Osteoarthritis of the knee Osteoarthritis, also known as osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease, is the most common form of arthritis and is the leading cause of disability in people over the age of 65. There are 40 million people in the United States with osteoarthritis, and 58% of patients over the age of 70 have symptoms of osteoarthritis. Due to the destruction of articular cartilage, formation of bone fragments, and narrowing of the joint space, patients mainly experience joint pain, decreased joint mobility, and increased pain with increased walking distance. Prevalence: Osteoarthritis can develop in multiple joints throughout the body, with osteoarthritis of the knee being the most common, followed by the hip, spine, foot, hand and wrist. Age of onset: osteoarthritis of the knee can be found in 33%-68% of people over 55 years of age on x-rays of the knee. 6% of people over 30 years of age have symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee; 10%-15% of people over 60 years of age have symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee. Performance of knee osteoarthritis: The knee joint is the largest and most complex joint in the human body. Patients with osteoarthritis first experience wear and tear and destruction of the cartilage on the surface of the knee joint, and patients experience knee pain, which worsens with the increase in walking distance. Further aggravation results in destruction of the subchondral bone, formation of bone redundancy, erosion of the joint meniscus, cruciate ligaments and other important structures (Figure 2), and the development of knee valgus and knee inversion deformities. Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: In the early stage, after a clear diagnosis, the walking distance and exercise pattern can be adjusted, and topical drugs or oral non-steroidal drugs can be used. In severe osteoarthritis of the knee, where pain affects daily life and conservative treatment is ineffective, total knee replacement surgery should be performed if the patient is physically able to tolerate surgery. There are several misconceptions about osteoarthritis of the knee: 1. Superstitious auxiliary examinations, believing that osteoarthritis is the presence of bone growth on X-rays. Correction: Osteoarthritis on X-rays is not the same as definitely having symptoms of osteoarthritis, and having symptoms of osteoarthritis is not the same as having obvious X-rays. The diagnosis of osteoarthritis needs to be made by a professional joint surgeon based on the patient’s symptoms, signs and ancillary tests (x-rays, etc.). 2. Joint pain is the result of lack of movement. Correction: Patients with osteoarthritis should not do more weight-bearing joint exercises, especially not for climbing, climbing, stairs and other activities, should pay attention to moderate rest of the joints; osteoarthritis patients are the best way to exercise swimming, cycling is not suitable for osteoarthritis patients, because it is easy to accelerate the patellofemoral joint of the knee joint wear aggravate osteoarthritis. 3, older joints are going to be bad, take some medicine osteoarthritis will be fine. Correction: Treatment of osteoarthritis should follow the principle of step therapy, early patients should pay attention to rest, local medication or add oral medication. However, severe osteoarthritis pain is obvious, limited activity, oral pain medication can not be effectively relieved should consult a professional joint surgeon, if necessary, artificial joint replacement surgery, artificial knee replacement surgery can be effective pain relief, can restore the patient’s joint mobility as much as possible, restore the patient’s ability to care for themselves in daily life. 4. Artificial joints can be used for life. The current artificial joints have wear and tear, making a certain life span, usually 10-20 years, and need to be replaced with a new artificial joint after damage, called revision surgery, so knee replacement is most suitable for middle-aged and elderly patients with severe osteoarthritis. Revision surgery can be reduced or avoided.