Surgery for Total Joint Replacement

Surgery for Total Joint Replacement

This article provides an overview of total joint replacement. Separate articles on distinct types of joint replacement, such as those for the hip, knee, shoulder, or wrist, provide comprehensive information on these procedures.

A total joint replacement is a surgical procedure in which a metal, plastic, or ceramic prosthesis is used to replace parts of an arthritic or damaged joint. The prosthesis is made to move like a normal joint in good health.

The most common types of joint replacements are those for the hip and knee, but other joints like the ankle, wrist, shoulder, and elbow can also be replaced with surgery.

Anatomy: When the ends of two or more bones meet, joint forms. The body has many different kinds of joints. Because it can bend and straighten like a door with hinges, the knee is one example of a "hinge" joint. The hip and shoulder are examples of "ball-and-socket" joints, in which one bone's rounded end presses against the cup-shaped portion of another bone.

When Should I Get a Total Joint Replacement?
Joint replacement surgery may be an option for patients with a number of conditions that result in joint pain and disability. Joint pain is frequently brought on by arthritis, a fracture, or another condition that has damaged the articular cartilage, which lines the ends of the bones.

Your doctor may recommend total joint replacement if nonsurgical treatments like medication, physical therapy, and activity modifications do not alleviate your pain and disability.

Preparing for Surgery Your primary care physician and the surgical team will spend time getting you ready for your upcoming procedure in the weeks leading up to it. For instance, your general health may be checked by your primary care physician, and your surgeon may need several tests, like a cardiogram and blood tests, to help plan your surgery.

You can also prepare in a number of ways. Talk to your physician and inquire. Make physical preparations by exercising and eating well. Obtaining assistive items, such as a shower bench, handrails, or a long-handled reached, and arranging for assistance will help you manage the first few weeks you spend living at home. You can help ensure a quick recovery and smooth surgery by planning ahead.

Getting Ready for Joint Replacement Surgery More Information to Help You Get Ready:

Replacement of all joints: Prior to undergoing surgery, patients should ask their surgeon the following: Checklist for Health Conditions Before Surgery: Medication Safety Checklist Before and After Total Joint Replacement (Video) Surgery A few hours are required for total joint replacement. In a hospital or outpatient surgery centre, the procedure is done.

Your joint's damaged cartilage and bone are replaced with prosthetic components made of metal, plastic, or ceramic during the procedure. The prosthesis is designed to look and move like a natural joint. In an arthritic hip, for instance, the damaged ball (the upper end of the femur) is replaced with a metal ball attached to a metal stem that is inserted into the femur, and the damaged socket is replaced by a plastic socket implanted into the pelvis.

Complications Your doctor will talk to you about the risks and potential problems that can come from having a total joint replacement. These problems can be related to the surgery itself or they can happen later.

The majority of problems can be fixed with success. Infection, blood clots, nerve damage, and prosthesis issues like loosening or dislocation are some of the more typical complications of joint replacement surgery.

More information on how to avoid problems:

Deep Vein Thrombosis Preventing Infection Following Joint Replacement Surgery (Video) Preventing Blood Clots Following Orthopaedic Surgery (Video) Recovery Each individual's recovery and rehabilitation will differ. In most cases, your doctor will tell you to start using your "new" joint as soon as possible after your surgery. Your recovery will be accelerated if you follow your doctor's instructions, even if it is sometimes difficult.

Because the body is adjusting to the new joint, the surrounding muscles are weak from inactivity, and the tissues are healing, most patients will experience some temporary pain in the replaced joint. Within a few months, the pain should go away.

Exercise plays a crucial role in the recovery process. You will be given specific exercises to help strengthen the joint and restore movement by your doctor or physical therapist.

Please speak with your doctor if you have any concerns about the restrictions on your activities following total joint replacement.

Long-Term Effects Following joint replacement surgery, the majority of patients are able to carry out activities of daily living with greater ease. The majority of people can anticipate that their joint replacement will last for many years, enhancing their quality of life with reduced pain, enhanced motion, and strength that would not have been possible otherwise.