Is Knee Arthritis A Fatal Condition? Well, arthritis of the knee itself isn’t fatal but it can create conditions which could ultimately seriously compromise your health. Unfortunately, there are women that wait and wait and wait to have joint replacement surgery till they are so bad, they are in a wheelchair. And once you get that bad, you know that’s not good for your heart or your lungs or any of your overall health. And so it can definitely contribute to a decline in your health.