Joint Replacement

What is joint replacement?

Joint replacement is a type of surgery in which your orthopedic surgeon removes damaged sections of your joint and replaces them with artificial components. They might need to perform a joint replacement if you have a severe joint injury or damage to a joint and there are no other effective treatments.

Restoration Orthopedics performs several types of joint replacement surgeries for the hips, knees, and shoulders, including:

Total joint replacement

Total joint replacement involves removing and replacing the ends of both the bones in the affected joint.

Partial joint replacement

If one of your bones is healthy enough to save, your surgeon might perform a partial replacement.

Revision joint replacement

Revision joint replacement surgery might be necessary if you have an existing artificial joint that has developed problems, such as infection, loosening, or periprosthetic fractures. Restoration Orthopedics performs revision surgery for hips and knees.

Reverse total shoulder replacement

Traditional total shoulder replacement surgery may not suit patients who have shoulder instability from repeated dislocations or rotator cuff arthropathy. Instead, your orthopedic surgeon can reverse the placement of the ball and socket that forms the joint to increase shoulder stability.

Why might I need joint replacement surgery?

Joint damage might result from acute trauma or a condition like osteonecrosis (bone death). However, the most likely reason to need joint replacement surgery is advanced osteoarthritis.

Arthritis takes many forms, but they all affect your joints, causing chronic pain, weakness, stiffness, and loss of function. Osteoarthritis commonly develops in older people after years of joint wear-and-tear that erodes the protective cartilage on the ends of their bones.

It’s possible to manage osteoarthritis with conservative treatments such as physical therapy, medication, and joint injections. However, the deterioration may reach a point where these treatments no longer have an effect. Joint replacement may then be your best option.

What does joint replacement surgery involve?

Restoration Orthopedics uses minimally invasive techniques to perform joint replacement surgery wherever possible. There are two ways they do this:

Arthroscopy

An arthroscope is a flexible tubular instrument fitted with a light and a camera. Your orthopedic surgeon inserts the arthroscope into your joint through a small incision and then uses the images relayed by the camera to perform the joint replacement.

Robotic surgery

Robotic surgery is a technologically advanced option that offers the highest degree of accuracy. The system assists with pre-surgical planning, and then your surgeon uses a computer console to guide the robotic arms during your operation.

These minimally invasive techniques cause less damage to your skin and soft tissues than open surgery. As a result, you experience less pain and make a faster recovery.

To learn more about your joint replacement options, call Restoration Orthopedics or book an appointment online today.