Arthritis sufferers will try just about anything to relieve the pain and other debilitating affects of their condition. Over the last thirty to forty years treatment options have improved both drug treatments and other alternatives, including surgery. For those whose knees are their biggest problem, arthritis knee surgery is a viable option.
However, one must be cautious when choosing this option as all arthritis knee surgery is not created equal.

Arthroscopic Procedures

One of the most popular arthritis knee surgery options is arthroscopic knee surgery. In this procedure, three small incisions are cut into the leg and the surgeon uses special probe instruments to remove damaged material and bone fragments. After cleaning out the area, symptoms are supposed to be relieved because all those fragments no longer inhibit joint use.

However, at least one respected study has shown that this option is ineffective. The study provided two different groups of patients with surgical aid. One group was a placebo group in which the surgeon simply cut the three incisions and simply mimicked the movements of the actual surgery and the other group received the actual surgery. The results were that the placebo group experienced better results than the surgery group. It was demonstrated that the patients who received the surgery were actually slower than before the surgery.

There is one option that seems to work through arthroscopy. The knee is injected with a special synthetic lubricant that replaces the fluid around the knee. This relatively new option has seen the most positive results.

Total Knee Replacement

The most effective arthritis knee surgery, used as a last resort is total knee replacement. In this procedure the bones at the joint are separated and shaved to a certain level. The procedure is more akin to dental work than replacement. Both utilize the shaving off of excess in favor of artificial materials. The knee is not replaced so much as resurfaced. The top bone is then fitted with a metal plate and the bottom is given a plastic plate. The plastic is a strong friction resistant plastic and it prevents bone against bone contact resulting in a reduction of pain. The recovery times are minimal and patients report significant improvement in pain control and mobility after the recovery period

Arthritis knee surgery may be the right option for arthritis sufferers, but they must know all their options before undertaking any invasive procedure. As with any other surgery, arthritis knee surgery offers some risks and also may need to be revisited over time. It is always best for patient and physician to work closely together in any course of treatment. It can mean the difference between a relatively normal life and a life filled with pain.

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