Total Joint Replacement

Joint replacement is a surgical procedure in which the joint surface is replaced with an orthopaedic prosthesis when there is severe joint pain that is not alleviated by less-invasive therapies. Joints may be partially or totally replaced, depending on the location and severity of the problem.

Total joint replacement is considered if other treatment options will not relieve the pain and/or disability. If the pain is severe enough a person will avoid using the joint, weakening the muscles around the joint making the joint less functional. To avoid this downhill slide, the goal of total joint replacement is to relieve the pain in the joint caused by the damage done to the cartilage. A physical examination, and possibly some laboratory tests and X-rays, will show the extent of damage to the joint.

Total joint replacements of the hip, knee, and shoulder have been performed since the 1960s. Today, these procedures have been found to result in significant restoration of function and reduction of pain in 90 to 95% of patients. While the expected life of conventional joint replacements is difficult to estimate, it is not unlimited. Today’s patients can look forward to potentially benefiting from new advances that may increase the lifetime of the prostheses.