Treatment of degenerative knee joint diseases in Israel is conducted using modern techniques – both conservative and surgical, including procedures for joint replacement.
Conservative methods for treating osteoarthritis used at the Top Ihilov clinic include various types of knee braces that limit the range of motion of the joint and reduce the load on it, courses of pain-relieving anti-inflammatory medications, exercises aimed at improving joint mobility through the remaining healthy cartilage, and programs aimed at weight loss (a typical patient with knee osteoarthritis is overweight and over 50 years old).
Joint Replacement and Other Techniques at Top Ihilov
Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of pain syndrome occurring in the knee joints. A very thin layer of fibrous connective tissue, called cartilage, is part of the joint. It covers the areas where one bone contacts another (joint surfaces) and allows the joint to bend and straighten. In cases where the cartilage layer 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 is under 40 years old, NSAID-based ointments may be effective for pain relief. Longer-lasting 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 leg bones to relieve stress from the affected areas of the knee joint. In some cases, transplantation of healthy cartilage tissue may be performed, which is taken from areas of the joint that are under 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 Top Ihilov 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
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 – Orthopedic Consultation
Upon arriving at Tel Aviv airport, the patient meets with a coordinator-translator, with whom they travel to the Top Ihilov 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 fairly 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 camera is introduced 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
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 the purchase of equipment 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 Top Ihilov 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.
- For diagnosing osteoarthritis, our clinic uses modern X-ray and tomographic equipment, as well as the latest arthroscopic technology. This allows for timely identification of pathological changes in the joint and precise planning of the surgery down to the details.
- Treatment of osteoarthritis at Top Ihilov 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 resolving everyday and organizational issues.