Medical Center of McKinney | Healthy Living |Fall 2015

Damaged or arthritic joints can make everyday movements, like walking or reaching,

very painful. When treatments such as medications or physical therapy don’t help, joint

replacement surgery may be the best bet. Here is a look at which joints—and their

parts—can be replaced with an artificial one, called a prosthesis.

Sources: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons

SHOULDER

Depending on the con-

dition of the shoulder,

either just the head

(ball) of the upper arm

bone (humerus) is re-

placed or both the ball

and socket (glenoid).

ELBOW

Doctors replace the

damaged parts of

the upper arm bone

(humerus) and the

forearm bone (ulna) on

the pinky finger side.

WRIST

The damaged ends of

the lower arm bones

(radius and ulna) and

the first row of the

bones at the base of

the hand (carpals) are

removed. The ends of

the radius and some-

times the carpals are

replaced.

HIP

The damaged head of

the thighbone (femur)

and the surface of the

socket (acetabulum) in

the pelvis where the

femur sits are replaced.

KNEE

The damaged surfaces

at the ends of the

thighbone (femur) and

shinbone (tibia) are

replaced. The under-

side of the kneecap

(patella) may also be

replaced.

ANKLE

The damaged bone and

cartilage from the leg

portion of the ankle

(tibia) and the foot por-

tion of the ankle (talus)

are replaced.

Options

FOR

NEW

JOINTS

Our team of orthopedic

surgeons can replace

your worn-out joint and

help you feel better. To

make an appointment,

call 855-296-6265.

with metal and plastic surfaces.

A hip replacement involves removing the dam-

aged ball on the upper thighbone and replacing it

with a metal or ceramic ball. The damaged socket is

then replaced with a plastic, ceramic or metal socket

that is implanted into your pelvis.

The length of the surgery depends on how badly

your joint is damaged.

A hip replacement generally takes a few hours

and a knee up to two hours. After surgery, you usu-

ally spend another one to two hours in a recovery

room. With hip or knee surgery, you typically spend

several days in the hospital before going home.

ROAD TO RECOVERY

Most people who have joint

replacement surgery experience a dramatic decrease

in pain in that joint and a significant increase in

their ability to perform daily activities. But it takes

time to recover from the procedure, and it’s im-

portant to follow your doctor’s advice, according

to the NIH.

Shortly after surgery, you will probably be encour-

aged to try out your new joint. With hip and knee

replacements, you will need a walker or crutches

at first.

You may have some temporary pain in the new

joint because the surrounding muscles have weak-

ened from disuse.

The pain can be helped with medication and

should last only a few weeks or months. Over time

and with proper exercise, the pain will lessen, flex-

ibility will increase and movement will improve.

That’s why exercise is an important part of the

recovery process, advises the AAOS.

Physical therapy can usually begin the day after

surgery. Your doctor can recommend an exercise

program that is best for your new joint.

Be careful not to overdo it after surgery, however.

Less vigorous activities, such as walking and golf,

may be permitted, but more strenuous sports, such

as skiing or running, may be discouraged.

While joint replacement should improve your

quality of life for years to come, your new joint may

not last for the rest of your life. Many artificial joints

last at least 10 to 15 years. Depending on your age, you

may eventually need a second total joint replacement.

Fortunately, materials and techniques used in

joint replacement continue to improve through the

efforts of orthopedic surgeons, engineers and other

scientists, reports the NIH.

To find out if total joint replacement surgery is

right for you, talk to your doctor.

How to stop

shouldering

the pain

You have enough to deal

with in life without adding

shoulder pain to the mix.

Fortunately, shoulders

damaged by arthritis, a

severe fracture or other

problems can often be

fixed.

Although shoulder

replacement surgery is

less common than sur-

gery to replace hips and

knees, it can relieve pain

just as successfully, ac-

cording to the American

Academy of Orthopaedic

Surgeons (AAOS).

Surgery involves

inserting a stem with a

metal ball on top into

the bone of the upper

arm. The ball fits into

a plastic socket that’s

placed in the shoulder

blade.

Sometimes,

though—depending on

the condition of the

shoulder—surgery may

involve replacing only

the ball portion of the

joint.

After surgery, your

arm will be in a sling for

up to a month, and you’ll

start physical therapy

soon after the operation.

You’ll have some activity

restrictions at first, but

in the long term you’re

likely to enjoy improved

motion and better shoul-

der function.

The AAOS reports

that shoulder replace-

ment may be considered

if you have:

■

Severe shoulder pain

that interferes with daily

activities.

■

Moderate to severe

pain while resting. It

may hinder sleep.

■

Loss of motion

or weakness in the

shoulder.

■

Limited improvement

with other treatments.

Scapula

Glenoid

Humerus

Ulna

Radius

Carpals

removed

Ulna

Pelvis

Femur

Fibula

Talus

Tibia

Patella

Tibia

Acetabulum

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