| 1.What
is arthritis? |
| In
every joint where two parts rub each other consists of a highly
slippery part called cartilage. Because of this cartilage
we can easily make all sorts of movements. Once this cartilage
declines in its function and gets worned out there occurs
friction between the bones and we feel pain. Patients consult
the doctor, takes support to pain killer, but the phenomenon
continues and passes through the stage of deformity. Later
a stage comes when the patient becomes dependent and has to
take support of sticks.
Joint pain has variety of reasons out of which overweight
/ obesity are the most common. We can easily observe our shoes
getting worn out due to a repeated usage and replace them
but unfortunately, we never think of our joints getting weaker
and timely remedy for it. Rheumatid Arthritis is a different
disorder where in the cartilage gets totally worn out and
joints get depreciated to large extent rendering stiffness
in joints. Such patients cannot make movements without the
help of others. Joints replacement for such patients is never
the less an oasis in the desert. Joint many also get distorted,
or deformed due to infection or Tuberculosis. All such disorders
can be overcome by Artificial Joint Replacement Surgery.
Fractures also contribute to join pain or permanent disability.
There is no alternative other than joint replacement for a
vascular necrosis. Joint replacement also necessary in disorders
caused by height increasing bones of joint or disorders caused
by deficiency of vital life giving factors. the degenerated
& ulcerated Articular Cartilage by means of the implant
& bone cement. |
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| 2.
What is artificial joint replacement? |
Covering the degenerated & ulcerated
Articular Cartilage (joint surface) by means of the implant
& bone cement.
The joint replacement surgey is very safe and secure and
it has changed life style from miserable life to a cheerful
lifestyle. Over 20,00,000 people undergo
joint replacement surgery every year.
History
In 1960, Sir John Charnley introduced the artificial joint
replacement surgery, successfully for the hip joint. After
several developments and improvements, by 1975, different
types of hip joints were made available.
Dr. Chittaranjan Ranawat has contributed a lot in implementing
the replacement surgery of Knee joint. Now such types if
surgery is done in all metros of our country. Keeping in
mind the comforts and benefits of the patients, modifications
are continuously going on. At present artificial joint replacement
is safely done everywhere in this country.
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| 3
What to achieve by Joint Replacement Surgery? |
-To Free you from pain
-To improve your range of motion
-To correct your deformities
-To improve your quality of life
-To increase your radius of life
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| 4.
Who should go for joint replaecement surgery? |
| People
having arthritis due to:
- Overweight
- Rheumatism
- Deformities
- Fractures
- Infections |
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| 5.
What is right time for joint Replacements? |
When you suffer
from:
-Pain at rest
-Pain at night
-Reduced range of motion
-Reduced quality of life
-Reduced radius of life |
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| 6.
Age limit for Knee and Hip joint replacements |
| -
No age limit as far as general condition is good
- Had been done already for over 100 years of age
- Young patients of 20 & 30 can also be benefited in case
they have destroyed joints
- Assures increasing longevity of artificial joints with proper
usage. |
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| 7.What
is the longevity of artificial Knee and Hip joints? |
| The
average longevity of Knee and Hip joints replacements is 15
years and can be much longer than that. |
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| 8.Is
Knee or Hip joint replacements a major surgery? |
Even though a major surgery today Knee and Hip joint replacement
is a routine procedure.
- Does not take more than 1 and 1/2 hour
- Can be done at any reasonably good Operation theatre setup
with proper sterile precaution
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| 9.How
long to stay in the hospital? |
-Stay ranges from 10 to 15 days
-Depends on Physiotherapy required at Hospital or can be
done at home.
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| 10.How
often should the patient visit post operative? |
-After discharge 15 days
- 6 Weeks and bimonthly till 6 months
- 6 monthly for 5 years
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| 11.How
to live after Knee and Hip joint replacements? |
-No limitation for daily activities
-Can walk, ride bicycle or swim
-Heavy sports and Physical work not recommended
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| 12.Benefits
of Joint Replacements |
-Pain free comfortable life
-Independent, without the help of other persons.
-Renders self confidence to the patient.
-Standing expenses of pain killer and its side effects are
also avoided.
-Patient can go out of the house, climb stairs, or cross
the road without any hesitation or guilt conscious of physical
deformity.
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| 13.
Precautions and Risks forJoint Replacements |
Artificial joint replacement surgery consists of very high
precision covering part of millimeter to millimeter accuracy,
replacing the joint without disturbing the lymph and ligaments
or vital blood vessels. Thus the balance if success lies
totally on accuracy.
Simple but important, post operative precautions and care
also contribute to the benefits of the patients. Post operative
risk can be classified into two groups.
1. Infection: Whatever cares the surgeon may take during
operation but he has no control on atmospheric bacteria.
To avoid the atmospheric infection the patient must complete
the course of medications religiously as per the surgeon’s
instructions. This also includes the immediate post operative
physical mo0vements and dietary control during hospitalization.
2. Group two mainly deals with the activities after discharge.
Once out if the hospital doesn’t iposo facto implies
that you are entitled to run of the track. Yes you can,
but moderation is word to be remembered. Therefore, physiotherapy
is required. For life long benefits of such a long sighted
operation have patience to follow the instructions of physiotherapy
course framed and conducted by your doctor.
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