Knee Osteoarthritis
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Osteoarthritis is a wearing of articular cartilage. In the knee, the cartilage is a smooth, slippery covering found at the mating surfaces of the femur (thigh bone), tibia (shin bone) and patella (knee cap). Cartilage can wear in any or all of these areas.
Often the cartilage begins to wear in an area of the knee that is “overloaded.” This is most commonly seen on the medial or inside part of your knee. This “medial compartment” is the area of the knee between the medial condyle of the femur and the medial aspect of the tibial plateau. In medial compartment wear, the bone just below the joint surface can change and a varus deformity or “bow-legged” condition can occur. As the deformity worsens, the compartment sees more load, which in turn causes more degeneration. This “downward spiral” can eventually lead to a severe state and the need for surgical intervention.
If the damage is localized and not too severe, a Unicompartmental Knee Implant may be indicated. Otherwise a 
Total Joint Replacement may be used. Each case is different and only your doctor can determine what is indicated.
If the above scenario occurs on the opposite side (the lateral compartment) a valgus or “knock-kneed” deformity can result. In general a valgus condition is less common than a varus condition.
You can visit the sites below for general information on osteoarthritis
http://www.arthritis.org/conditions/DiseaseCenter/oa.asp http://www.brighamandwomens.org/patient/osteoarthritis.asp http://www.stoneclinic.com/osteoknee.htm
Total Knee replacement can offer independence and mobility for those suffering from Osteoarthritis or other forms of degenerative joint disease. It is, however, a major surgery and involves a significant recovery period.
For some insight into what that is like, you can visit:
The surgical experience, rehabilitation following knee surgery and recovery are discussed in a forum where patients share stories and discuss their experiences.
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