Untreated, severe knee osteoarthritis (OA) significantly increases fracture risk due to bone-on-bone friction, instability, and high fall risk from weakened muscles and pain. It can lead to patella or tibiofemoral fractures, which, if left untreated, can result in severe chronic pain, permanent immobility, and necrosis.
Increased Fall Risk: Knee OA impacts balance and mobility, leading to multiple falls and increased risk of fragility fractures.
Structural Damage: Severe, late-stage OA causes cartilage to wear down completely, leaving bones to grind together, which can result in spontaneous fractures of the joint, such as in the patella.
Bone Weakening: The chronic inflammation and instability can cause localized bone weakness, increasing susceptibility to fractures from minor trauma.
Failure of Treatment: Neglecting a fracture resulting from severe OA (e.g., patella fracture) can lead to the fracture becoming ununited, causing chronic pain and severe deformity.
Dr. Dev Padia.
Specialist Orthopaedic Fracture-Ligament Injury and Best Joint Replacement Surgery, Surat.