Types Of Joint Replacement Surgeries
Joint replacement surgery is a procedure that many people undergo to relieve chronic joint pain and improve joint mobility when other non-surgical treatments have proved unsuccessful. If you are dealing with persistent joint pain and a limited range of motion then joint replacement surgery may be worth considering to restore your overall quality of life and get you back to doing the things you enjoy, pain free.
There are many different joint surgeries available and depending on your symptoms and the joint affected, will determine best type of surgery for you. Your orthopedic surgeon will be able to discuss all the options with you. The most common types of joint replacement surgery include:
Total Joint Replacement Surgery
Total joint replacement (an arthroplasty) is a procedure which involves removing part or all of the damaged joint and replacing it with artificial implants. Joint replacement surgery can improve mobility and provide significant pain relief. It may be required for advanced arthritis or as a result of an injury. Knee, hip and shoulder replacements are common type of joint replacement surgery. Joint replacement surgery can often be done as a minimally invasive procedure, which uses smaller incisions, has shorter hospital stays, and has a shorter recovery time than traditional joint replacement procedures.
Hip Replacement Surgery
Anterior Hip Replacement – An anterior hip replacement is a new way to implant a hip replacement using minimally invasive techniques. This allows for muscle sparing instead of muscle splitting and allows for a faster recovery and fewer restrictions on activity after surgery.
Partial Hip Replacement – A partial hip replacement (a hemiarthroplasty) involves replacing the femoral head (the ball) only and not the acetabulum (socket). This procedure is used more in older patients suffering from a hip fracture and is an option when the socket is healthy.
Knee Replacement Surgery
Partial Knee Replacement – The knee joint is divided into three compartments (the lateral, medial and patellofemoral compartments). If damage only affects one or two compartments of the knee, a partial knee replacement may be recommended. A partial knee replacement procedure involves removing damaged tissue, resurfacing existing areas, and implanting artificial parts into the affected compartment(s) of the knee.
Robotic Knee Surgery – a state-of-the-art surgical procedure which uses the NAVIO system for partial or total knee replacement surgery. Surgery is customized to your personal anatomy by creating a 3D representation of your knee’s unique shape and profile, and it doesn’t require a CT scan. Customized 3D-representation of your knee combined with robotic assistance during surgery, allows for a more accurate fit and better long-term outcome. Surgery is carried out with robotic assistance to replace part or all of the knee joint with prosthetic implants. The robotic instruments bend and rotate better than the human hand for enhanced precision, vision, and control during this minimally invasive procedure and healthy structures surrounding the area remain unharmed.
Shoulder Replacement Surgery
Reverse Shoulder Replacement – Where the position of the ball and socket in the joint are switched over and replaced with artificial parts. A prosthetic “ball” is surgically attached at the shoulder blade, and an artificial “socket” is then constructed at the top of the upper arm bone. By reversing the location of the ball and socket, it allows the shoulder to bypass the damaged muscles and tendons and use the muscles at the top of the arm and shoulder instead. This stabilizes the shoulder joint and restores pain-free motion and function.
