally cushions the bones of a joint begins to wear down, causing the bones to rub together. Symptoms include pain, swelling, and deformity, all of which can contribute to loss of motion. Any joint can be susceptible to osteoarthritis, although the disease typically settles in the knee, hip, neck, back, and fingers. Osteoarthritis of the knee is common because the knee is a weight-bearing joint. In fact, the knee provides mobility and support to carry almost half the body’s weight. What causes Osteoarthritis?No specific cause has been pinpointed. Generally, people who are older than 45 are at risk, and women are more susceptible than men. Other risk factors include family history, injury, and obesity. An estimated 20 million Americans suffer from this disease, which is one of the most common types of arthritis.Osteoarthritis of the knee is commonly associated with a history of repeated injury and/or joint surgery, or obesity. Progressive cartilage deterioration of the knee joints can lead to outward curvature of the knees referred to as "bow legged." Patients with osteoarthritis of the weight bearing joints (like the knees) can develop a limp over time. The limping often worsens as more cartilage degenerates. Treatment OptionsMany treatments are available. For those whose pain is mild, over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) and topical pain relievers (e.g., Aspercreme, Icy Hot) might be enough to provide relief. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, are used to relieve pain and inflammation but are known to have side effects. More moderate pain is treated with stronger NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors, drugs that are available only by prescription. Cortisone injections are also given to the joint to relieve inflammation, but this relief is usually only short-term.When pain, limping, and joint dysfunction from knee osteoarthritis become so severe that none of these treatments provide adequate relief, surgery may be the next option. There are several surgical alternatives to knee replacement, such as arthroscopy, osteotomy, and synovectomy. These may be able to delay the necessity of a replacement, but when pain reaches the point that it is controlling your life, a knee replacement is usually recommended. To download Wright's patient brochure, "Treating Osteoarthritis through Knee Replacement with ADVANCE® Knee Systems featuring Medial-Pivot Designs" (pdf), click here. What the future holdsNational Institutes of Health researchers are currently looking into whether or not taking glucosamine or chondroitin could actually improve or protect the quality of the cartilage in joints affected by osteoarthritis. Research scientists are also studying tetracycline drugs that have been shown to slow down the progression of cartilage degeneration in the knees of patients suffering from osteoarthritis.2To find a surgeon in your area who performs knee replacement surgery using Wright products, please visit our Physician Locator. Additional Educational Resources
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