Orthopaedic Surgery: Joint Replacement Surgery

A joint can be described as when two or more bones come together such as the knee, hip, shoulder etc. Joint replacement surgery may involve removing the whole joint or just part of the joint. The most common joints replaced by orthopedic surgeons are the hip and knee.

Most Patients presenting for joint replacement do so because they have suffered for some time with arthritis orthey have suffered an injury to the joint itself. Usually many Patients have taken medication for years and now it seems to have little effect on the pain.

Replacement joints are made of metal or plastic or both. The Surgeon may choose to cement the joint in place or not, depending on your personal requirements .Joints that are not cemented in are often used on younger people where new bone will eventually grow around  the joint. If you are less mobile and/or your bones are rather weak, the Surgeon may well decide to cement the new prosthesis in place.

Joint replacement surgery is extremely common and can be very successful in achieving more mobility. You must remember however that the operation will not last for life and it may need to be repeated about every fifteen years or so.

The decision to proceed with a replacement joint is usually assessed after an arthroscopy. You can read more about this procedure in our section on other orthopaedic procedures. Sometimes this type of surgery may be indicated instead of a replacement joint. Your Orthopaedic Surgeon will be able to assess the situation after appropriate tests have been carried out.He will also take x-rays to help evaluate your situation.

If you have real problems walking and movement generally, a joint replacement may be the best option for you.

The procedure is usually carried out under general anesthetic although special local anesthetics can be used with or without sedation in selected cases. Our Anesthetists and Surgeon will discuss with you the best option for you taking into account the procedure itself and your medical history.

The operation takes about two hours to complete.

Following your surgery you will remain in hospital for five to seven days depending on the type of surgery and your follow up care required in the early days.

You will be surprised just how soon you are able to walk after surgery, although the area will be very tender at first, mobility is encouraged as soon as one day after surgery. You will be provided with crutches or a walker in the first days to provide support.

Following surgery the Surgeon will suggest a rehabilitation programme to get the joint working well and to strengthen the area.

It takes a while for your body to get used to the new joint, but as time passes by you will have much improved mobility. the discomfort will lessen and your quality of life will be noticeably better.

A recuperation break in Marbella afterwards is the prefect setting to recover from Joint replacement surgery. You can relax and focus on your rehabilitation with our help every step of the way. You can return to normal activities such as walking golfing, dancing etc, but more strenuous sports that put stress on the joints may not be recommended. Your new joint will last longer if you do not put too much stress on it.

Free Consultation - the next step

The next step is to arrange a free private consultation with our Mills & Mills Orthopaedic Surgeon at a centre near you. This is easy to do. Simply call us on the number provided and we will do the rest. We will be happy to chat with you on the phone and answer any questions that you might have. We know how important this procedure is to you. It is our aim to provide you with a service second to none.

We look forward to hearing from you.