For elderly patients joint replacement surgery is commonly required to replace joints that have been worn out by arthritis. Serious injury or long term illness may also damage joints so that they require replacement.

 

In these procedures the damaged or diseased joint surface is removed and replaced with artificial surfaces normally made from metal (chromium cobalt alloy, titanium) and plastic surfaces (high density polyethylene and ceramic) which act as replacement surfaces for the damaged joint.  Joints commonly replaced are the ankle, hip and knee.

 

These operations are major procedures which require the patient to be in hospital for several days then followed by a significant period of rehabilitation.  Occasionally blood transfusions are required.

 

Hip Replacement
An incision (cut) is made on the side of the thigh to allow the surgeon access to the hip joint. The diseased and damaged parts of the hip joint are removed and replaced with smooth, artificial metal ‘ball’ and plastic ‘socket’ parts.

Click on the link for more information about hip surgery.

Knee Replacement
This is a surgical procedure performed on a knee joint that has become painful and/or impaired because of disease, injury or wear and tear.

In total knee replacement, artificial materials (metal and plastic) are used to replace the following damaged surfaces within the knee joint:

• the end of the thigh bone (femur)
• the end of the shin bone (tibia)
• the back of the kneecap (patella)

This operation is a major procedure which requires you to be in hospital for several days and will be followed by a significant period of rehabilitation.

Click on the link for more information about knee surgery.