Total Joint Replacement: What You Should Know

What is Total Joint Replacement?

Total joint replacement, or TJR, is an orthopedic surgical procedure typically performed in a hospital or outpatient surgery center.

During the procedure, a patient’s damaged cartilage and bone are removed from the joint and replaced with a prosthesis. The prosthesis or replacement joint is typically made from a metal, plastic, or ceramic material and designed to mimic the shape and movement of a real joint.

The three most common types of joint replacement include knee, hip and shoulder surgeries.

Who is a Good Candidate for Joint Replacement?

There are several reasons why you might want to consider total joint replacement surgery.

Most of the time, joint pain and mobility limitations are associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fracture, or other related medical conditions. If you find yourself experiencing severe joint pain, joint stiffness, limping, muscle weakness, swelling, or if it is difficult for you to perform everyday activities like walking or climbing stairs, your doctor may recommend surgery.

Surgery is generally recommended for patients only after they have exhausted all other methods. If you have tried nonsurgical treatments including medications, injections, exercise, physical therapy, and haven’t seen improvement in your joint pain or mobility, you may be a good candidate for total joint replacement surgery.

What Are Some of the Advantages of Total Joint Replacement?

Every year, more than a million Americans have a knee, shoulder or hip joint replaced. The decision to proceed with total joint replacement surgery should be shared between you, your family, your doctor and an experience orthopedic surgeon.

Benefits of total joint replacement surgery to consider are:

•  Relief from joint pain
• Improved mobility and movement
• Correction of deformity
• Improved quality of life
• Ability to return to everyday activities
• Better range of movement
• Decreased risk of heart attack or stroke

Palm Beach County’s Arthritis and Total Joint Specialists

Want to learn more about what OCPBC’s total joint replacement can do for you? Give us a call for more information and find out if you are an ideal candidate for the procedure.

At OCPBC, you will be treated by an experienced team of board certified orthopedic surgeons and physicians. We are proud to offer our patients with a number of orthopedic surgery options, including non-surgical and minimally invasive techniques.

Please give us a call today at 561-967-6500 for more information about any of our orthopedic procedures or schedule an appointment at one of our three centers located throughout Palm Beach County.