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A Joint Replacement is essential in individuals suffering from various kinds of painful disabling arthritis pain, which persists despite medical treatment. The procedure is carried out for painful arthritic joints with or without deformity in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, traumatic arthritis, and certain other non-septic arthritis.
The various joints in a perfectly normal human body are covered by articular or smooth cartilage including the moving surfaces of the bones, inside the joint. This ensures minimal friction during movement of the joint. However, the articular or smooth cartilage has limited potential for growth and repair in an adult. Excessive loads on the joints due to obesity or improper alignment or over stress cause this cartilage to wear out causing the arthritic pain. In a knee replacement, the worn out surfaces are replaced with a new surface of low friction, whereas in the hip and shoulder replacement, the joint ball and socket maybe replaced. The replacements are carried out using surgical steel alloys that are biocompatible reducing instances of rejection by the human body. Currently alloys of cobalt-chrome-titanium are commonly in use.
Knee Replacement
The most common reason to replace a knee is arthritis resulting in pain, stiffness, deformity or instability of the knee. In cases where such arthritis cannot be controlled with medication, a knee replacement may be suggested.
A normal knee joint has smooth cartilage surfaces, which glide across one another with almost no friction. In an arthritic knee, the joint surfaces are rough and irregular, causing pain as the uneven surfaces grind across each other. In a knee replacement operation, the rough surfaces are replaced with smooth, gliding components and the deformities and stiffness are corrected.
Hip Replacement
Gradual deterioration of cartilage that occurs in osteoarthritis is the most common reason for Hip Replacement surgery. Implanting an artificial joint eliminates pain and restores near-normal movement. In hip replacement, an implant of same parts as the hip (comprising of a smooth ball of special metal) is inserted with a stem with the bone canal while a cup of special plastic replaces the worn-out socket. Patient starts walking on the second day with walker and then with stick.
Shoulder Replacement
The shoulder joint resembles a ball and socket, and is stabilized by muscles and ligaments. Shoulder arthritis can make common tasks such as reaching overhead, combing one's hair and putting on clothes, a painful experience. Shoulder replacement is a preferable choice for relief of severe arthritis pain.
In shoulder replacement, the end of the humerus or arm bone, which forms the ball, is replaced with a metal prosthesis. One corner of the shoulder blade forms the glenoid or socket. Although the glenoid can be resurfaced with a plastic component, it often does not need to be replaced. Shoulder replacement often allows patients to begin a gentle range of motions a few days after surgery.
Elbow Replacement
Arthritis of the elbow can be due to 'systemic arthritis' (arthritis that usually affects many joints) or previous injury. Replacement of the elbow relieves pain and restores motion.
The prosthesis consists of two stems inserted into the humerus (arm bone) and ulna (one of the two forearm bones) with a hinge in between. The hinge is slightly loose to allow motion similar to the natural elbow. Patients can usually begin to move the new elbow, a few days after surgery.
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