Many people may consider knee swelling to be minor, or some may have experienced it intermittently for a long time. However, in reality, this symptom may be one of the signs of knee osteoarthritis, which is common in the elderly. If left untreated, it can progress and affect daily life and long-term quality of life.
What is Knee Osteoarthritis?
Knee osteoarthritis is caused by the wear and tear of the articular cartilage and the structures around the joint. Over time, the knee will be less able to bear weight, inflammation occurs, and movement becomes restricted. It is commonly found in people over the age of 60, with many experiencing joint swelling from fluid accumulation and inflammation, which is associated with pain and joint stiffness, making movement restricted. Compared to middle-aged individuals, the elderly often have atrophied muscles around the joint, affecting their ability to walk, stand, or perform daily activities.
What are other symptoms to watch out for with knee swelling?
If you experience these symptoms along with knee swelling, you should seek evaluation by a specialist.
- Chronic knee pain, especially when bearing weight or walking for long periods
- Inability to fully bend or straighten the knee
- A noise in the joint, such as a “creak” or “snap” during movement
- Feeling of instability or looseness in the knee
- The knee starts to deform, such as bowlegs or knock-knees
How is knee osteoarthritis diagnosed in the elderly?
Generally, X-ray imaging often shows abnormalities consistent with the degree of knee osteoarthritis. For example, the joint space may narrow or bone spurs may appear on the joint edges. However, in some cases, the patient’s swelling, pain, or joint stiffness may be more severe than what is apparent on the X-ray, or vice versa—where X-rays show significant degeneration while the patient experiences minimal symptoms. This reflects that diagnosis and treatment should consider multiple factors together, and treatment should be individually tailored for the highest treatment efficacy.
What is the Ballottement Sign test for knee swelling?
The Ballottement Sign test for knee swelling comes from the French word Ballottement, meaning “to shake,” corresponding to the method doctors use to detect increased fluid in the knee joint by gently pressing and pushing the patella to assess for increased fluid accumulation, often found in patients with osteoarthritis and effusion. While a simple test, it remains widely used among elderly patients with painful knee swelling, which may be a sign of joint inflammation.
Treatment Approaches for Knee Osteoarthritis
The treatment approach for knee osteoarthritis depends on the severity of the disease and is divided into 2 main approaches: non-surgical and surgical knee replacement.
1) Non-surgical Treatment (Conservative Treatment) such as:
- Weight control, using assistive devices to reduce knee load
- Exercising and physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around the joint
- Taking anti-inflammatory medications
- Injecting medications into the knee joint, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, artificial joint fluid, or concentrated platelets injections (PRP), etc.
2) Knee Replacement Surgery includes:
- Total Knee Replacement Surgery (Total Knee Replacement) If knee osteoarthritis is severe, or non-surgical treatment is ineffective, knee replacement surgery can help the patient walk more freely, improve flexibility, reduce pain, and decrease the cycle of joint inflammation.
By performing Total Knee Replacement Surgery with Robotic Assistance VELYS™ Robotic – Assisted Solutions to ensure effective outcomes, accuracy, and speedy recovery. This system assists doctors in detailed surgical planning and adjusts the prostheses position to suit the patient’s anatomy.
Advantages of Robot-Assisted Surgery VELYS™ Robotic – Assisted Solutions include:
- Placing the prosthesis correctly according to individual structural anatomy
- Reducing injury to the tissues around the joint, resulting in less pain and better mobility
- Faster recovery, with quicker ambulation post-surgery
- Reducing the chances of long-term complications
Knee swelling in the elderly should not be ignored, especially if accompanied by other symptoms such as pain, inability to fully bend or extend the knee, or abnormal joint sounds, as these could be signs of knee osteoarthritis. Early diagnosis allows for timely treatment, and if surgery is necessary, robotic-assisted knee replacement technology provides excellent results, quick recovery, and efficient individualized surgical planning.
Hospitals Specializing in Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment
Hip and Knee Center, Bangkok International Hospital, a hospital for bones and brains, offers diagnosis and treatment for knee osteoarthritis by a team of specialists ready to provide appropriate advice and treatment, along with modern technology to restore knee strength and confidence in everyday life.
Specialist Physicians in Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment
Dr..Panuwat Silawatshananai Orthopedic surgeon specializing in knee replacement and hip replacement without cutting muscles at Bangkok International Hospital , a hospital for bones and brains
You can click here to make an appointment by yourself.
Hip and Knee Surgery Packages
Hip and Knee Surgery Packages starting at 330,000 Baht
