Knee Osteotomy vs. Knee Replacement

Arthritis is a common knee joint disease which affects millions of patients worldwide. It causes severe inflammation and reduces joint’s range of motion. Arthritis may lead to disabling pain and discomfort that may restrict daily routine activities. Prompt treatment is necessary to treat this disease. Surgeons may suggest pain medications and exercises as a primary treatment. If these primary treatments fail to provide relief, then surgery can be a good option.

Knee Osteotomy and Knee Replacement Surgery

Knee osteotomy and knee replacement are the most common surgical procedures used to treat arthritic joints. Knee osteotomy is a medical intervention performed to treat painful arthritic joint region. Surgeons may cut and adjust the thighbone or shinbone in a way that it relieves the severe joint pain. Whereas, knee joint replacement surgery involves removing and replacing the inflamed joint with an artificial joint.

Which Method for Which Patient?

Orthopedic surgeons will suggest appropriate surgical procedure depending on patient’s requirement and health condition.

• Knee Osteotomy - Knee osteotomy is suitable for patients suffering from enumerated conditions.
• Health Conditions - Generally, this surgery is performed to correct bow leggedness or knock knee condition.
• Mild Arthritis - Knee osteotomy procedure can be helpful when arthritis affects only one portion of the knee.
• Patient’s Age - This procedure is appropriate for patients in between 40 to 55 age group.
• Mobility - Patients who are not overweight and have fair knee mobility are considered to be good candidates for knee osteotomy.
• Knee Replacement - Knee replacement can be performed for the following category of patients.
• Health Conditions - Knee replacement is most commonly performed to treat conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, gout, bone dysplasia, and avascular necrosis.
• Severe Arthritis - Patients suffering from severe arthritis can largely get benefited from knee replacement surgery.
• Patient’s Age - This surgery is usually recommended for older patients above the age of 55.
• Mobility - Patients who are not even able to stand, walk or climb stairs normally are considered to be good candidates for knee replacement.

Durability of Knee Osteotomy versus Knee Replacement

Patients undergoing knee osteotomy usually require a knee joint replacement surgery after 10 to 12 years. Whereas, knee replacement surgery lasts for 20 years in most instances.

Key Benefits of Knee Surgeries in India

Availability of top-notch orthopedic treatments and other medical provisions have made India a preferable medical tourism destination. Knee surgery cost in India is extremely feasible as compared to its price in western countries. In addition to this, Indian hospitals follow international standards to ensure positive outcomes following the treatment. Therefore, international patients seeking a cost-effective as well as quality arthritis treatment can heavily rely on Indian medical services.