A joint replacement is needed when “an arthritic or damaged joint is removed and replaced with an artificial joint, called a prosthesis”.
Arthroplasty, or joint replacement surgery, is a procedure of orthopedic surgery, in which the arthritic or dysfunctional joint surface is replaced with an artificial prosthesis. When joint replacement surgery is done, the artificial surfaces of the joint replacement are shaped in such a way as to allow joint movement similar to that of a healthy natural joint.
A joint replacement surgery is advocated when a person starts experiencing difficulty in activities of daily living due to the damaged joint.
A person who has injured or damaged their joint may experience extremely severe pain at the site of the joint. In certain instances when the pain is extremely severe, one may “avoid using the joint, weakening the muscles around the joint and making it even more difficult to move the joint”. Examinations and tests will be performed to assess the severity of the joint damage. If less invasive alternatives don’t alleviate pain and damage, Total Joint Replacement will be considered.
For the last 45 years the most successful and common form of arthroplasty is the surgical replacement of an arthritic, destructive, or necrotic joint or joint surface with a prosthesis. For example a hip joint that is affected by osteoarthritis may be replaced entirely (total hip arthroplasty) with a prosthetic hip. This would involve replacing both the acetabulum (hip socket) and the head and neck of the femur. The purpose of this procedure is to relieve pain, to restore range of motion and to improve walking ability, thus leading to the improvement of muscle strength.