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Thousands of older adults suffer from various bone problems, including arthritis such as arthritis of the knees or hips.
In some cases, arthritis may result in joint fibrosis or fibrosis of a part of a joint, accompanied by severe pain and difficulty moving and performing daily activities.
The patient may resort to replacing or replacing part or all of the joint to move the joint without pain. The joint is replaced with devices called prostheses.

When does a patient need a joint replacement?

A patient needs a joint replacement or replacement if the joint is fibrous, and there is pain and difficulty moving.
Part or all of the damaged joint is removed and replaced with an artificial implant (hip, knee, ankle, elbow, or finger prosthesis).
This helps in relieving pain and restore full movement. Joint replacement surgery depends on several factors, the most important of which are:

• The patient's age
• The severity of the symptoms
• The difficulty of performing normal daily activities, such as walking
• The damage to the joint
• The patient's weight
• The presence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes or heart disease

Causes of joint damage:

Joint damage occurs as a result of damage to the joint. There are several causes that may lead to joint damage, such as:

• Osteoarthritis
• Trauma to the joint from a car accident or fall
• Rheumatic conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis
• Old age

Arthroscopy:

• Not all joint pain requires surgery, but an orthopedic surgeon must diagnose the condition through a clinical examination and identify the cause of the pain. Using a diagnostic surgical procedure, an arthroscope, the extent of joint damage is determined.
• An arthroscope is a long, thin tube equipped with a video camera and a light at the end. It is inserted through two or three small incisions into the joint to examine and image the joints, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons inside.
• The arthroscope is then removed and the incisions closed. It is a simple surgical procedure that takes less than an hour. Through arthroscopy, the doctor assesses the condition of the joint and whether the patient needs joint replacement surgery.
• In some cases, the doctor may recommend exercises, physical therapy, medications, or corticosteroid injections to improve or control joint pain. Depending on the patient's response to these procedures, the next step may be to recommend surgery based on a clinical assessment of the painful joint.

Joint Replacement Surgery:

Joint replacement surgery is a last resort. If a joint is damaged, joint replacement surgery may be recommended to restore joint movement and relieve pain. This surgery involves replacing the damaged joint with a new artificial joint made of metal and plastic components. Any joint in the body can be replaced, but most joint replacement surgeries involve the knee, hip, and shoulder.

There are many different joint surgeries available, depending on the symptoms and extent of damage to the affected joint.
For example, Total Joint Replacement:

• Total joint replacement is a surgical procedure in which parts of the affected or damaged joint are removed and replaced with a metal, plastic, or ceramic device called a prosthesis. The prosthesis is designed to replicate the movement of a normal, healthy joint.
• Total joint replacement surgery takes a few hours. During the surgery, damaged cartilage and bone are removed from the joint and replaced with artificial components made of metal, plastic, or ceramic.
• For example, in an arthritic hip, the damaged joint (the upper end of the femur) is replaced with a metal ball attached to a metal stem that is fixed to the femur, and a plastic socket is implanted in the pelvis to replace the damaged joint.
• After this procedure, the artificial joint functions like a natural joint.