Total Joint Replacement Surgery

What is Total Joint Replacement?

Total joint replacement surgery is a common surgical procedure in which certain parts of an arthritic or damaged joint are removed and replaced with an artificial joint called a prosthesis. The prosthesis is usually made from plastic, metal, or ceramic and is designed to allow the artificial joint to move with ease, comfort, and stability.

Total joint procedures such as this have been performed since the 1960s and have changed the lives of millions. Today, these joint procedures have been found to result in significant restoration of function, as well as have helped reduce joint stiffness and pain for millions of patients across the country. Total joint replacements of the hip, knee, and shoulder joints are some of the most common joint replacement surgeries performed at the Institute for Orthopaedic Surgery & Sport Medicine in Fort Myers.

Total Joint Replacement in Fort Myers

As we age, our joints can experience what is called natural wear-and-tear. Over the years, the cartilage and connective tissues in our joints can deteriorate. This deterioration can cause our joints to be stiff or inflamed. Without connective tissues or cartilage, the joint no longer has the cushioning or lubrication it needs to move and perform properly.

Every joint in the body has a unique and specific job. When a joint’s job cannot be performed safely or properly, total joint replacement surgery may be the necessary treatment. Total joint surgery is often considered when conservative treatments have failed. The most common surgically replaced joints are ball-and-socket joints and hinge joints.

Ball-and-socket joints can move in multiple directions because the ball-shaped end of one bone moves inside the cup-shaped end of another bone. These joints are more flexible than hinge joints. For example, the shoulder and the hip are ball-and-socket joints.

Hinge joints, however, can bend and straighten in only one direction, much like how the hinge on a door opens and closes. If there is too much pressure on the hinge joint, it can be difficult to perform simple tasks like bending and standing. The elbow and knee are examples of hinge joints.

In a total knee replacement, the diseased or injured joint is replaced with an artificial joint. The artificial joint, or prosthesis, is then anchored into place to ensure stability and durability. Different joint doctors may have different methods of anchoring the prosthesis into place, but this anchoring is typically done so with bone cement or a medically-advanced material that allows bone tissue to grow into the prosthesis.

Hip replacement surgery involves replacing the femur (head of the thigh bone) and the acetabulum (hip socket). Typically, the artificial ball and stem is made of a very sturdy metal, and the artificial socket is made of a durable, medical-grade plastic called polyethylene. Hip replacements usually occur when a patient experiences a hip fracture or experience severe pain because of arthritis.

Shoulder replacement surgery usually involves using an artificial shoulder joint with either two or three parts, depending on what’s required for the patient’s unique needs. Some of these artificial joints include a prosthetic humerus, a prosthetic humeral head, and/or prosthetic glenoid.

Recent Advances in Total Joint Replacement

Every year, millions of hip and knee replacements are performed across the United States including several in Fort Myers. Though conventional artificial joints have been highly successful over the years, they can become unstable, requiring patients to undergo revision surgery.

The accessibility of cutting-edge materials, such as titanium and ceramic protheses and plastic joint liners, gives surgeons and total joint specialists better options that will assist in increasing the longevity of the prostheses. Ongoing advancements in surgical techniques and instrumentation such as this will help your treatment become even more successful.

Fort Myers patients who have severe arthritic conditions or joint-related injuries are the most common candidates for total joint replacement surgery. Though circumstances vary, patients are typically considered for total joint surgery if:

• Your function and mobility are limited, and it affects your ability to work, enjoy an active lifestyle, or perform ordinary daily activities
• Conservative pain management methods do not relieve the pain or improve your mobility and function
• You experience significant joint stiffness
• X-rays and lab tests show severe arthritis

For more information, contact Orthopedic Center of Florida or schedule online for a consultation in our Fort Myers, Estero or Naples, FL offices.