Joint replacement surgery is a procedure that many people undergo to relieve
chronic joint pain and improve joint mobility when other non-surgical
treatments have proved unsuccessful. If you are dealing with persistent
joint pain and a limited range of motion then joint replacement surgery
may be worth considering to restore your overall quality of life and get
you back to doing the things you enjoy, pain free.
Benefits for Joint Replacement:
Reduce pain
Restore motion
Improve alignment of joints
Improve overall function
Common Causes of Joint Pain and Loss of Function
There are many reasons for joint dysfunction. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid
arthritis and traumatic arthritis are the most common forms of this disease.
Osteoarthritis usually occurs after age 50 and often in individuals with a family history
of arthritis. The cartilage that cushions the bones of the joint softens
and wears away. The bones then rub against each other, causing joint pain
and stiffness.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease. The synovial membrane becomes thickened and
inflamed, producing too much synovial fluid, which overfills the joint
space. This chronic inflammation can damage the cartilage and eventually
cause cartilage loss, pain and stiffness.
Traumatic Arthritis can follow a serious joint injury. A prior fracture or severe trauma to
ligaments may damage the articular cartilage over time, causing joint
pain and limiting function.
Types of Joint Replacement Surgery
There are many different types of joint replacement surgeries available
and depending on your symptoms and the joint affected, will determine
the best type of surgery for you. Your orthopedic surgeon will discuss
all treatment options with you. The two most common joint replacement
surgeries performed are hip replacement and knee replacement surgery.
Total Joint Replacement Surgery
Total Joint Replacement (TJR) is an orthopedic procedure that may involve
removing part or all of the damaged joint and replacing it with artificial
implants. Joint replacement surgery can improve mobility and provide pain
relief. Joint replacement is an option when severe pain or dysfunction
fails to respond to less-invasive therapies. Your orthopedic surgeon may
recommend joint replacement for advanced arthritis or as a result of a
traumatic injury to the joint. Knee, hip and shoulder replacements are
common types of joint replacement surgery. Joint replacement surgery is
typically a minimally invasive procedure, which uses smaller incisions,
shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery times than traditional joint
replacement procedures.
Hip Replacement
The hip joint is one of the body’s largest weight-bearing joints.
It is a ball-and-socket joint. This helps the hip remain stable even during
twisting and extreme ranges of motion. A healthy hip joint allows you
to walk, squat, and turn without pain. But when a hip joint is damaged,
it is likely to hurt when you move. When hip pain affects daily activities,
it may be time to consider hip replacement.
A total hip replacement involves placing an artificial socket inside the
worn hip socket. A plastic liner is placed inside the new socket. An implant
(stem) is placed inside the femur bone and the ball is attached to it.
The plastic liner creates a smooth surface for the ball to move.
An
Anterior Hip Replacement is a newer way to implant a hip replacement using minimally invasive techniques.
This procedure is a muscle-sparring surgery which allows for a faster
recovery and fewer restrictions following surgery.
Partial Hip Replacement, also known as a Hemiarthroplasty, involves replacing
the femoral head (the ball) only and not the acetabulum (socket). This
procedure is used more in older patients suffering from a hip fracture
and is an option when the socket is healthy.
Knee Replacement
The knee is a hinge-like joint that is formed where the thighbone (femur),
shinbone (tibia), and kneecap (patella) meet. The knee is the largest
and most complex joint connecting major limbs and bearing the total weight
of the body. It is susceptible to multiple injuries and ailments. Over
time, cartilage can wear away. As it does, the knee becomes stiff and
painful. Knee replacement surgery options depend on the portion of the
knee joint that needs to be treated – from a partial or total knee
replacement.
Partial Knee Replacement involves removing damaged tissue, resurfacing existing areas and implanting
artificial parts into the affected compartment(s) of the knee. Your orthopedic
surgeon may recommend a partial knee replacement if only one or two compartments
of the knee are damaged.
Total Knee Replacement allows your knee to bend easily again. The roughened ends of the thighbone
and shinbone and the underside of the kneecap are replaced with metal
and strong plastic parts. With new smooth surfaces, the joint can once
again glide freely without pain. There are limitations after knee replacement
surgery, but this procedure can allow you to walk and move with greater comfort.
Shoulder Replacement
Shoulder replacement surgery relieves pain and helps restore motion, strength and function of the shoulder.
Your orthopedic surgeon may recommend shoulder replacement surgery if
you are suffering from shoulder arthritis or after a severe shoulder fracture.
Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement is an option in severe cases.
Total Shoulder Replacement, also known as total shoulder arthroplasty,
replaces the ball portion of the shoulder (the humeral head) with a metal
ball and the socket is replaced by a plastic piece.
Reverse Shoulder Replacement switches the position of the joint’s
ball-and-socket, and it relies on the shoulder’s deltoid muscle
for strength and function. This means their natural position is reversed.
Reverse shoulder replacement is a complex procedure and is used in more
severe cases.
Elbow Replacement
As with any joint replacement surgery, the elbow joint has several moving
parts that control the movements of your forearm which make elbow replacement
surgery a complicated procedure.
Elbow replacement surgery, also known as elbow arthroplasty, involves replacing your elbow joint
with an artificial joint made from two implants that attach to the bones
in the arm. A metal and plastic hinge joins the implants together.
Wrist Joint Replacement (Wrist Arthroplasty)
A wrist is a more complicated joint than the hip or the knee comprising
of bones, cartilage, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and blood vessels.
Wrist Joint Replacement Surgery, also known as Wrist Arthroplasty, involves
removing the damaged parts of the wrist joint and replacing them with
artificial components. Wrist replacement surgery can be an option for
patients who are reluctant to undergo wrist fusion.
Ankle Replacement
Ankle Replacement, also known as Total Ankle Arthroplasty (TAA), is a surgical procedure
used by orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons to replace the damaged ankle
joint with an artificial implant made of metal and plastic. The goal of
ankle replacement surgery is to relieve pain while preserving ankle movement
so patients can perform regular daily activities with less pain.
Finger Replacement
Artificial joint replacement of the finger involves an orthopedic surgeon
removing one or more joints in the finger and replacing them with an artificial
implant that can replicate normal joint function. The PIP joint is the
second joint from the end of your finger. The MP joint is your knuckle,
the joint at the base of your finger. The specific goal of finger replacement
surgery is to relieve pain, restore joint stability and mobility.
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