Knee Osteoarthritis

Diagnosis:

Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis in the knee, is a condition in which the cartilage cushioning the joints degenerates. The deterioration of the shock-absorbing cartilage causes pain and limits mobility as it progresses, gradually worsening over the course of many years.

Osteoarthritis is a condition associated with overuse, although it can be hereditary or occur as a result of injury or obesity. In the knee, it most commonly occurs in older individuals, typically older than 50 years of age, who have participated in demanding physical activity for much of their lives.

Currently affecting approximately 27 million people in the United States, osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and one of the most common orthopedic conditions. Most people develop some degree of osteoarthritis as they age, however many minor cases go undiagnosed. Genesis Orthopedics & Sports Medicine offers multiple effective treatment options for the relief of osteoarthritis.

Treatment Options:

Cortisone

Cortisone offers pain relief to patients suffering from the side effects of arthritis and although it isn’t a permanent solution, it does assist in helping patients regain knee function.

Physical Therapy

In most cases of osteoarthritis, physical therapy can be beneficial in the mobility restoration process. Physical therapy is often supplemental to other treatment options in more serious instances.

Surgery

Provided as an option to patients who suffer from moderate osteoarthritis is a revolutionary new treatment called Subchondroplasty. When this condition becomes more severe you may be a candidate for a total knee arthroplasty, a treatment typically performed after more conservative treatment options have been exhausted. Genesis Orthopedics & Sports Medicine will perform a minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty to replace the damaged knee joint. Factors such as age, weight, and activity level will be taken into account when choosing the appropriate type of replacement.

Viscosupplementation

A powerful pain reliever specifically formulated for osteoarthritis of the knee, viscosupplementation replaces patients’ knee joint fluid for up to six months with only a single administration. Genesis Orthopedics & Sports Medicine utilizes viscosupplementation for cases of osteoarthritis that are debilitating, allowing patients to return to physical activity without pain.