[Kok! Health] Knee Health Precautions During the Season of Increasing Temperature Differences

Autumn, with its large temperature fluctuations, is a season when hospital visits by patients with degenerative arthritis noticeably increase. Among these, knee arthritis is overwhelmingly the most common, representing a typical degenerative arthritis condition. According to the National Health Insurance Service on the 21st, last year alone, 3,065,603 patients with knee osteoarthritis were recorded, an increase of nearly 160,000 compared to the previous year.

[Photo by Gangnam Pedro Hospital]

The main cause of degenerative arthritis is aging. However, excessive joint use, repetitive impact, or trauma can worsen symptoms even at a young age. Dr. Park Geon-woo, an orthopedic surgeon at Gangnam Bedro Hospital, explained, “Degenerative arthritis is recognized as a typical geriatric disease, but recently, cases of onset in younger age groups have increased due to obesity, leisure sports, and weakened bone density caused by excessive dieting.”

Degenerative arthritis is a disease caused by the wear and tear of joint cartilage. It is among the most frequently occurring inflammatory joint diseases. The damage is not limited to cartilage alone but extends to bones, joint capsules, and ligaments as the joint changes.

In treating degenerative arthritis, it is important to recognize symptoms early and promptly visit a hospital. If left untreated without proper care, severe pain and difficulty in movement can occur, and in severe cases, joint deformity may result. As symptoms worsen, the need for surgical treatment arises sooner.

Dr. Park Geon-woo of Gangnam Bedro Hospital emphasized, “Many patients with degenerative knee arthritis rely on folk remedies or myths during the early to mid-stages and visit the hospital only after symptoms worsen. It is important to meet a skilled specialist who can accurately assess symptoms, age, and the extent of cartilage damage and promptly provide appropriate treatment.”

The diagnosis of knee arthritis commonly uses the Kellgren-Lawrence classification (KL grade). The initial stage, grade 1, is classified when joint space narrowing is suspected and mild cartilage damage occurs. Many patients begin to experience abnormal symptoms such as swelling around the knee and fluid accumulation along with joint pain. Typical symptoms at this stage include ▲daily knee pain ▲pain when starting to walk that improves after a short walk ▲difficulty and pain when climbing stairs ▲stiffness when standing up after sitting for a long time. Treatment with medication, physical therapy, and injections is possible up to stages 1 (early) and 2 (mid). However, when cartilage is extensively damaged, joint space is significantly narrowed to the point of near contact, and severe joint deformity occurs in the late stage, surgical treatment is considered.

Park Geon-woo, Head of Orthopedics at Gangnam Bedro Hospital [Photo by Gangnam Bedro Hospital]

Even if the optimal timing for conservative treatment is missed and surgery is required, recent surgical methods have become more diverse, significantly reducing the burden on patients. Previously, techniques such as osteotomy to realign the joint and multiple drilling were commonly used, but recently, joint replacement surgery using artificial joints has become widespread. In particular, with the adoption of precise and safe robotic-assisted artificial joint surgery, operations have advanced to minimize tissue damage and bleeding within a reduced surgical scope. Robotic-assisted artificial joint surgery is tailored to each patient’s individual knee characteristics and alignment, allowing for longer-term use of the artificial joint and less pain.

Stem cell therapy, which aids the self-regeneration of cartilage, has also recently gained attention. This method is applied to patients between mid and late stages, involving minimal skin incisions and applying stem cells to damaged knee cartilage to induce self-regeneration. In July, the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s New Medical Technology Evaluation Committee approved bone marrow stem cell injection therapy as a new medical technology.

Dr. Park Geon-woo of Gangnam Bedro Hospital stated, “The change of seasons makes joints stiff, increasing pain and symptom awareness among patients with degenerative arthritis. Since the knee is an important joint that greatly affects body balance and mobility, it is recommended to promptly consult a specialist if any abnormal symptoms are felt.”