Knee Replacement: Hope for Patients with Knee Injuries

Author: siennachristie | Posted: 16.08.2012

In the past, replacements to certain body parts were very rare, if not non-existent. People then had good reasons to take care of their health; one being the fact that there won’t be a spare to substitute for it to help them heal and continue with their regular activities. Thanks to technology, medicine today has more ways to replace worn-out body parts.

Take the knee for example; if it has been damaged, it can be replaced with metal implants. For doctors and patients alike, the knee is just too important body part for a patient to lose. If osteoarthritis takes its toll on the knee, it can severely hamper one’s mobility and ground the patient to a wheelchair all his life. It’s imperative that each one does not suffer from loss of ability to be mobile.

The knee is the largest joint in the body, and the most complex, too. Like most joints, the knee is well-lubed by the synovial membrane, a thin layer of tissue that helps the cartilage in the bone move more smoothly. In case of shock or impact, a pair of wedges called menisci act like shock absorbers to cushion the delicate joint.

But a number of factors, notably old age, may promote the loss of the ability to lube knee joints. Doctors know that you have a severe case of osteoarthritis once bone meets bone when you try to move your aching knee. Knee replacement Fort Lauderdale surgeons perform aim to fix the problem by literally removing the problem.

If medicine, changes in lifestyle, and mobility support do not do the trick, your physician may just consider knee replacement Fort Lauderdale patients can benefit from. The artificial knee is composed of the femoral and tibial component divided by a plastic spacer. The implant should restore mobility and lessen the overall impact of osteoarthritis and other related diseases. Physical therapy sessions may follow to help the patient adjust to the new knee.

For more information about knee replacement Miami and Fort Lauderdale surgeons do, you can visit the website of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons at AAOS.org. The website has helpful information on knee replacement.

Article was printed from http://www.articleside.com/health-articles/knee-replacement-hope-for-patients-with-knee-injuries.htm
Click here to return original format