Treatment options available for patients with knee arthritis
In this article, recently published in the The Evening Standard, Mr Peter Hill, Consultant Knee Surgeon, outlines the treatment options available to patients with knee arthritis.
Article recently published in The Evening Standard, written by Mr Peter Hill, Consultant Knee Surgeon
Many knee injuries sustained early in life lead to degenerative changes and an increase in obesity is driving a premature ageing of the knee. Developments in surgical techniques have helped to delay the onset of premature arthritis, by reconstructing ligaments and repairing meniscal pathology early in knees damaged by trauma, before significant damage has occurred due to instability.
Orthobiologics
Cartilage defects can be repaired with soft tissue scaffolds to encourage stem cells to repair the articular cartilage surface and cartilage cells can be cultured and re-implanted into the knee and absent menisci can be transplanted. There’s evidence that these surgical techniques can be successful in carefully selected patients, to preserve function and the concept of the biological knee replacement has been developed.
Despite these techniques, arthritis does progress, and when the native knee can no longer be salvaged, other techniques can be used to preserve it. There’s evidence of injections of platelet-rich- plasma (PRP) or hyaluronic acid can reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Osteotomy
Osteotomy is an old technique that realigns the forces running through the knee, to off-load the worn out area and has regained popularity with computer planning and custom-made jigs to improve accuracy.
Custom-made knee replacement
However, when biological techniques have failed, or the arthritis has become too far advanced, their remains replacement with a metal and plastic joint (arthroplasty). The three compartments of the knee can either be replaced completely or just the worn out compartments. Modern techniques, materials and technology, combined with computer guided surgery, using either robot-assisted, or 3D printed custom-made jigs based on CT or MRI scans, to optimise placement, should improve longevity of the knee replacement.
Custom-made knees are now available that fit the implant to the patient’s knee, rather than the knee to the off-the-shelf implant. They require less bone resection and may improve performance, comfort and longevity
Mr Peter Hill, Consultant Knee Surgeon
Mr Peter Hill, Consultant Knee Surgeon runs regular clinics at 31 Old Broad Street (in the City of London) and in Surrey, at Parkside Suite, Frimley Park.
Mr Hill is a ConforMIS trained knee surgeon, offering patients custom-made knee replacement surgery at London Bridge Hospital and Parkside Suite, Frimley Park Hospital.
For more information visit Mr Peter Hill – London Sports Orthopaedics
To arrange an appointment: Tel:0207 496 3550
Email: hill.admin@sportsortho.co.uk