What Is Hip and Knee Joint Replacement?

What is hip and knee joint replacement?

Arthroplasty is a surgical procedure to remove a joint that has been damaged for various reasons and replace it with a prosthesis. It is most commonly performed on the hip and knee joints. This practice is also known as hip and knee joint replacement surgery. Joints can be damaged due to osteoarthritis, chronic joint inflammation, fractures, dysplasia, bone cancer, and many other conditions. The risk of joint damage increases with advancing age. The increasing prevalence of obesity in recent years has drawn attention as a predisposing factor for joint damage.

Knee Joint Replacement

Knee joint replacement surgery (knee prosthesis) is a procedure to restore a damaged joint due to severe arthritis. People who need knee replacement experience severe pain when walking, climbing stairs, and sitting for prolonged periods. Even at rest, some patients experience severe pain. The goal of knee joint replacement surgery is to relieve pain and restore joint function.

Implants are placed in the following parts of the joint:

• The lower end of the femur

• The upper end of the tibia (shinbone)

• The back of the knee

Today, in addition to plastic and metal prostheses, prostheses with ceramic coating are also used.

The surgery is performed under general anesthesia. You may need to use crutches or a walker for several weeks after the procedure. Knee replacement surgery allows pain relief, increased mobility, and improved quality of life.

Hip Joint Replacement

With advancing age, damage to the hip joint is often observed. This damage can be due to several causes, such as calcification, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteonecrosis. As a result, severe pain and limited mobility occur. In hip joint replacement, the damaged surface of the joint is cleaned and replaced with a metal, ceramic, and/or hard plastic prosthesis. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia. You may need to use crutches or a walker for several weeks after the procedure.

How do we know if we need hip and knee joint replacement?

If you have been suffering from pain in the knee or hip joint area for a long time and have tried the following treatment methods:

• If you have used anti-inflammatory medications for a long time, but your pain does not go away,
• You have used glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate but have not noticed any benefit,
• If you avoid painful activities,
• If you need to use a cane or walker,
• If you have not benefited from physical therapy,
• If cortisone has been applied to your knee joint, but you have not seen any benefit,
• If your doctor has recommended that you lose weight, but you still have difficulty moving,

In such cases, you should visit an orthopedics and traumatology specialist to have your condition evaluated.

In recent years, with the introduction of technological innovations in the field of medicine, hip and knee joint replacement surgeries have a very high success rate. Remember that with hip and knee joint replacement, pain will decrease or disappear, you will perform your movements and exercises more freely, and your walking will improve.

To maintain your quality of life, pay attention to your joint health!