Hip and Knee Replacements: Two of the Most Common Orthopedic Surgery Procedures

Orthopedics is a branch of medicine that focuses on treating conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Surgeons who specialize in this field of medicine treat musculoskeletal trauma, degenerative diseases, sports injuries, tumors, congenital disorders, and infections. Many surgeons also choose a subspecialty in the field and focus on performing only one type of surgical procedure. Two of the most common procedures include the hip replacement and the knee replacement. A hip replacement, also known as a hip arthroplasty, is a procedure where the patient's hip is surgically replaced with a prosthetic implant. Currently, they are the most common of all orthopedic surgery procedures. There are two different procedures available: a total and a half. In a total hip replacement, both the acetabulum (hip joint) and the femoral head are replaced. In contrast, only the femoral head is replaced during a half. This surgery is commonly performed to relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis, but can also be a part of treating benign and malignant bone tumors, hip fractures, and avascular necrosis (cellular death of bone components due to interruptions in the blood supply). Hip replacement procedures are generally thought of as a last resort. Doctors will recommend physical therapy and pain medication first, and if the patient does not improve, the hip replacement will be performed. Common risks and side effects of a hip replacement include loosening or dislocation of the artificial hip, impingement, infection, or even death. Death, however, is very rare and occurs in less than one percent of all procedures. A knee replacement, also referred to as a knee arthroplasty, is a type of orthopedic surgery that features replacement of the weight-bearing surfaces of the knee joint. This surgical procedure is generally performed to relieve joint pain and other symptoms caused by osteoarthritis or other knee diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Osteoporosis, however, does not cause the kind of knee pain or deformity that would require a knee replacement procedure. Like hip replacements, knee replacements come in two varieties: partial and total. This orthopedic surgery procedure consists of replacing joint surfaces that have been diseased or damaged with metal or plastic replacements. The replacement parts have been specially formed and shaped to allow maximum continued motion of the knee. Knee replacements are considered a last resort measure and will only be performed if less severe remedies do not produce any improvement, similar to hip replacements. Once the procedure has been performed, recovering from this type of orthopedic surgery can take many weeks and may be quite difficult for patients. Restoring mobility will generally require extensive physical therapy and may also necessitate the use of mobility aids, including walkers, canes, crutches, or walking frames.