Joint Replacement

 

What is Joint Replacement ?

Joint replacement is a surgical procedure where damaged part of a joint is removed and an artificial joint called as prosthesis is implanted.

Why Joint Replacement ?

1. All joints have cartilaginous cover over the surface of bone.

2. This cartilage provides cushion, flexibility to the joint.

3. It does not have nerves and thus cannot cause pain.

4. Cartilage cannot heal itself.

5. Damage to the cartilage leads to exposure of underneath bone. This causes pain, stiffness and dysfunction of the joint.

6. Once the damage is extensive, Joint Replacement is the answer.

 

When to choose Joint Replacement

1. Extensive joint damage confirmed on imaging (Xray, Ct scan, MRI).
2. PAIN has been the most important reason for this surgery. Pain not responding to analgesics or Pain controlled by daily analgesics.
3. Limitations of activities of daily living including your leisure activities, sport or work

Joint Replacement is done when severe pain and dysfunction of a damaged joint is not relieved by other methods.

 

Types of Joint Replacement

• According to the part of joint replaced

  • Partial: When a part of joint is replaced like hemi replacement of hip.

  • Total: When all parts of joint surfaces are replaced like total knee replacement, total hip replacement.

• According to the type of fixation to bone
  • Cemented: When bone cement is used to fix prosthesis to bone surface
  • Uncemented: No bone cement is used, instead surface coated prosthesis is press-fitted into bone.

 

Which joints can be Replaced ?

Knee, Hip, Shoulder, Elbow, Ankle & sometimes Fingers.