The treatment of degenerative diseases of the knee joint in Israel is carried out using modern methods – both conservative and surgical, including procedures for joint replacement.
Conservative methods for treating osteoarthritis used at the Ichilov (Sourasky) clinic include various types of knee braces that limit the range of motion of the joint and reduce the load on it, courses of analgesic anti-inflammatory medications, exercises aimed at improving joint mobility through the remaining healthy cartilage, and programs aimed at eliminating excess weight (the typical patient with knee osteoarthritis is overweight and over 50 years old).
Joint Replacement and Other Methods at Ichilov (Sourasky)
Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of pain syndrome occurring in the knee joints. A very thin layer of fibrous connective tissue, called articular cartilage, is part of the joint. It covers the areas where one bone contacts another (articular surfaces) and allows the joint to flex and extend. In cases where the layer of articular cartilage thins and ceases to perform its function, the doctor diagnoses osteoarthritis.
- Medication treatment. The medications that our specialists use for relatively short-term pain relief in the knee joint during osteoarthritis include classic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and COX-2 enzyme inhibitors (one of the main enzymes causing inflammation and pain). If the patient's age is under 40, NSAID-based ointments may be effective for pain relief. More prolonged effects are provided by intra-articular corticosteroid injections – pain in the joint after such a procedure can subside for several weeks or months.
- Surgical treatment. A radical therapeutic effect is achieved through various surgical techniques. Surgical methods are used when symptoms become so pronounced that they impair the patient's quality of life, usually at stages 3-4 of osteoarthritis. One such technique is osteotomy, a surgery in which the surgeon changes the length or orientation of the major bones of the leg to relieve pressure from the affected areas of the knee joint. In some cases, transplantation of healthy cartilage tissue may be performed, taken from areas of the joint that are subject to low load (this method is still experimental and associated with certain difficulties – particularly with the engraftment of the transplanted cartilage).
- The most reliable method for treating knee osteoarthritis is joint replacement. Specialists at the Ichilov (Sourasky) center perform hundreds of procedures annually to replace the joint with an artificial prosthesis. This replacement can be either total or partial. In the latter case, only one of the three parts of the joint is replaced.
- After joint replacement, the patient undergoes an extensive rehabilitation program aimed at restoring mobility in the knee joint and developing new walking skills. This program includes various physiotherapy procedures and exercises.
- Joint replacement. Joint replacement and arthroscopy
- Joint replacement surgeries
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Diagnosis of Knee Osteoarthritis in Israel
The diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis in Israel is based on the use of modern equipment that allows for the rapid identification of the disease and planning of its treatment stages. It usually lasts 3-4 days.
First Day – Consultation with an Orthopedist
Upon arriving at Tel Aviv airport, the patient meets with a coordinator-translator, with whom they travel to the Ichilov (Sourasky) center for a consultation with a leading specialist.
Second Day – All Tests in Just 1 Day
During the second day, the patient undergoes all tests prescribed by the specialist.
- X-ray examination – a sufficiently accurate method that allows for the visualization of degenerative changes in the joint (subchondral sclerosis and other signs of osteoarthritis).
- MRI – a radiological method that, like X-ray, allows for the examination of the internal structures of the knee joint, but without exposing the patient to radiation.
- Arthroscopy – an invasive method in which an endoscopic instrument with a video camera is inserted into the joint (this method is rarely used when diagnosis is complicated).
Third Day – Treatment Program
At the final stage of diagnosis, the treating physician studies the examination results and selects the optimal treatment method.
- X-ray
Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis in Israel – Prices
The treatment of knee osteoarthritis in Israel is less expensive than in hospitals in the USA, Austria, Germany, the UK, and other countries. The government of our country actively supports the development of medical tourism and assists Israeli clinics with equipment purchases and training of specialists. Therefore, treatment of knee osteoarthritis in Israel, according to reviews, allows for savings of up to 45% while maintaining consistently high quality of therapy.
You can obtain a calculation for your condition from our medical managers – call us or leave a request, and we will call you back, answer all your questions, and calculate the cost of your treatment with us.
Advantages of the Ichilov (Sourasky) Center – What Are Our Benefits
- Our center employs rheumatologists and orthopedists with extensive clinical experience. They have trained abroad in leading world clinics and are well-known in the international medical community.
- Modern X-ray and tomographic equipment, as well as the latest arthroscopic tools, are used for the diagnosis of osteoarthritis in our clinic. This allows for timely detection of pathological changes in the joint and precise planning of the surgery down to the details.
- Treatment of osteoarthritis at Ichilov (Sourasky) is conducted using a full range of the latest techniques – arthroplasty, osteotomy, joint replacement. If necessary, after surgery, the patient undergoes a comprehensive rehabilitation program.
- Each patient at our center is assigned a coordinator whose responsibilities include not only translating documents and coordinating doctors but also addressing everyday and organizational issues.