If you are experiencing constant knee pain and are not able to comfortably perform everyday activities, it may seem like a good idea to have the joint replaced. However, many health experts are now warning that surgery should be considered a last resort.
Knee replacement operations are now incredibly commonplace. Over 600,000 of them were completed in 2012, a rise from about 250,000 in 1999. Unfortunately, the results suggest that many of those patients would have been better advised to avoid surgery.
Study: Is the surgery appropriate?
In 2014, researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) used a standardized set of European validation criteria to determine the appropriateness of surgery for knee pain patients.
The researchers determined that the replacements should only be performed when osteoarthritis (OA) “was medically proven to be advanced,” explained Gretchen Reynolds of the New York Times. “This means not just severe pain but also impaired physical function, like an inability to climb stairs, get out of a chair or walk without aid.”
The study authors also advised that people who are younger than 65 are typically not good candidates for knee replacements. Why? Over the course of about 20 years, the implant degrades, so someone who gets one early in life will probably eventually need another one.
Using their understanding of appropriateness, the authors then looked at information from a previous study of 200 people who had their knees replaced. One out of every three patients were considered inappropriate and should have been told to avoid surgery, based on the scholars’ construct. In fact, the images and pain ratings for a sizable portion of the participants was indicative of mild rather than severe OA.
Study: Does appropriateness influence effectiveness?
The professors at VCU didn’t just want to determine if some surgery was inappropriate. They wanted to know if appropriateness influenced the patient’s outcome. They concluded that appropriate candidates saw much greater improvement following the operation.
Takeaway & moving forward
Reynolds said that these two studies suggest that surgery can benefit people whose condition has become severe. However, it’s often chosen when it’s not really a reasonable choice. “If you do not have bone-on-bone arthritis, in which all of the cushioning cartilage in the knee is gone,” she said, “think about consulting a physical therapist about exercise programs that could strengthen the joint.”
Are you experiencing knee pain? At Atlanta Medical Clinic, our physicians can help. We offer safe, minimally invasive, clinically proven medical treatments and therapies that can help you avoid surgery. Learn more.