What is osteoarthritis?

We define osteoarthritis as a degenerative joint disease in which the joint cartilage covering the bone in the contact areas is lost. Osteoarthritis is a slow and progressive disease that causes gradual wear and tear on the joint until it is practically destroyed. Osteoarthritis mainly affects people between the ages of 65 and 80, but it can vary depending on the patient's weight, activity level, and knee anatomy. In most cases, it affects more women than men.

As osteoarthritis progresses and there is a loss of joint cartilage leading to bone-on-bone contact, the patient experiences increased pain and their quality of life is diminished. In the early stages, this pain can be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs. When osteoarthritis is in advanced stages and the pain is incapacitating, it is time to perform a knee replacement.