Interesting Facts About Joint Replacement Surgery

Although today we have the best treatment for joint pain, sometimes, joint replacement remains the only option to relieve the pain. As severe joint pain can interfere with day-to-day activities, the patient is left behind with no choice but to undergo joint replacement.

If you or your loved one is undergoing joint replacement surgery in India, here are some facts that might entice you.

Let’s take a look at some interesting facts related to joint replacement surgery in India.

You can walk the day post undergoing a surgery

With the advances of medical science, joint replacement surgery is no longer a dreaded surgery. With all the latest technologies, the success rate is high, and recovery is faster. Now, it is also possible for the patient to walk a day after undergoing surgery.

Also Read: Ultimate Guide: Why you should opt for Knee Replacement in Delhi

You can easily take a few steps even on the same day of your surgery. Doctors support walking after surgery because being sedentary can make you susceptible to complications like bedsores, pneumonia, stiff knees, and blood clots.

Knuckles can be replaced too.

Knee and hip replacement surgeries are the most common types of joint replacement surgery. But now, doctors can also replace ankles, shoulders, and knuckles.

Also Read: Best Ortho Hospitals in Delhi

You may have never heard it, but knuckle replacement was incepted in the 1950s. It involves replacing the finger joints to restore mobility and reduce pain.

Complications are still a threat

Although there have been several medical science advancements, we are still not over the fear of complications. Patients with joint replacement surgery still run into difficulties, such as MRSA, i.e., methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and other such infections.

Other problems include inequality in the length of limbs. It is a common complication with hip surgery. Stiffness and scar tissues are other complications.

All joints are different

There are several artificial-joint products, and all products are not the same. The most commonly used artificial joints include metal-on-plastic with a metal ball and plastic socket or liner. They have a very long shelf life.

Also Read: Knee Replacement Surgery: What You Should Know & What You Should Expect?

Metal-on-metal artificial joints are not as popular today as they tend to release ions into the blood. Other options include ceramic-on-ceramic and ceramic-on-plastic.

Artificial joints wear with time

Most people have had rheumatoid arthritis earlier in their life and undergo joint replacement surgery. This develops the chances of premature wear of artificial joints.

According to doctors, an artificial joint can last for about 15 years, and the best quality ones can last for up to 25 years.

People who got their joint replaced early in their life may require another replacement.

Weight loss can help to tone down the condition

Overweight people are thirty-three times more likely to undergo joint replacement surgery than thin people. Also, obese people are more susceptible to complications.

Most complications include difficulty in walking after anaesthesia, infections, and chances of loose joints.

It is a reason why doctors recommend undergoing weight-loss surgery to their obese patients before joint replacement surgery. In some cases, losing weight helps in preventing or delaying the requirement of knee replacement surgery.

With the advancement of medical science, it is effortless to perform joint replacement surgery. But these were the few points you should know before undergoing joint replacement surgery in India.