What are the different types of severe arthritis of the knee?
Inflammatory arthritis This broad category includes a wide variety of diagnoses, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, gout, and many others. It is important that patients with these conditions be followed by a qualified rheumatologist, as there are a number of exciting new treatments that may decrease the symptoms and perhaps even slow the progression of the joint damage. Patients with inflammatory arthritis of the knee usually have joint damage in all three compartments, and therefore are not good candidates for partial knee replacement. However, inflammatory arthritis patients who decide to have total knee replacement have an extremely high likelihood of success; these patients often experience total or near-total pain relief following a well-performed joint replacement. Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is also called OA or “degenerative joint disease.” OA patients represent the large majority of arthritis sufferers. OA may affect multiple joints, or it may be localized to the involve
