Specialised treatment for osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition that affects joints including bone, cartilage, ligaments and muscles.
It may include inflammation of the tissue around a joint, damage to joint surface cartilage, bony spurs growing around the edge of a joint and/or deterioration of ligaments and tendons that control the joint. Osteoarthritis may affect any joint, but occurs most often in the knees, hips, finger joints and big toe. It tends to be more common in people aged over 40 years or those who have had joint injuries.
osteoarthritis frequently asked questions
What are the signs and symptoms of Osteoarthritis?
The most common symptoms are pain and stiffness of the joints and are usually worst with activity. These symptoms may affect your ability to do normal daily activities. Others include clicking noises, grating sensations, or a loss of movement in a joint.
What are the causes of Osteoarthritis?
Some things that may put you at more risk of developing OA in certain joints are:
- Knees: being overweight, a previous knee injury, repeated kneeling, climbing, and squatting
- Hips: being overweight, a previous hip injury, repeated lifting of heavy loads, family history of OA
- Hands: family history of OA, repetitive use or previous injuries to the hands, being overweight.
What are the treatment options for Osteoarthritis?
Treatment depends on which joints are affected and the severity of the condition. Each treatment has its own benefits and risks and you may need to trial several treatments before finding the one that assists you.
In general terms, treatment usually includes:
- A weight loss program, if you are overweight
- An exercise program for you generally and your joints, tailored to your condition and ability
- Pain management, with medicines and learning about managing your pain
- Devices such as braces, walking sticks, and shoe insoles
- Joint replacement surgery, if your symptoms are no longer controlled with other therapies.
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Osteoarthritis treatments
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Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Reconstruction
The anterior cruciate ligament is the most commonly disrupted ligament in the knee. Our understanding of the anterior cruciate ligament and its importance to knee stability has increased greatly over the past 20 years, as has our ability to diagnose
Arthroscopic Knee Surgery
Arthroscopic surgery of the knee is performed using a small telescope (arthroscope) and operating instruments which are inserted through, three punctures (usually) approximately 5 millimetres long. Using this technique, it is possible to remove torn cartilage and other loose pieces
Carpal Tunnel Release
Carpal tunnel release is a surgery performed to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. It aims to relieve symptoms by decreasing pressure on the median nerve. The median nerve provides nerve signals to the thumb and sensation to the palm side of
Elbow Arthroscopy
Elbow arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery performed using a tiny device called arthroscope. The elbow is the joint that connects the upper arm bone and the forearm bones. Elbow joint helps in movement of the arms forward, backward, as
Patellofemoral Replacement/Stabilisation
Orthopaedics SA’s Adelaide-based orthopaedic clinic is committed to providing high-quality care and treatment for patients with knee joint conditions, including patellofemoral problems. The patella (kneecap) and the femur (thigh bone) meet at the knee joint. When problems arise in this
Revision Knee Replacement Surgery
Revision Knee Replacement means that part or all of your previous knee replacement needs to be revised. Surgery is not a pleasant prospect for anyone, but for some people with arthritis, it could mean the difference between leading a normal
Robotic Assisted Knee Surgery
Robotic surgery utilises computer-assisted planning combined with a robotic arm guided by your surgeon. It is an advancement of a current technology using computer navigation to assist positioning of a joint replacement implant. Used regularly by our surgeons since 2017,
Total Knee Replacement Surgery (TKR)
A total knee replacement is an operation performed on a knee joint damaged by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, accidents or sports injuries. It is carried only after other forms of treatment have no further benefit. The knee is commonly referred to
Unicompartmental Knee Replacement
Unicompartmental or partial knee replacement replaces the worn part of the knee whilst retaining the healthy part of the knee. This is not a new concept but there has been resurgence in popularity recently. Better instruments allow for better tissue
Wrist Reconstruction Surgery
‘Wrist reconstruction’ can refer to a number of surgical procedures, including wrist ligament reconstruction, tendon transfer, wrist joint fusion, and any combination of these. Most commonly, it refers to a wrist joint replacement surgery. Due to the versatility of its
Why Orthopaedics SA?
Comprehensive care
From arthritis to sports injuries, we treat a full spectrum of bone and joint conditions to keep you moving.
Expert surgeons
Our highly trained doctors have years of experience delivering precise and effective treatments.
SA’s largest practice
With 23 specialists, we offer unmatched expertise and evidence-based care for every patient.
Multiple locations
We have multiple clinics across South Australia, making it simple to find expert care nearby.
Patient-centric approach
We prioritise understanding your condition to ensure every treatment recommendation feels right for you.
Reliable support
Our team of nurses and administrative staff works behind the scenes to make your experience smooth and stress-free.
Meet our doctors
Our surgeons are highly qualified to offer personalised treatments tailored to your needs. We take the time to listen, explain your options, and ensure every decision is made with your well-being in mind.
We take responsibility for our patient’s experience
From your initial consultation to follow-up care, our team will guide you through every step of your treatment. Your specialist will provide a detailed recovery plan, including physical therapy to restore function and prevent future injuries.