Joint Replacement

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.

Request an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon if you are experiencing joint pain.