Importance of Joint Replacement
A joint replacement surgery relieves pain and restores near-normal range of motion and function in the affected joint. It involves removing the damaged cartilage and bone at the end of long bones and replacing them with an artificial metal joint. Hip, knee, and shoulder replacements are the most common among joint replacement surgeries. However, fingers, ankles, and elbows can also be replaced.
Reasons for Joint Problems:
- Degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis
- Inflammatory conditions like Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gout, ankylosing spondylitis etc.
- Traumatic conditions causing cartilage & ligament damage in the joints
Why Is Joint Replacement Recommended?
Patients are typically offered more conservative treatments in the early stages of arthritis. Joint replacement surgery is offered for patients in severe stages of arthritis, which affects the quality of life & and doesn’t respond to conservative treatment options such as medicines, physiotherapy & other modalities.
How Is a Joint Replacement performed?
A joint replacement is performed under regional anaesthesia. The affected joint is scrubbed with antiseptic lotions and prepared for the surgery. The joint is exposed with a minimally invasive technique and then prepared for the artificial joint but shaping the end of the bones. The trial prosthesis is placed and balance and alignment checked. The artificial joint is fixed to the bone using bone cement. The joint is then closed.
What is an artificial joint or prosthesis?
Any artificial joint consists of 3 basic parts. 2 metal parts that are fixed to the end of the bones and 1 plastic or ceramic insert which fits in between the metal parts and allows smooth movement in the joint. The metal parts can be of various materials such and titanium, cobalt chrome, ceramic, oxinium, etc
Advantages of Joint Replacement Surgery
- Improvement in quality of life significantly leads to a healthier and happy lifestyle.
- Patients can pursue their hobbies such as swimming, tennis, cycling, which they would not be able to do with arthritis.
- They become independent and can manage on their own without any assistance
- No dependence on pain killer medications and hence lesser risk of kidney and liver issues
Risks associated with Joint Replacement Surgery
- Total Joint replacement is one of more successful surgeries in the last 40 years with complications, less than 2% during and after the surgery
- The complications that can occur during the surgery are mainly related to the old age of the patient at which joint replacement surgery is performed. However, with the modern Anasthesia methods and cardiology back most of the complications are prevented.
- The complications which can occur post joint replacement are Infections, stiffness, DVT, and loosening of the prosthesis earlier than expected. However, in expert hands, all these complications can be avoided with careful presurgical planning and adequate measures taken during surgery for infection control and proper balance and alignment of the joint.
- At OMNI Hospitals, the team for joint replacement surgery consists of senior orthopedic surgeons, experienced anaesthetists, and well-trained physiotherapists who assist the patient during pre-surgical planning, optimum and safe surgery and through rehabilitation which leads to faster recovery to full function without any complications.
- We at OMNI Hospitals provide a wide range of joint replacement solutions which include muscle sparing minimally invasive, fast track knee & hip replacement, partial joint replacement & computer navigated joint replacement at an affordable cost.
- The hospital is recognized nationally and regionally as a leader in patient care and rehabilitation. Our round-the-clock services provide quality and cost-effective care to patients from all walks of life with an emphasis on patient care and academic work.
You can trust our team to be by your side at every step of your joint replacement journey. Contact us for more information about joint replacement surgery and get in touch with the OMNI experts at 888 0101 000