Knee replacement alternatives are quickly becoming as popular as traditional techniques. Unlike many other areas of the human body, issues which impact the knees may occur not only because of physical injury or age, but conditions which are simultaneously present in many other joints and their surrounding tissues. An example of this would be arthritis. At one time, regardless of the reason for the problems associated with the knees, the accepted solution was surgery or knee replacement. However, times have changed. Now, patients with knee-related problems are actively researching available knee replacement alternatives. Fortunately, the Medical community understands how the attitudes have changed concerning the conventional methods of treatment. Researchers continues to seek answers, new methods of treatment. Because of these efforts, patients now have many knee replacement alternatives from which to choose.
Degenerative diseases, such as arthritis, can create many problems relating to the knees, as well as the other joints withing the body. It has been argued whether any type of invasive procedures should qualify as one of the knee replacement alternatives. Many say if the treatment involves any sort of incision, it is conventional not alternative. However, many include “minimally-invasive” as being a new method. In one of the new knee replacement alternatives, the difference lies in the length of incision. While the conventional procedure involved an eight to eleven inch incision, this alternative reduces the cut to between four and six inches. This alternative is certainly not without significant benefits. First, there is far less damage to surrounding tissue, the hospital and recovery time is less and of course scarring from the incision is greatly reduced.
Most think of knee replacement alternatives as being a procedure which is completely non-invasive. This holds true even though some surgical procedures have been adapted to minimize their impact on the patient, such as in microscopic procedures. To many, it is still not a viable option. In regards to issues relating to arthritis, one of the knee replacement alternatives begins with three areas of the patient’s lifestyle. Instead of moving immediately to the surgical suite, the patient must focus on exercise as well as weight loss. Much research has been done to understand how the soft muscle tissue around the knee responds during activity to effectively protect the knee. This research has led to the development of various types of braces which are used during these alternatives.
Knee Replacement Alternatives: Minimally Invasive Techniques
Knee replacement alternatives are available now using minimally invasive procedures and specific changes in the patient’s lifestyle. In addition, there are physicians practicing Sports medicine who will require athletes suffering severe knee injuries to “ice” the injured knee. In addition, there is the scheduling of prolonged periods of rest for their knee. In some cases, doctors who work with athletes will involve the use of steroids in these knee replacement alternatives. Along with these treatments, is a procedure called “Arthroscopy”. Considered minimally-invasive, the physician makes a series of very small incisions into the knee. Extremely small instruments are then used to scrape, trim or smooth-out damaged or worn cartilage. These styles of alternatives will result in a decrease of instances when knee inflammation occurs.
There are some knee replacement alternatives requiring some limited surgical procedures although they do not require the replacement of the entire knee. Among these is “Cartilage Transplant”. This type of surgery is often used in cases where an injury has damaged the cartilage severely enough so as to render it untreatable by any other means. In these procedures, cartilage is removed from another area and replaces what is deemed to be useless within the knee. Unfortunately, these types of knee replacement alternatives cannot be used in some cases of arthritic degeneration because of the extent of damage already done.
Prolotherapy, another alternative, has significant benefits. Along with providing an alternative to joint replacement, it can eliminate the chance of the patient becoming addicted to some of the narcotics normally prescribed for pain. The purpose of this particular form of knee replacement alternatives is stimulating the body to begin healing itself. During this therapy, the physician injects a solution into the joint in order to purposely cause an inflammation. The normal response of the body is to produce additional collagen, the material which makes-up the joint in the human body. Because of the success of this treatment, it is considered a potential substitution to knee replacement surgeries.
Viscosupplementation Is another option in knee replacement alternatives. The purpose of this method of treatment is to reduce the amount of friction caused when the bones within the knee move during normal activity. There is a specific “acid” which is injected into the knee. This acid acts as a lubricant which reduces the amount of normal friction, therefore reducing the pain felt by the patient.
One of the most promising of all knee replacement alternatives is Stem cell injections. Unlike other methods of treatment, this alternative offers many positives. However, it doesn’t seem to carry any negatives. One of the biggest advantages to stem cell injections is the recovery time experienced by the patient. Amazingly, the majority of patients are able to experience recovery within twenty-four hours. Although it is sometimes necessary to require the patient to use a leg-brace for a few weeks, the majority of those receiving this treatment report little difficulty in movement. As to the risks involved in these alternatives, there really aren’t any. Because the stem cells used in the injection are taken from the patient’s body, the danger of infection when using this alternative is eliminated. There is absolutely no risk to the patient as there are in other procedures. This form of treatment seems to hold the most promise.
Knee replacement alternatives range from minimal-invasive surgery to stem cell injections. They may involve injections of drugs such as steroids, or may require using “microscopic” instruments in order to remove damage done to the area surrounding the patient’s knee. Not so long ago, the only option available to the patient was knee replacement along with significant recovery time. Unfortunately, there were no guarantees given to the patient concerning normal mobility after surgery. These knee replacement alternatives can not only eliminate surgery, but provide normality after.