in Joint Replacement Surgeries
The skeletal structure of the human body is made up of many different types of joints, the point where two bones meet. The knee joint is called a “hinge,” as it can bend and straighten. The hip and shoulder joints are “ball-and-socket” where the rounded end of one fits into the hollow of another bone, allowing for a rotation movement.
Normal joints have “articular cartilage,” and are coated with synovial fluid which allows them to move smoothly. When this cartilage erodes or is damaged due to disease, trauma, or age, or the fluid is reduced, joints become stiff and painful. This condition with symptoms such as pain and stiffness, is called arthritis.
Your doctor will first suggest non-surgical treatments to reduce pain and help you move better, often with the use of walking aids, exercise, or medications. If these do not work, the joint may be too compromised to be resolved with any other treatment, and surgery becomes necessary.
In joint replacement, abnormal bone and lining structures are surgically removed and replaced with new parts constructed of metal, plastic or carbon-coated implants. These new parts restore mobility to the joints, and are usually painless.
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