Knee Replacement

More than 500 000 persons in the United States have knee replacements each year. The most common reason for knee replacement is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is destruction of the cartilage (supporting tissue between layers of a joint) and can occur at any joint in the body, but the knees are often the first site. Osteoarthritis causes pain, stiffness, limitation of motion, and swelling in the area of the joint that has arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis, destruction of joint cartilage by an immune process, affects joints differently. Persons with rheumatoid arthritis often have deformities in the joints, along with pain, swelling, stiffness, and problems in other areas of their bodies. Referral to an orthopedic surgeon and evaluation for knee replacement may be offered when other treatments for osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis fail. Orthopedic surgeons are doctors with specialized education in the diagnosis and treatment of bone and joint disorders.