Need a New Hip or Knee Joint? Don’t Sweat It

There was a time when having your knee or hip joint replaced was considered a major surgery. These procedures were known for lengthy recovery times and long-term results that were less than ideal.

That’s not so anymore. A stream of technological advancements – both in surgical techniques and the materials used – have drastically reduced recovery time while significantly improving patient outcomes.

If your enjoyment of life is significantly hampered by pain in your knee or hip joint, you have little to fear and much to gain from a replacement.

Evolution of Joint Surgery

Knee and hip replacements aren’t new. Doctors have been performing them for 50 years. But fortunately, a steady evolution of advancements has significantly altered the procedures and their results.

Even 15 years ago, hip and knee replacements were complex and serious affairs. Patients would donate blood ahead of time to have it on hand for long surgeries involving substantial blood loss. They were followed by lengthy bed rest and a long recovery.

Further complicating matters, the replacement joints were made of plastic with durability issues. These joints could wear out within 10 years, giving them limited usefulness for younger people.

Each of these shortcomings has been addressed over the past decade or so. New techniques have reduced surgery time to an hour, while improved medications limit blood loss. Recovery times are much faster, and hospital stays are rare. Patients often stand within hours of the surgery and start physical therapy within a couple days. Improvements in plastics have allowed for the creation of joints that can last 30 years or longer.

Game-Changing Robotics

Among the most significant surgical advances is the use of robotics. This isn’t quite as visually exciting as it may sound. A robot won’t be doing your surgery.

Instead, the technology helps your surgeon perform with greater speed and accuracy. The robotic system is basically a tower with two sets of cameras in the top and a large screen on the front. The cameras use advanced imaging to create three-dimensional modeling of the joint and bones to help plan the procedure, which can be personalized to each patient. The surgeon then directs the robotic arm to make precision cuts, removing only as much bone as needed. The robot also helps with aligning the new joint to put it in the best possible position.

Among the advantages of robotic surgeries:

• Procedures are less invasive
• Recovery times are faster
• Scarring and pain may be reduced
• Range of motion may be improved

What To Expect After Joint Replacement

If you have reached the point where a joint replacement has been recommended, it likely means pain is severely hampering your quality of life. This happens when there is damage to the cartilage that acts as a protective covering for the bones that come together at the joint. When that cartilage is gone, the bones can rub together, creating intense pain when you move. This damage is often caused by three types of arthritis:

• Osteoarthritis: This is wear-and-tear arthritis that tends to occur in people over the age of 50. Over time, the cartilage wears away, exposing the bones, allowing them to grate on one another.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: With this disease, the (synovial) membrane that surrounds your joint becomes chronically inflamed, which can eventually lead to loss of cartilage.
• Posttraumatic arthritis: This arthritis is directly linked to a previous injury to your knee or hip.

Joint replacement represents a great opportunity to get rid of that pain and get back to life. Unfortunately, too many people don’t realize these procedures have changed dramatically over the past decade. They worry about long recoveries and complications that might leave them worse off.

But if less aggressive treatment options – including physical therapy, medications and injections – aren’t helping, there is a solution. Within four to six weeks of the joint replacement, you can be enjoying the life you enjoy – whether that’s golfing, fishing, gardening or playing with your grandchildren.