Joint replacement is the replacement of a damaged joint in the body with an artificial substitute. Joint replacement surgery is a type of surgery called arthroplasty. It is used to restore function to joints damaged by arthritis or other diseases, tumors, or injuries. Artificial implants can replace most mobile joints in the body. These joints include the knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, ankle, and wrist. Joint implants can also replace knuckles in the hand, the joint at the base of the big toe, and the disks of the spinal column. Nearly all joint replacement surgeries are performed by orthopedic surgeons. They specialize in treating injuries and diseases of the bones, joints, muscles, and associated tissues.
Most patients undergo joint replacement surgery suffer from arthritis. In general, joint replacement surgery is performed only after other treatments have failed to provide relief of a patient’s arthritis symptoms. Many different joints can be replaced surgically. The technical elements of each procedure vary. In general, the surgeon removes damaged cartilage at the joint and usually some of the bone beneath it. The joint is then replaced with an artificial joint. The artificial joint performs the same basic function as the original joint. For example, the human hip joint has a deep ball-and-socket shape. It is replaced with an artificial ball-and-socket made of metal and other durable materials.
Patients usually spend some time in rehabilitation following joint replacement surgery. Patients with shoulder and knee replacements must work hard to restore the full range of motion. Hip replacement patients may work more on walking and balance. Joint replacements vary in durability, depending upon the joint being replaced and patient behavior. Hip and knee replacements are among the most common and most durable. In general, they last 10 years or more.
