What are the Two Types of Joint Replacement?
Knee and hip joints are the ones most commonly replaced due to the incredible wear and tear they sustain every day. However, the doctors at Wellington Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine can surgically replace nearly every joint, including your wrist, elbow, shoulder, and ankle joints.
There are two basic types of joint replacement procedures, partial and total. If you need to replace your ankle, chances are your doctor will perform a total replacement. All the other joints may be partially or totally replaced, depending on the extent of the damage inside your joint.
What Health Conditions are Treated with Joint Replacement?
Any of the following health problems may eventually require joint replacement surgery if nonsurgical treatments fail to relieve your pain or your symptoms worsen:
- Arthritis: Joint degeneration caused by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is one of the leading reasons patients need joint replacement. Osteoarthritis develops over years of wear and tear that slowly breaks down cartilage found on the ends of bones in the joint. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the membranes surrounding the joint, which can damage cartilage and erode bones.
- Trauma: Any injury to your joint may create the need for a joint replacement. You may sustain such a severe fracture that the bones can’t heal, or an injury may damage the cartilage and trigger degeneration. A dislocation or fracture in your shoulder or hip may damage the blood supply, leading to joint destruction.
- Rotator Cuff Tear Arthropathy: Severe rotator cuff tears often lead to cartilage degeneration and arthritis, which is called rotator cuff tear arthropathy.
How is Joint Replacement Performed?
Your doctor at Wellington Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine performs a total joint replacement by removing damaged tissues from all the bones that form the joint, then replacing them with prosthetic components. During a partial joint replacement, only the damaged tissues are removed and replaced.
Prosthetic bones are made from metal or ceramic, while cartilage is replaced with plastic, ceramic, or metal spacers. All the prosthetic pieces are designed to perfectly mimic the original bones and cartilage and to produce natural movement.
In many cases, your surgeon at Wellington Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine may perform a minimally invasive joint replacement. When you have your surgery consultation, you can talk about your options and which procedure is best for your joint problem and overall health.
If you suffer from painful, stiff joints and need a joint replacement, call Wellington Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine or book an appointment online today.
