Joint Replacements to Heal Arthritis

Arthritis is the inflammation of joints accompanied by pain, swelling and stiffness.  Arthritis is a joint disorder, thus affecting the area where two bones meet. Most affected joints by the arthritis are the knee and hip joints. The causes of arthritis could attribute to several factors including the age, weight, previous joint injuries or other illness or occupational hazard may make the individual susceptible to developing arthritis. However, the most common causes are increasing age and obesity. As the individual grows older, the joint bones become brittle with minimum power to repair them, thus leading to arthritis. Similarly, obesity puts more pressure on the knee and hip joints, thus rendering them worn out.

The treatments for arthritis include medication, physical therapies and surgeries. The treatment however varies according to the particular type of arthritis diagnosed.  The surgeries are a better choice if conservative treatments have ended up in vain. To cure knee arthritis, the patients are either suggested full knee replacement or partial knee replacement surgeries. The latter has evolved as more popular means of replacing painful knees. It follows smaller incisions that ensure a speedy recovery of the patient. Whereas, in case of full knee replacement, the patient takes a lot of time in recovering from the after effects of surgery.  The damaged cartilage is removed and replaced with artificial components in this type of surgery.  It is particularly helpful to those patients who did not benefit from the other treatments.

There are certain requirements that must be fulfilled in order to consider this surgery.  The patient must not be obese and less than fifty five years of age.  His ligaments must be intact and he must be living a sedentary life.  If these conditions are met, then the partial knee surgery is recommended to the patient. Similarly hip replacement surgeries are of two types- half and total. The hip replacement surgeons have to be qualified enough, since hip joint is the most sensitive joint that bears most of the weight of the person thus helping him stand straight. The recoveries from such surgeries are quickened by employing special care staff for the patients.