HOW ADVANCEMENTS IN JOINT DISORDER TREATMENT PROVIDE PATIENTS BETTER MOBILITY

One of the marvels of modern medicine is to make people healthy and live longer. In India alone, the average life expectancy has increased from 36.6 years in 1947 to over 70 years currently (Welfare, 2020). However, there are certain areas that require attention. According to a study, approximately one-third of the elderly population suffers from hypertension and another one-fifth reported Arthritis. Nearly 14 per cent reported Diabetes, and 9 per cent reported chronic lung diseases.

There are approximately 2 crore patients who are suffering from debilitating osteoarthritis (mechanical wear and tear of the joints) of the knee at different stages of severity.  In the early stages, when the smooth cartilage starts eroding, it usually starts with pain and swelling with limps. At this stage, most patients can be treated successfully with minimal use of drugs, adequate rest, heat therapy and physical exercises to reduce inflammation and pain. In later stages, however, there is more extensive destruction of the cartilage and bone inside the joints. Consequently, the knees are increasingly deformed, and the legs become bowed, resulting in significant difficulties with walking. Surgical intervention is appropriate at this stage so that the patient can regain pain free mobility. Dr. Prof. S Rajasekaran, Chairman, Dept of Orthopaedics, Trauma & Spine Surgery of Ganga Medical Centre & Hospitals Pvt Ltd, Coimbatore, sheds light on how issues like cardiac disorders, diabetes and oncology are well recognized. However, the common problem of musculoskeletal disorders that incapacitates the elderly, remain largely unnoticed.

What is total knee replacement?