Osteoarthritis. Surgically opened knee joint of a patient with severe osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a common disease of the elderly affecting the

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Osteoarthritis. Surgically opened knee joint of a patient with severe osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a common disease of the elderly affecting the joints. Here, the knee cap has been pulled back to reveal the end of the thigh bone (centre), which has become enlarged and distorted. The cartilage around the joint has degenerated and flakes of broken bone and cartilage have led to extensive scar tissue formation. Extensive pain and inflammation is likely in a joint such as this. No specific cure exists for osteoarthritis. Symptoms can be relieved with drugs. A severe case like this may be replaced with a prosthetic joint.

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Size: 3619px × 2480px
Photo credit: © MEDICAL PHOTO NHS LOTHIAN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: arthritic, arthritis, condition, disease, disorder, healthcare, joint, knee, medical, medicine, osteo-, osteoarthritis, scar, tissue