What is joint replacement surgery?

The procedure entails removal of each part of a joint that is diseased or

damaged. Artificial joints, also known as prosthesis is put in place of old parts
and this procedure thus helps in eliminating pain, restricted movement and any
other complaint the patient might have prior to the procedure.

The implants used are made of high grade Teflon or polyethylene and these last
15 to 20 years on an average. Opting for a joint replacement procedure can help
in significantly improving your everyday life, the quality of which gets
compromised if you have a diseased joint. Commonly replaced joints are:

Knees and hip
Ankles
Shoulders
Elbow
Inter-digital joints in fingers

Who needs joint replacement?



A joint can get damaged due to a number of reasons sometimes traumatic,
sometimes as a result of wear and tear over the years and sometimes as an
autoimmune reaction. Joint replacement surgeon in Delhi and elsewhere in the
world use following conditions to choose patient for the surgery:

Arthritis- Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis
Avascular necrosis or destruction of the joint due to less blood supply
Loose shoulder or frozen shoulder
Congenital dislocation of the hip joint or shallow socket of the hip joint
Malaligned or stiff joint
Joint destroyed in injury or trauma

Will I have a big scar?

Traditionally, scar of a joint replacement surgery can measure anything between
8 to 12 inches. However, this technique has been rapidly replaced by minimal
invasive procedure, in which not only the size of the incision is small (4 to 6
inches) but also the recovery time and hospital stay is reduced significantly.

This procedure obliterates the necessity of general anesthesia in some cases.
Blood loss, too, is almost negligible in this technique and so the requirement of
blood transfusion is also less.

How successful is the procedure?

During the surgery, it is of critical importance that the implant is fixed as
precisely as possible to the remaining end of the bone, since this determines the
stability and range of movement of the new joint. To achieve this, a surgeon is
guided by a computer navigation system. A computer analyses the data received
from various probes (like arthroscope) and instruments used during the surgery,
each of which is tracked by an infrared camera. The information is displayed in
the form of graphs, lines, angles and other measurements needed to precisely
control and fix the implant.

An implant that fits snuggly to a bone or joint is least likely to get dislocated or
loosened during movement and activity later on. Thus, with the help of computer
navigation system, chances of a successful procedure increase manifolds.

How soon can I use the joint post surgery?

In most of the cases, early ambulation is the key to a successful recovery. And for
this reason, patients are started on physiotherapy and other rehabilitative
measures as early as next day. By the end of 3 months, in case of hip or knee
surgery, the patient is able to resume most of their pre surgery activities, albeit
some precautions. Uncemented implants take longer to recover and require at
least 6 weeks bed rest post surgery.

Infections, bleeding or dislocation are some general risk factors, but with a
qualified surgeon, like joint replacement surgeon in Delhi, these too, are rare.
Contact Dr L. Tomar
Tomar Orthopaedics
90, New Rajdhani Enclave,
(Near Preet Vihar Metro Station)
Vikash Marg, Delhi 110092
Phone No.: +91-11 2242-7800 / 64505678
Mobile No.: +91 9910000159 / 9810131676
Max Super Speciality Hospital
Indraprastha Extension,
Opposite Lok Sanchar Apartment,
Patparganj, 108 A,
New Delhi, DL 110092
Patparganj
Website: http://www.drltomar.com