After evaluating the extent of the damage or deterioration to your joints, your surgeon may suggest surgical treatment options. Once all conservative and non-surgical treatment options have been considered, a TPMG joint specialist will discuss any surgical options to restore function and eliminate pain.
Surgical options include:
- Total Knee Arthroplasty
More commonly referred to as total knee replacement, this procedure is typically for those who have severely damaged knee joints due to arthritis or injury. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, total knee replacements are one of the most successful surgeries performed in the United States. Patients often report a drastic decrease in pain and improved mobility after recovery. During a total knee arthroplasty, your surgeon will remove your damaged cartilage and a small portion of bone underneath, replace the removed area with metal implants, resurface the area underneath the kneecap, and insert a plastic insert between metal implants to ensure the knee moves smoothly.
- Unicondylar Knee Arthroplasty
Often called a partial knee replacement, this procedure is less invasive than a traditional total knee replacement and involves the removal of a small piece of damaged cartilage and bone in the knee. These pieces are replaced with metal implants and fixed in place. After the implants are inserted, your surgeon will insert a plastic spacer that will ensure the knee moves smoothly. Recovery from this procedure is typically shorter than that of a total knee replacement along with less physical therapy.
- Total Hip Arthroplasty
Also known as a total hip replacement, this procedure is used to treat those who have severely damaged hip joints due to arthritis or trauma. Hip replacements are an incredibly common procedure. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 450,000 total hip replacements are performed each year in the U.S. During a total hip arthroplasty, your surgeon will place a metal socket with a plastic insert in the damaged hip socket, and a ceramic ball attached to a metal stem will replace the femoral head, ensuring the joint can move smoothly.
- Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Commonly referred to as total shoulder replacement, this procedure involves the removal of damaged bone and cartilage in the ball and socket joint of the shoulder which is replaced with metal and implants. This procedure is used to relieve pain in your shoulder and help you regain your range of motion. Following recovery from the procedure, most patients report a reduction or complete elimination of joint pain in the shoulder. This is the most common type of shoulder replacement used on patients have had a previous rotator cuff tear.
- Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Also known as reverse shoulder replacement, this procedure is often used for those who have severe pain in their shoulder and loss of function. While total shoulder arthroplasty is most often used to repair damaged cartilage and bone in shoulder joints, reverse total shoulder arthroplasty is used for certain injuries. Your surgeon will evaluate your injury and determine which procedure is best or if surgery is even needed in the first place. This procedure is much like total shoulder arthroplasty; however, the metal ball is placed on the shoulder blade “scapula” and the replaced socket from the damaged joint is placed on the humerus, thus the reverse of anatomy. This procedure is most used to treat those with a rotator cuff tear in the setting of severe osteoarthritis.
