Also called Arthroplasty, joint replacement surgeries are continuously increasing every year because they are one of the most successful surgeries with huge benefits to the sufferers of joint pain. With advances in medicine and engineering going hand in hand, human joints have been the biggest beneficiary organs. Joints always have soft bone-like structures called cartilage which cushion the movement between the bones. Cartilages are prone to diseases like rheumatoid and osteoarthritis and problems like injuries. Cartilages have the inherent defect that they do not heal like other tissue. So damaged cartilages result in:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Reduced motion
- Deformity
- Muscle weakness
- Joint instability
Although joint pain is not a life-threatening condition, it does cause a lot of discomforts and sporadic to continuous pain. The quality of life is compromised, sometimes beyond relief. Prosthetic joints have come as saviors to patients with painful joints. Surgeries, popularly called ‘Joint Replacement Surgeries’ are greatly helpful in:
- Pain relief
- Restoring mobility
- Deformity correction
- Providing joint stability
In truth, the joint is not ‘replaced’, rather the articulating surfaces of the parts of bones touching the cartilage are replaced with metal alloy or ceramic implants and ‘spaced’ with hard-wearing polymer prosthetic components. The prosthesis is designed to replicate the movement of a normal, healthy joint. Hip and knee replacements are the most commonly performed joint replacements, but replacement surgery can be performed on other joints like the shoulder, ankle, wrist, and elbow.
While the shoulder joint can be operated and a ‘total shoulder replacement’ can be done, it is rare. Shoulder joints benefit most with arthroscopic surgery. Joint replacement surgery is a highly effective way of eliminating joint pain, correcting a deformity, and helping improve the patient's mobility (movement). ... People who are considered for joint replacement surgery often have severe joint pain, stiffness, limping, muscle weakness, limited motion, and swelling.
Dr. Dhiraj Marothi and his team have done over 15,000 joint replacements and the number is increasing. With his training in the USA and England and the close collaboration with the academic faculty in England Scotland, where he is a visiting professor, his team’s skill, delivers cutting edge surgical skills in joint replacement.