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Joint Surgery
Joint Surgery
You will know when you need a hip,
knee or shoulder replacement. It is
when the pain has reached a point
where it keeps you from doing the things you want to
do. 
Consult
your doctor or an orthopaedic surgeon
to
determine if you’re a candidate for joint replacement
surgery.
Hip Replacement Surgery
Total hip replacement is a common procedure that involves
removing the head of the thighbone (femur) and replacing
the ball-and-socket mechanism of the hip with artificial
implants. More than 90 percent of hip replacements last
for 10 years or more. Pain and mobility improve after
hip replacement, allowing patients to maintain their
independence and quality of life. To find out more about
hip replacement surgery, visit the American Academy
of Orthopaedic Surgeons Web site at http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_report.cfm?
Thread_ID=471&topcategory=Hip
Knee Replacement Surgery
Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) is a surgery
that is performed for severe degeneration of the knee
joint. More than 300,000 people undergo the procedure
each year. Minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty
is one method of performing a knee replacement that
uses a smaller incision. Knees wear out for a variety
of reasons, including inflammation from arthritis, injury
or simple wear and tear. A knee replacement is the resurfacing
of the worn out surfaces of the knee. A surgeon replaces
lost cartilage with metal and plastic. This is typically
done through an incision down the center of the knee.
Minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty uses an incision
that is only 4 to 6 inches long, which means potentially
there will be less damage to the tissue around the knee.
To find out more about knee replacement surgery, visit
the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Web site
at http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/
fact/thr_report.cfm?Thread_ID=472&topcategory=Knee
Shoulder Replacement Surgery
Many people know someone with an artificial knee or
hip joint. Less common, but just as successful in relieving
joint pain, is a shoulder replacement (arthroplasty).
This procedure may be recommended if arthritis or degenerative
joint disease makes your shoulder stiff and painful
or if the upper arm bone is fractured so badly that
tissue death may result. The shoulder is a ball-and-socket
joint that enables you to raise, twist, bend, and move
your arms forward, to the sides and behind you. The
surrounding muscles and tendons provide stability and
support. Shoulder replacement surgery replaces damaged
surfaces with artificial parts (prostheses). To find
out more about shoulder replacement surgery, visit the
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Web site at
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/
fact/thr_report.cfm?
Thread_ID=291&topcategory=Shoulder