Joint replacement surgery, or joint arthroplasty is performed most frequently to replace hip joints and knee joints, and involves the complete removal of the damaged joint and tissues to be replaced with an artificial prosthesis. The goal of the procedure is to relieve pain and restore a sense of normal function and mobility into the damaged joint. Joint replacement surgeries are recommended for patients experiencing severe pain and disability as a result of progressive arthritis.

Knee Replacement Surgery

Knee Replacement Surgery (arthroplasty) is a routine operation that involves resurfacing a damaged, worn or diseased cartilage of the knee with an artificial surface.

This surgery is actually a knee resurfacing surgery which is commonly referred as knee replacement surgery but the whole joint is not replaced in this surgery only the damaged part is resurface.

Adults of any age can be considered for a knee replacement, an average mostly are carried out on people between the ages of 60 and 80 years. More people are now receiving this operation at a younger age. A resurfaced Knee usually lasts over 20 years.

Hip Replacement Surgery

Hip replacement surgery is a procedure in which a doctor surgically removes a painful hip joint with arthritis and replaces it with an artificial joint often made from metal and plastic components. It usually is done when all other treatment options have failed to provide adequate pain relief. The procedure should relieve a painful hip joint, making walking easier.

The hip is one of the most commonly replaced joints. It allows us to move our legs and bend and straighten our body. Osteoarthritis, a type of arthritis, is the main reason for Hip Replacement Surgery. Other conditions, including trauma, may also cause the need for a hip replacement.

During this procedure, your damaged hip joint is replaced with implants that recreate the ball and socket of a healthy hip. This can reduce pain and restore your hip function. Hip replacement has the success rate of over 95%, 10 years after the surgery, and over 85%, 20 years post-operation. After the surgery, over 98% patients reported complete relief from hip pain and did not required revision surgery later.

3)What is Total Elbow Replacement?

The elbow is a hinge joint consisting of the humerus (upper arm bone), the ulna (the outer forearm bone), and the radius (inner forearm bone).

Extensive damage or deterioration of the surfaces of the bones and cartilage of the elbow due to rheumatoid arthritis or trauma can cause severe pain and discomfort. In cases of extreme pain and joint degeneration, one’s doctor may recommend total elbow replacement surgery.

During the elbow replacement procedure, the surgeon will open a small incision at the back of the elbow to access the injured areas of the upper arm and forearm bones. Once scar tissue and spurs have been removed, artificial components consisting of a metallic plastic hinge and two metal stems will be placed inside th e humerus and ulna bone cavities. A padded dressing will be used to protect the incision and close the wound as it heals.

As with total shoulder replacement surgery, rehabilitation and physical therapy are pivotal for the success of an elbow replacement. Gentle exercises are initially employed to control stiffness and inflammation. These are followed by range of motion and strengthening exercises as the wound heals. It may take up to six weeks following surgery to be able to perform routine tasks or to lift regular household objects.

What is Total Shoulder Replacement?

The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint made up of the round end of the arm bone, a curved bowl-like surface (glenoid), cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. The shoulder allows the arm to lift, twist, and bend both forward and backward and gives it the greatest range of motion of any joint in the body. As the cartilage erodes and wears down over time, the bones can come into contact with each other, causing pain, discomfort, and stiffness.

During the procedure, the surgeon removes the injured arthritic ball and replaces it with a metal rod placed inside the upper arm bone with a smooth metal ball at the end. The corroded socket (glenoid) is repolished and capped with a plastic or metal component.

Rehabilitation and physical therapy begin the day after surgery as the first few weeks following the procedure are crucial for restoring the mobility, strength, and normal functioning of the shoulder.