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This is an Arthritic Knee:

This is a Knee Replacement

Stop worrying about the Y2K Computer Virus - START worrying about the Y2K Human Virus !

No, I am not speaking metaphorically, nor am I attempting a Pun. There are many doctors around the world who are awaiting the next shoe to drop - speaking metaphorically. This "other shoe" will hearld the next generation of viruses that we will have to conquer. Remember reading about the Black Plague ? Did you realize that that wiped out MOST of Europe ? These new virii will be smarter and stronger than the previous strain. They have to be - it's the law of nature - only the strong survive.

Smarter and stronger than E-Boli ? Haunta Virus ? Scary thought ? It appears we dodged the bullet previously around 1917-1919 when a mysterious viral killer appeared, killed 93% of those it made contact with, then just as mysteriously disappeared. This wasn't just in America, but around the world. Travel was slow then in comparison to todays standards. Imagine how quickly a visitor from Quartar could bring his/her strain to America via the United Nations - or simmply visiting relatives.

On a similar, but more insidious (if possible) note - Saddam Hussein is supposed to have trained 100 creches of 10 people per creche to deliver the Anthrax-H virus to the US on his command. The methods they have described for delivery (food trucks, subway trains, even from the fake exhaust pipe of a truck driving down Broadway) aren't pie in the sky idealism either. It is Terrorism, and Mr. Hussein appears to be a master tactician in that matter. This isn't my imagination running away with me - these are true statements, and there are several references on the Internet for you to search for. Look under >CIA> Threats against the US>Iraq.

To be continued -

E-mail me and give me the pros and cons !

Total Knee Replacement

Because this is a personal dilemma, I have done more than a cursory examination of this subject. The jury is still out, in my opinion - some do exceedingly well, and some don't. There are pre-disposition facors that come into play during rehabilitation from a TKR. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Some of the material conatined herein are exerpts from various and sundry pages I ran across in my research

Credits and Hyperlinks are given where outside resources are quoted.

Having a large part of your leg opened up, simular quantities of bone removed, and then having a metal/plastic surrogate glued and screwed into what was left is a daunting proposition. Yet millions undergo Total Knee Replacements every year. What would make one HAVE to make such a choice ?

In a cemented total knee the components are fixed with a bone cement called methy-methacrylate.

To find out more : P.F.C. Modular Knee system

To understand a total knee replacement, it helps to understand the structure of the knee joint. The knee is a complex joint that involves three bones: the femur (thigh bone), the tibia (shin bone), and the patella (kneecap). When you bend or straighten your knee, the end of the femur rolls against the end of the tibia, and the patella glides in front of the femur.

What is a Healthy Knee?

With a healthy knee, smooth, weight bearing surfaces allow for painless movement. Muscles and ligaments provide side to side stability. A membrane lines the joint. Cartilage acts as a cushion between the femur and tibia and is lubricated by synovial fluid. With a healthy knee, the joint absorbs stress and moves freely.

Cartilage is a layer of smooth, soft tissue. It covers the the ends of the femur and tibia and lines the underside of the patella. Healthy cartilage absorbs stress and allows the knee to glide easily. Ligaments are a type of smooth tissue that hold the bones of the joint together. Muscles power the knee and leg for movement. Tendons attach the muscles to the bones.

What happens with a damaged knee?

Joint movement suffers when one or more parts of the knee are damaged. The cartilage begins to wear away and because it cannot fully repair itself, the damage keeps increasing. Initially your knee may feel a little stiff but eventually as the bones of the joint begin rubbing together, you are more likely to feel pain.

What is an arthritic knee?

With an arthritic knee, the cartilage "cushion" wears out. Years of normal use can cause the cartilage to crack and wear away (osteoarthritis). Because there's no cushion, the bones rub together. They become rough and pitted producing inflammation and pain. This causes reduced motion and therefore difficulty in walking.

Another type of arthritis is inflammatory arthritis. A chronic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout cause swelling and inflammation in the joint lining. As the disease progresses, the cartilage wears away and the joint stiffens.

A bad fall or blow to the knee can injure the joint. The injury may not heal properly causing extra force to be placed on the joint. This too may cause the cartilage cushion to wear away over time (traumatic arthritis)

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