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.

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There are many different joint surgeries available and depending on your symptoms and the joint affected, will determine best type of surgery for you. Your orthopedic surgeon will be able to discuss all the options with you. 

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Total Joint Replacement Surgery
 

Total joint replacement (an arthroplasty) is a procedure which involves removing part or all of the damaged joint and replacing it with artificial implants. Joint replacement surgery can improve mobility and provide significant pain relief. It may be required for advanced arthritis or as a result of an injury. Knee, hip and shoulder replacements are common type of joint replacement surgery. 

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Total Knee Replacement
 

A knee replacement (also called knee arthroplasty) might be more accurately termed a knee "resurfacing" because only the surface of the bones are actually replaced.

There are four basic steps to a knee replacement procedure.

• Prepare the bone. The damaged cartilage surfaces at the ends of the femur and tibia are removed along with a small amount of underlying bone.

• Position the metal implants. The removed cartilage and bone is replaced with metal components that recreate the surface of the joint. These metal parts may be cemented or "press-fit" into the bone.

• Resurface the patella. The undersurface of the patella (kneecap) is cut and resurfaced with a plastic button. Some surgeons do not resurface the patella, depending upon the case.

• Insert a spacer. A medical-grade plastic spacer is inserted between the metal components to create a smooth gliding surface.
   

When Surgery Is Recommended

People who benefit from total knee replacement often have:

• Severe knee pain or stiffness that limits your everyday activities, including walking, climbing stairs, and getting in and out of chairs. You may find it hard to walk more than a few blocks without significant pain and you may need to use a cane or walker

• Moderate or severe knee pain while resting, either day or night

• Chronic knee inflammation and swelling that does not improve with rest or medications

• Knee deformity — a bowing in or out of your knee

• Failure to substantially improve with other treatments such as anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections, lubricating injections, physical therapy, or other surgeries
   

Candidates for Surgery

There are no absolute age or weight restrictions for total knee replacement surgery.
 

Recommendations for surgery are based on a patient's pain and disability, not age. Most patients who undergo total knee replacement are age 50 to 80, but orthopaedic surgeons evaluate patients individually. Total knee replacements have been performed successfully at all ages, from the young teenager with juvenile arthritis to the elderly patient with degenerative arthritis.
 

Realistic Expectations

An important factor in deciding whether to have total knee replacement surgery is understanding what the procedure can and cannot do.
 

More than 90% of people who have total knee replacement surgery experience a dramatic reduction of knee pain and a significant improvement in the ability to perform common activities of daily living. But total knee replacement will not allow you to do more than you could before you developed arthritis.
 

With normal use and activity, every knee replacement implant begins to wear in its plastic spacer. Excessive activity or weight may speed up this normal wear and may cause the knee replacement to loosen and become painful. Therefore, most surgeons advise against high-impact activities such as running, jogging, jumping, or other high-impact sports for the rest of your life after surgery.
 

Realistic activities following total knee replacement include unlimited walking, swimming, golf, driving, light hiking, biking, ballroom dancing, and other low-impact sports.

With appropriate activity modification, knee replacements can last for many years and contribute to the final success of your surgery.
 

Knee replacement surgery was first performed in 1968. Since then, improvements in surgical materials and techniques have greatly increased its effectiveness. Total knee replacements are one of the most successful procedures in all of medicine.

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Total Hip Replacement

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In a total hip replacement (also called total hip arthroplasty), the damaged bone and cartilage is removed and replaced with prosthetic components.

• The damaged femoral head is removed and replaced with a metal stem that is placed into the hollow center of the femur. The femoral stem may be either cemented or "press fit" into the bone.

• A metal or ceramic ball is placed on the upper part of the stem. This ball replaces the damaged femoral head that was removed.

• The damaged cartilage surface of the socket (acetabulum) is removed and replaced with a metal socket. Screws or cement are sometimes used to hold the socket in place.

• A plastic, ceramic, or metal spacer is inserted between the new ball and the socket to allow for a smooth gliding surface.
   

Candidates for Surgery
 

There are no absolute age or weight restrictions for total hip replacements.
 

Recommendations for surgery are based on a patient's pain and disability, not age. Most patients who undergo total hip replacement are age 50 to 80, but orthopaedic surgeons evaluate patients individually. Total hip replacements have been performed successfully at all ages, from the young teenager with juvenile arthritis to the elderly patient with degenerative arthritis.
 

When Surgery Is Recommended

People who benefit from hip replacement surgery often have:

• Hip pain that limits everyday activities, such as walking or bending

• Hip pain that continues while resting, either day or night

• Stiffness in a hip that limits the ability to move or lift the leg

• Inadequate pain relief from anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, or walking supports
   

Realistic Expectations
 

An important factor in deciding whether to have hip replacement surgery is understanding what the procedure can and cannot do. Most people who undergo hip replacement surgery experience a dramatic reduction of hip pain and a significant improvement in their ability to perform the common activities of daily living.
 

With normal use and activity, the material between the head and the socket of every hip replacement implant begins to wear. Excessive activity or being overweight may speed up this normal wear and cause the hip replacement to loosen and become painful. Therefore, most surgeons advise against high-impact activities such as running, jogging, jumping, or other high-impact sports.
 

Realistic activities following total hip replacement include unlimited walking, swimming, golf, driving, hiking, biking, dancing, and other low-impact sports.

With appropriate activity modification, hip replacements can last for many years.
 

First performed in 1960, hip replacement surgery is one of the most successful operations in all of medicine. Since 1960, improvements in joint replacement surgical techniques and technology have greatly increased the effectiveness of total hip replacement.

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At Aradhana Orthopaedic Center, our friendly staff welcomes your call and looks forward to serving you. If you would like more information about our orthopedic services, please call our office at the below numbers to schedule an appointment.