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 Sometimes the best way to relieve pain and restore function to a joint is to replace all or part of it with a prosthesis (an artificial joint). Prostheses are intended to restore function to the joint and relieve pain associated with arthritis, other chronic conditions, or traumatic injury.
Prostheses are designed to move like a regular joint. They are made of durable plastic and metal parts that fit together snugly but glide smoothly (as opposed to the painful friction associated with the worn cartilage of arthritic joints). The pieces are shaped like the structures they replace - for example, the damaged bones in a ball-and-socket joint of a hip or shoulder are replaced with a metal ball and plastic socket. They are held to the surrounding bone either with press fit and bone ingrowth or with a special bone cement.
The hip and knee are the most frequently replaced joints, although it is possible to treat many others. Procedures include:
- Shoulder Joint Replacement
- Elbow Joint Replacement
- Wrist Joint Replacement (Arthroplasty)
- Hip Resurfacing
- Total Hip Replacement (THR)
- Total Knee Replacement
- Ankle Joint Replacement
Occasionally, an implanted prosthesis does not function as well as it was intended to. In this case a revision replacement may be performed to adjust or replace the mechanism. Prostheses usually perform well for 15 years or longer.
The length and difficulty of recovery depend on the location of the joint replaced as well as the patient's age and overall health. For example, hip or knee surgery typically requires temporary use of a walker and then a cane.. Some pain and stiffness following surgery is normal. Gradually the weakened muscles regain strength and flexibility as the surgical area heals and the patient becomes accustomed to using the joint. The physician will discuss when it is safe to return to any athletic activities.
Joint replacement can sometimes be performed using a minimally invasive technique in which surgical instruments and prosthetic pieces are inserted through small incisions. This technique may offer many benefits over traditional surgery, including less trauma and bleeding, and faster recovery and rehabilitation.
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