Hey everyone, my name is Belinda. When I was a young girl, I injured the muscles in my legs performing complex gymnastic moves. I was under the care of an orthopedist for several months during the recovery period. I had to complete a number of strengthening exercises to regain my range of motion and mobility. The orthopedist performed regular examinations to determine if the given treatment was working. I will use this site to talk about different orthopedic treatments. I hope you will visit my site often to learn about this fascinating subject.
Just like other areas of the body, the joints can begin to weaken or break down due to age, strenuous use over time, and some illnesses. When this occurs, it can cause severe pain and make normal movement very difficult. Fortunately, this health issue can usually be treated by having the affected joint surgically replaced. How the surgery is done and how long it takes to recover depends on which joint is being replaced. These are the most common types of joint replacement surgery that are performed today.
Knee Joint Replacement
The knee is the biggest joint in the body. It is made up of three parts including the upper end of the tibia, the patella (also known as the kneecap), and the lower end of the femur. If the knee is damaged due to an injury or arthritis, it can lead to needing the knee joint replaced. Without surgical treatment, the patient will continue to suffer from severe knee pain, inflammation, and swelling, and you may also lose the ability to move the knee.
When knee joint replacement is performed, this involves removing the damaged cartilage at the ends of the femur and tibia and replacing it with metal components that provide support inside the joint. A spacer is also inserted to ensure that the joint will glide smoothly when the knee is moving.
Hip Joint Replacement
Certain injuries and arthritis can also cause medical issues in the hip joints. When a person suffers from persistent hip pain, stiffness, and has a loss of movement and flexibility in the hips, it can mean hip joint replacement surgery is necessary.
The hips have ball-and-socket joints which are also two of the largest joints in the body. In a total hip joint replacement surgery, the damaged femoral head, which is the ball part of the joint, is removed and replaced with a metal stem that attaches to the bone. A metal bone is attached to the upper area of the stem, the damaged socket is replaced with a metal socket and a spacer is placed in between these two metal implants to keep the joint gliding properly.
Shoulder Joint Replacement
The shoulder joint is made up of three sections of the shoulder. These include the humerus which is the upper arm bone, the scapula which is the shoulder blade, and the clavicle which is also known as the collarbone. The shoulder joint is also a ball and socket type joint. Cartilage that is on the surface of the joint helps keep the joint gliding smoothly when the shoulder is moved. However, sometimes aging, arthritis, and fractures that do not heal properly can cause the cartilage to become damaged as well as the ball-and-socket joint.
Depending on how severe the damage is, either the ball or socket part of the joint may need to be replaced or both parts of the joint may need to be surgically replaced. This is done in the same way as a hip joint replacement is done, only it is in the shoulder area of the body.
These procedures are performed on a regular basis by surgeons all over the country. If at any time a patient suffers from joint pain or stiffness, it is important to see a physician right away so the problem can be treated early to avoid further joint damage.
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