Knee Replacement - Introduction
X-Ray of a patient with severe osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Most of the articular cartilage (gristle) has been worn away and the joint is very deformed. This would be a typical reason for offering a total knee replacement.
An osteoarthritic knee as seen at total knee replacement. Look at the areas of gristle loss and the lumpy margins of the joint (osteophytes) that are so classic of osteoarthritis.
As little as ten years ago, public opinion of knee replacement was not good. Many would say, "But they don't last very long do they, doctor?" Nothing could be further from the truth. Knee replacement is now big business, with more than 70,000 per year being undertaken in the UK, a number that is rising exponentially. The global figure is of the order of one million. Time was when more hip replacements were being performed than knee replacements. In many parts of the world this has been reversed, knees now being the dominant joint. Success rates are also improving. Already very favourable 12-15 year results are being reported.
