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Knee Arthroscopy and Surgery by Mr. Mark Bloomfield Link http://www.thehipclinic.co.uk/knee_surgery.htm
If these measures do not restore adequate knee function quickly, see your GP who will advise whether specialist referral is necessary. Most knee problems that fail to settle after the above can be addressed by arthroscopy ('keyhole sugery') of the joint. Examples include meniscal (cartilage) tears, removal of loose bodies and correction of patellar (knee-cap) alignment or tracking. In older patients, the underlying problem may relate to early wear or arthritis. In this group arthroscopy may be disappointing but still worth trying as the alternative of Total Knee Replacement is more hazardous and involves a longer recovery period. Knee arthroscopy can usually be performed as day case surgery.
Functional recovery varies greatly but patients are seldom away from work for
more than 10 - 14 days. Post operative physiotherapy may be required to obtain
the best results. In cases where the degenerative changes are very advanced or a
patient with wear changes has failed to respond to arthroscopy, Mr. Bloomfield
may advise Knee Replacement. Metal on polyethylene knee replacements are giving
better long term results than the same materials used for hip replacement. There
seems little need therefore to experiment with unusual materials or designs. |
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Knee Pain can be controlled by many methods.
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