Necrotic patella

[TuMicks]

Well... I had had knee pain from the time of high school until around age 60 and was getting where it was hard to get out of the car and go up any steps. So I had them replaced. The left knee has been from the get go just fabulous. The button behind the knee cap on the right came loose a year after the replacement. So it had to be glued back in place. Maybe in the process of being manipulated twice... it's blood supply just died. Still, I really am at least 50% better off than before the surgeries.

Hubby had a knee replaced and loves his. (Though he had complications of surgery.)

Certainly a "total knee arthroplasty" (TKA) is not something to be taken lightly. You have to be really serious about doing your rehab., and getting your range of motion and strength back. A 35 year old person has to consider that the steel/titanium pieces that are glued in place are not tested on someone so young and may not last 40-50 years. Might have to be redone. Plus the procedure and the prostheses get better all the time. AND... science may come out with other ways to fix his knee like stem cells to grow new cartilage.

Only your husband knows how badly his knees are limiting his life. If he had a good surgeon (and some good luck) the TKA can give him relief of pain. There is no question.

(I'm trying to find a research study doing stem cell repair of bone. I found one for the femoral head. There is a guy here in Reno who uses stem cells for backs and other things. He may know where some studies are being done.)