Having X -rays in order to diagnose knee arthritis can enhance the likelihood of a potentially unnecessary surgery

Bone and joint inflammation is the main cause of chronic pain and disability, affecting Over two million Australians.

Routine X -rays They are not recommended To diagnose a state. Instead, GPS can make a diagnosis based on symptoms and medical history.

However, almost half of the up-to-date patients with osteoarthritis who visit a general doctor in Australia They are directed for imaging. Imaginating ostelitis and joints costs Healthcare system and $ 104.7 million per year.

Our New study Show exploit of X-rays to diagnose degenerative knee disease can affect how a person thinks about knee pain-and may lead him to consider a potentially unnecessary knee surgery.

What happens when you get bone and arthritis?

Bone and joint inflammation results from changes in joints and joint, which works very challenging for self -repair. It affects the whole joint, including bones, cartilage, ligaments and muscles.

Most often it occurs in the elderly, people with high body weight and people with knee injury.

Many people with osteoarthritis of knee joint experience persistent pain and have difficulty with everyday classes, such as walking and climbing the stairs.

How is it treated?

In the years 2021–22 over 53,000 Australians He had a knee surgery for bone and joint inflammation.

Hospital services for osteoarthritis, mainly managed by the joint exchange surgery, Cost $ 3.7 billion in 2020–21.

While joint exchange surgery is often seen as inevitable for osteoarthritis, it You only need to consider For people with severe symptoms who have already tried appropriate non -surgical treatment. The operation carries the risk of grave Adverse eventssuch as a blood clot or infection, and not everyone regenerates.

Most people with osteoarthritis can Manage it effectively With:

• Education and self -management
• Exercises and physical activity
• Weight management (if necessary)
• Drugs for relieving pain (such as paracetamol and nonsteroidal anti -inflammatory drugs).

Refuting a common misunderstanding

AND widespread misunderstanding It is that osteoarthritis is caused by “wear”.

However, Research shows The scope of structural changes observed in the pond on the X -ray does not reflect the level of pain or disability that the person experiences, or does not anticipate how the symptoms change.

Some people with minimal joint changes have very bad symptoms, while others with major joints have only delicate symptoms. Therefore, routine X -rays They are not recommended to diagnose osteoarthritis or making decisions regarding treatment.

Instead, the guidelines recommend a “clinical diagnosis” based on the age of a person (45 or more) and symptoms: experiencing joint pain with activity and in the morning, not having stiffness or stiffness, which lasts less than 30 minutes.

Nevertheless, many healthcare professionals in Australia Continue the use of X -rays to diagnose the degenerative disease of the knee joints. And many people with osteoarthritis They still expect them or I want to.

What examined our study?

Our test The place to find out whether the exploit of X -rays to diagnose degenerative disease of the knee joint affects the beliefs of the person about the treatment of osteoarthritis, compared to the clinical diagnosis without x -rays.

We reconciled 617 people from all over Australia and randomly assigned them to watch one of three films. Each video showed hypothetical consultation with a general doctor about knee pain.

One group received a clinical diagnosis of osteoarthritis on the basis of age and symptoms, without sending x -rays.

The other two groups had X -rays to determine their diagnosis (the doctor showed one group of their X -ray images, not the other).

After watching the assigned film, the participants finished the survey on their beliefs regarding the treatment of osteoarthritis.

What did we find?

People who received an X -ray diagnosis and showed that their x -ray images had a 36% higher demand for knee exchange than people who received a clinical diagnosis (without x -rays).

They also believed that exercises and physical activity could be more harmful to their joint, they were more worried about their deterioration of their condition and were more afraid of movement.

Interestingly, people were a bit more satisfied with a diagnosis based on an x ​​-ray than a clinical diagnosis.

This may reflect the widespread misunderstanding that osteoarthritis is caused by “wear” and the assumption that “damage” should be seen in the joint Guide treatment.

What does this mean for people with osteoarthritis?

Our findings show why it is essential to avoid unnecessary X -rays when diagnosing degenerative knee joints.

Although a change in clinical practice can be complex, a decrease in unnecessary X -rays can assist reduce the patient’s fear, prevent unnecessary concern for joint damage and reduce the demand for steep and potentially unnecessary joint exchange surgery.

It can also assist reduce exposure to medical radiation and lower health care costs.

Previous Studies on osteoarthritisand also back AND arm Pain, similarly, shows that when healthcare employees focus on the joints of “consumption”, this can enhance anxiety about their condition and worry about joint damage.

If you have an osteoarticular disease, know that routine X-rays are not needed for diagnosis or to determine the best treatment for you. Acquiring X -rays can make you more concerned and more open to surgery. However, there are a number of non -surgical options that can reduce pain, improve mobility and are less invasive.