Arthroplasty and its Types

Arthroplasty is a particular type of surgery carried out on the body’s joints. This surgery aims to help restore the joints to their normal functioning. Arthroplasty is generally recommended when all other treatments for the joint have failed. These treatments might have included weight loss and certain forms of medication to relieve joint pain. In an arthroplasty, a prosthesis will be fitted to replace the joints that have been removed.

Now that we know what is arthroplasty let’s look a bit more closely at what this surgical procedure entails.

Types of arthroplasty

Some of the significant types of Arthroplasty carried out are-

Hip replacement –

A hip replacement surgery is carried out on patients who have difficulty moving the hip joint due to arthritis. During this procedure – also known as hip arthroplasty – the damaged parts of the hip are removed and replaced with a prosthesis. The hip replacement surgery may be carried out from the front or the back of the hip.

Knee replacement –

As indicated by the name, a knee replacement surgery is carried out to replace the damaged cartilage and parts of the knee joint. The damage could have developed due to degenerative arthritis or due to arthritis that has resulted from trauma or injury to the affected joints. Many patients experience tremendous relief after a knee replacement surgery as they regain independence and ease from arthritis pain.

Instead of joint replacement, the surgeon may also opt to perform a joint resurfacing type of arthroplasty. In this process, the surgeon will work on the damaged portions of the joint instead of replacing them entirely. Certain sections that get removed may be replaced with prosthetic parts. A standard resurfacing procedure can be done on any of the major joints of your body, including the knees, hips, and shoulders.

Surgeons aim to save as much of the natural bone or joint structure as possible. So, they usually opt for minimally invasive procedures first.

What happens in arthroplasty?

The arthroplasty procedure will require the patient to be admitted to the hospital. It will be performed under local or general anesthesia. Once the patient is sedated, the process begins. The affected joints will be resurfaced to improve functionality as part of arthroplasty. The patient may also be fitted with a prosthesis as per their unique needs and the situation.

After the arthroplasty procedure, the patient may need to stay in the hospital for several days. During this period, their recovery will be closely monitored. The patient will also have to start physical therapy almost immediately. After they have healed sufficiently, the patient will be discharged and allowed to complete their recovery at home. They will need to continue their physical therapy at home and be very careful when moving around to protect themselves from falls. They might need to use a walking stick or install handrails at home for support.

The doctor will also prescribe certain medicines as painkillers during the recovery period. Patients are advised to take these medications as instructed and make sure to get sufficient rest during recovery. Avoid carrying out any strenuous activities unless they have checked these with their doctor first. For example, if they plan to run or drive, check with the doctor whether they have healed well enough to begin such activities.

Are any risks to note?

Advancements in medical science have made most surgeries relatively safe, and the same can be said for arthroplasty. However, as with any other medical procedure, there are often some associated risks. Specific complications associated with this procedure include loosening of the fitted prosthetics, bleeding at the site of operation or infection at the operated area. The doctor or surgeon will discuss all the associated risks with the patient to fully know the situation.

Knee systems from Meril

Meril is an India-based medical device company that strives to create the best medical technology to alleviate human suffering. Two remarkable products from Meril include Opulent and Freedom. Let’s look at each of these.

Opulent –

The Opulent Bionic Gold Knee has a TiNbN coating with the least wear property at 40% lesser than regular CoCr, the hardest surface (8 times harder than CoCr), and twice as strong as other implants of a similar category. It also has the most biocompatible non-allergic surface material. Opulent also offers longevity due to its superior abrasion resistance and allergy prevention. This knee system is highly suitable for old and young patients alike. The Opulent knee system is excellent for knee arthroplasty, in which the weight-bearing parts of the patient’s knees are replaced with this artificial joint. Synovial fluids offer higher wettability. This knee system also has extreme adhesive power and long-term chemical stability. The Opulent Bionic Gold Knee is US FDA 510(k) cleared.

Freedom –

The Freedom knee system is used for treating arthritis in the knees. This system is a USFDA-approved and CE-certified knee implant. Freedom has been created after extensive research on the physiological needs of knee replacement candidates. With its ability to promote conservative bone resection, very minimal bone cutting is required. The Freedom knee system comes in eight sizes for the left and right knee and has one design for the full spectrum of flexion. It is also the one and only seven radii knee implant in the world. The Freedom knee system comes in an all-poly or metal-backed tibial component.

With a presence in +100 countries, Meril is a globally renowned name in medical devices. The company is headquartered in India. The company works with leading doctors and researchers to create devices that can fill existing gaps in medical procedures.

Conclusion

Living with diseases that affect the joints can be debilitating and make us dependent on others. Arthroplasty is a procedure that can truly improve one’s quality of life with joint problems. Make sure to discuss the possible outcomes with your doctor and make an informed choice when going ahead with the procedure.