The knee is involved in almost all everyday movements and is subject to great demands in sports. As a result, knee injuries and wear-related complaints are common. They affect the collateral ligaments, the cruciate ligament, the menisci, and the cartilage. Knee problems can begin with very subtle symptoms and may not always be accompanied by pain.
A feeling of being trapped or temporary restriction of movement, a sense of instability, occasional “buckling” of the knee, or swelling after exertion can indicate a problem in the knee, even if there is little or no pain. A knee specialist should then assess which examinations and therapies make sense.
The wear and tear in the knee joint
Knee arthrosis or gonarthrosis is the progressive wear and tear of the knee joint. The knee joint is the largest joint in the human body. Its structure has to meet various requirements: on the one hand, it has to be strong enough to enable it to stand, while at the same time it has to be mobile.
The causes for the development of arthrosis are manifold. A distinction is made between hereditary (primary) and acquired (secondary) arthrosis. In the case of the much more common hereditary arthrosis, the cartilage is subjected to more significant stress in everyday life than its stability allows. Once osteoarthritis is diagnosed, it’s time to get active.
Even if the cartilage damage in the joints cannot be reversed, the progression of arthrosis can at least be slowed down or even stopped. This is because the movement produces synovial fluid in the joint. The synovial fluid supplies the articular cartilage with nutrients reduces friction in the joint, and acts as a shock absorber. In addition, a good muscle build-up relieves the joints and protects them from excessive and incorrect strain.
Complications and problems that indicate knee replacement surgery
When a person is told to undergo knee replacement surgery, it is not, in any case, a decision taken lightly. The most common is that this patient has gone through a series of phases of degenerative joint disease, more specifically degeneration of the cartilage that covers the bone, which has led to the assertion that knee replacement surgery is the best option.
There are possible complications in knee replacement surgery. It is also very accurate that the problems caused by one. For example, advanced osteoarthritis is so severe that they come to invalidate the patient who suffers from it, causing, among other symptoms, joint pain, knee deformity, and loss of mobility, preventing the patient from leading an everyday life. These symptoms vary from patient to patient. Some patients experience hip pains after performing knee replacement.
How long do artificial knee joints last?
The implant materials used today are very durable, and many studies confirm that artificial joints have a service life of more than ten years. Nevertheless, due to complications, a sudden change can rarely be necessary. The likelihood of a replacement operation increases over time. An individual answering the frequently asked question, “How long does an artificial knee joint last?” is not possible.
Statistically, 95 out of 100 artificial knee joints have not been replaced after ten years. In other words, there is a 95% probability that the prosthesis will last more than ten years, although longer service lives are also possible. Whether the individual patient is one of those whose joint works well in the long term or whether knee replacement surgery needs to be performed early.
Conclusions
All this information is recommended to determine the surgeon in each specific case during the consultation before surgery to solve any doubts. If you are considering undergoing the total knee arthroplasty operation with us, you can visit our website to start the process to meet our orthopedic doctors.
Read also: when-to-see-an-orthopedic-doctor-for-hip-pain
