The rising incidence of osteoarthritis affecting the young as much as the old and women more than men, is dealing a crippling blow to the quality of life of patients that gets progressively worse with the passage of time. More and more elderly patients are choosing to live a pain-free life thanks to the advent of minimally invasive surgical options that are both affordable and safe.

Studies indicate that over 180 million patients in Indian suffer from arthritis, and thousands of these patients are opting for surgery very year in order to get a new lease on their lives. Senior orthopedic surgeon Dr. L. Tomar from Max Super Specialty Hospital explains, "In some diseases knee joints may get damaged, causing severe pain and posing great difficulty in movement. In such conditions where medicines and other nonsurgical procedures are not helpful, Knee Replacement is the only option. Thousands of patients all over India are opting for knee replacement today because, compared to even 20 years before, the procedure is much safer and cost effective."

India's life expectancy projections by experts, including the WHO, have been improving over the years, with current figures begged at 85 years for males and 90 years for females. This means Indians are living longer, but the quality of life for the growing elderly population is drastically affected by osteoarthritis and other such degenerative joint diseases that render patients bedridden with chronic paint and unable to carry on with their daily activities. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease involving the cartilage and many of its surrounding tissues. Disease progression is usually slow but can ultimately lead to joint failure with pain and disability. Osteoarthritis of the hips and knees tends to cause the greatest burden to the population as pain and stiffness in these large weight bearing joints often leads to significant disability.

However, advent to modern technology and advances in medical science along with enhanced surgical techniques are ensuring that India's elderly can have a second shot at enjoying their old age today "An average 90 per cent of patients undergoing a knee replacement experience a dramatic reduction in pain, and a significant improvement in the ability to perform daily activities," said Dr Tomar. "Most of these individuals are able to perform daily activities and stay active. In many cases, they are able to resume activities, such as golf and walking, that they gave up years ago due to arthritic pain."

Knee replacement relates to resurfacing bones of knee joints by use of prosthesis. Being one of most important orthopedic surgical advances in this field, minimally invasive joint replacement surgery in transforming patient's lives. The benefits of minimally invasive surgical procedures include less pain, shorter hospital scarring, less injury to tissue and higher accuracy rate.

Some common problems requiring knee replacement

Osteoarthritis: This type of arthritis is generally found in people of 50 years or above, in some cases it may be found in young people. Cartilage present between bones in a joint acts as a cushion and provides soft and smoother movement of bones. With time the cartilage under goes wear and tear, so bones strike with each other causing pain in joints.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: In this type of arthritis synovial membrane of the joints gets inflamed and thickened, dam again the bone cartilage, causing pain and stiffness.

Post traumatic arthritis "This type of arthritis is observed in serious knee injury, which can cause fracture and can damage the bone cartilage or ligaments. This arthritis cause pain in knee joint and problem in movements.

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