knee arthrosis in young patients

Osteoarthritis corresponds to chondral destruction with clinical, radiological and functional repercussions. This imbalance between cartilage synthesis and degradation is secondary to various biological or mechanical factors. Some factors that promote the onset of osteoarthritis in adulthood are identified in childhood. Regardless of age, the radioclinical presentation is the same. There are no specific differences, except for the age of onset and a therapeutic approach that theoretically offers a wider range of options. "Young age," most often defined as under 65, necessitates precise and often more extensive imaging analysis due to radiographic findings that are sometimes insufficient to confirm the diagnosis. This diagnostic imperative makes the prescription of an MRI or CT arthrography very common. Therapeutic options are progressive: medical treatment, conservative surgery (osteotomy), or prosthetic surgery (partial or total joint replacement). The surgical option will be decided based on the analysis of various imaging studies, but the first step in the treatment process is always medical. Generally, a partial prosthesis is implanted for every two osteotomies and three total prosthesis. The results of surgical treatments are considered good by national registries, but total prosthesis require revision surgery three times more frequently than osteotomies or partial prostheses, particularly when total prostheses are implanted before the age of 55. The patient must be informed of these potential outcomes when the treatment decision is made. Nevertheless, the most appropriate treatment for each individual case should be chosen.