1. The primary cause of knee pain is the degeneration of cartilage, where thickness of the cartilage will gradually decrease (also known as knee osteoarthritis). Pain will increase along with cartilage wear. In severe cases, the femur will come in direct contact with the tibia (bone-to-bone contact). The body’s natural response in an attempt to prevent further damage may cause the formation of bone spurs. Large bone spurs result in the reduced range of motion of the knee.
2. Surgical treatment options for knee osteoarthritis include:
- Robot-assisted knee replacement surgery
- Arthroscopic debridement
- Knee arthroscopy (which includes injection of visco-supplement gel into the knee, total knee replacement, and unicompartmental/partial knee replacement)
Surgical treatment for knee osteoarthritis includes a total knee replacement (TKR), and other procedures such as key-hole surgery and knee arthroscopy.
Information provided by the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), a member of the SingHealth group.
Surgical treatment for knee osteoarthritis (OA knee)
Robot-assisted knee replacement surgery
Want to know about the difference between robot-assisted knee replacement surgery versus conventional surgery and for more about chronic knee pain, watch this video!
Arthroscopic Debridement
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Some patients may be candidates for this key-hole surgical procedure. During this operation, the surgeon shaves away the damaged parts of the cartilage inside the knee, and stimulates healing by creating small holes in the bone.
Knee Arthroscopy
Injection of Visco-supplement (Gel) into the Knee
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This is a relatively simple procedure where gel is injected into the knee to relieve pain from OA. However, the gel is expensive and the results of the procedure may vary for different patients.
Total Knee Replacement (TKR)
A total knee replacement (TKR) replaces both the medial and lateral compartments of the knee, and sometimes the patellofemoral compartment.
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Unicompartmental Knee Replacement
A unicompartmental (one compartment) knee replacement replaces only the most worn-out compartment within the knee, typically the medial compartment.
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Above: Unicompartmental knee replacement side view
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Above: Unicompartmental knee replacement front view
Ref: L20
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Osteoarthritis: What You Need to Know
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