| The total knee replacement (or arthroplasty) is a | | | | significant bony disruption and potentially less pain. |
| very common operation and brings great relief to | | | | Because isolated patellofemoral osteoarthritis is usually |
| many sufferers of osteoarthritis. A patellofemoral | | | | the result of trauma, those undergoing a replacement |
| replacement is a much less common procedure and | | | | tend to be younger. For this reason they have higher |
| because of this is more difficult to find information | | | | physical expectations of their replaced knee and they |
| on. | | | | may not last as long as they would in a more elderly |
| Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease | | | | patient. |
| characterized by the loss of articular cartilage and | | | | When health professionals talk of prosthesis failure |
| resulting in pain and deformity. The knee is a very | | | | the usual cause is prosthesis loosening. The materials |
| common site for osteoarthritis. As this type of | | | | used today are very resilient and it is not the |
| arthritis is typical in weight bearing joints, it is most | | | | replacement that usually fails but the junction |
| common in the knee between the tibia (shin | | | | between the replacement and the bone itself. |
| bone)and the femur (thigh bone). It is not unusual for | | | | One of the key benefits of the patellofemoral |
| there to be coinciding patellofemoral arthritic changes | | | | replacement is that it does not significantly affect |
| when the weight bearing surfaces are worn. This is | | | | any future total knee replacements. This means that |
| why the patellofemoral joint is frequently replaced at | | | | it can be performed in relatively young people and |
| the same time as the tibiofemoral joint. | | | | delay the need for total knee arthroplasty. |
| What is more unusual is the isolated patellofemoral | | | | The ability to operate on younger people adds an |
| joint replacement. This is the joint between the | | | | extra step in the treatment chain and can result in |
| femur and the patella (kneecap). It is unusual because | | | | osteoarthritis sufferers experiencing much less pain in |
| the joint is considered minimally weight bearing and as | | | | the lead up to a total knee replacement. |
| such is usually less affected by years of use. This is | | | | The usual recommendations for arthritis sufferers still |
| why patellofemoral replacements are usually the | | | | remain: |
| result of a previous significant event such as a | | | | Lose Weight if possible |
| fracture or a long term anatomical difference. This is | | | | Increase exercise levels |
| the reason the main weight bearing surfaces are | | | | Gain Quadriceps strength |
| intact in these cases. | | | | Take appropriate analgesia |
| In fitting with modern surgical practice, a | | | | Patellofemoral osteoarthritis can be a life changing |
| patellofemoral replacement only replaces the affected | | | | condition. It is always wise to investigate all non |
| areas. The prostheses used are very different from | | | | surgical options before going down the surgical route. |
| the traditional total knee replacements. The back | | | | If you have honestly done everything you can to |
| surface of the kneecap is replaced along with the | | | | hold back the pain of patellofemoral arthritis but have |
| groove at the front of the femur, and that is all. | | | | been unable to manage it, discuss the surgical options |
| The rehabilitation following the surgery is basically the | | | | with your Consultant. They will let you know if you |
| same as that of a total knee replacement. The time | | | | are suitable for this kind of surgery. |
| in hospital is often less however as there is less | | | | |