Knee Replacement Surgery

I have been a runner for most of my life and, as would be expected, I am now experiencing a knee problem. It appears from an X-ray that there is no bone issue, so it must be soft tissue. The knee is a very complex part of our body and each interconnecting part is vital to the smooth movement of what really props up our bodies. I have looked at the options for someone with a knee problem. They are not always as rosy as they appear.

Joint replacement, or ‘arthroplasty’, as doctors term it, is justifiably regarded as miracle surgery. Medicine offers knee replacement surgery as the inevitable next step when pain and immobility become too great. According to a study presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in 2016, knee replacement

An artificial joint made of metal and polyethylene is then cemented into place. A patient with no complications usually spends around five days in hospital and a month recuperating at home, with the possibility of returning to normal activity over the course of two to three months.

The medical research paints a glowing picture of knee replacements, claiming that 95 per cent of knee operations, using cement, are successful, that is without any complications, for at least 10 years. According to a review by the Indiana University School of Medicine, of 130 studies, 89 per cent of knee replacements have a good outcome over an average follow-up period of more than four years. The majority of knee replacements remain functional for at least 10 years.

However, this track record refers to the knee replacements that ‘take’ and omits all the problems that could arise. Briefly, here is what needs to be taken into consideration before committing to the

In lab studies collagen hydrolysate was found to stimulate the synthesis of collagen in cartilage tissue, while MSM (methylsulphonylmethane) improved pain and function over a 12-week trial.

• Investigate electromagnetic therapies. Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) generators are particularly promising for patients suffering from chronic pain. PEMF generators, which include wearable devices designed for virtually continuous use, as well as high-powered machines meant to be used several times a day, can help osteoarthritis sufferers. PEMFs have well-documented physiological effects, including increasing levels of glycosaminoglycan.

• Finally look at stem-cell therapy. In this increasingly popular procedure, a patient’s stem cells are extracted, cultured and then reinjected into the damaged knee. Dr Chris Centeno of the Centeno Schultz Clinic, Colorado, US, which pioneered the procedure, advises to opt for a procedure that uses mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). They are considered superior because they are already partially committed to becoming bone, muscle, ligament or tendon, they are also easily harvested from bone marrow and reproduce rapidly. This makes them ideal for repairing the structures in the