Joint Pain – Understanding the Causes and Treatment Options
Recent Advances in Total Joint Replacement
Approximately one million hip and knee replacements are performed each year in the U.S.1 As successful as most of these procedures are, over the years, the artificial joints can become loose and unstable, requiring a revision (repeat) surgery.
These issues – together with the fact that increasing numbers of younger and more active patients are receiving total joint replacements, and older patients are living longer – have challenged the orthopaedic industry to try to extend the life of total joint replacements.
Recent improvements in surgical techniques and instrumentation can help to further the success of your treatment. The availability of advanced materials, such as titaniumand ceramic prostheses and new plastic joint liners, provides orthopaedic surgeons with options that may help to increase the longevity of the prosthesis.
References:
1. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website, accessed January 2009.