What is Total Joint Surgery?

Total joint replacement surgery is an option if you’ve lost the joints in your knee, hip or shoulder to injuries or diseases such as arthritis. In this surgery, our orthopedic surgeons at Eminent Medical Center of Richardson, Texas completely replace your damaged joint with a prosthetic. This not only relieves your pain but restores the old joint’s range of motion to a great extent.

Which Joints Can Have Total Joint Replacement?
Total joint surgery in Richardson, TX can be performed on a surprising number of joints, including those in the wrist, the elbow and even the fingers. However, the most common sites for total joint surgery are the hips and the knees. This is no doubt because the burdens on these particular joints is considerable, and they tend to wear out faster than other joints. The shoulder is another common area for total joint replacement.

Our surgeons recommend total joint replacement when more conservative methods such as physical therapy, pain relievers and other methods of reducing the your pain and restoring your range of motion don’t work. The artificial joints are made of ceramic, plastic and biocompatible metals such as titanium.

Before the Surgery
You and your doctor have the benefit of preparing for the surgery well before it is to take place. This raises the chances of it being successful. You’ll work not only with the surgeon but with your regular physician. You’ll be given tests to check the functioning of your heart and blood, and your doctors will tell you to take up healthy eating and exercise if you do not already. You’ll also have time to prepare your home, friends, family and coworkers for your surgery and recovery.

Total Joint Replacement Surgery
You may not need to undergo general anesthesia for your surgery, but if you do, you will need to fast overnight. The surgery may be an out- or inpatient procedure. The former means that the you can go home after a period of rest, and the latter means you go home after a night or two in the facility.

During total joint surgery in Richardson, TX the surgeon removes the bone and the cartilage from the damaged joint and replaces it with the prosthetic. These prosthetics are made to mimic the joint. For example, the artificial hip joint is a ball and socket, much like the your natural hip.

Recovering From the Operation
How long it takes for you to recover from a total joint replacement surgery depends on the joint and your overall health. Whatever joint has been replaced, the new joint will need to be put to use soon after the surgery, even if it is uncomfortable for you. The doctor will send you to a physical therapist to help you. In spite of these challenges, the great majority of patients who have total joint surgery find that they can resume those physical tasks they could do easily before they fell ill and do them for a good number of years with little pain.