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Joint
Replacement and Surgery
in Arthritis
As
many as 36 million people in the U.S. have some form of
arthritis. The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis
(generally associated with aging), and rheumatoid arthritis
(commonly referred to as crippling arthritis). Arthritis
in its many forms may result in severe crippling, with
pain and impaired joint mobility and function.
Treatment
varies depending upon the severity of the disease. Initially
the doctor may advise medication. Over the past several
years there has been significant improvement in the medicines
available. Other measures may on occasion be helpful --
such as physical therapy and braces or splints. Injections
of a cortisone type drug into a painful joint frequently
prove to be helpful. Newer forms of medications for injection
into arthritic knee joints offer some promise.
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Patients with severe joint pain and impairment may be candidates for
joint replacement surgery. These procedures, in a very large percentage
of cases, provide marked relief of pain, and improvement in patients ability
to carry out the activities of daily living.
Refinements in technique and technology have made these procedures especially
beneficial to those patients with severe damaged hips, knees or shoulders.
In selected cases the elbow may be successfully replaced. The surgery
basically consists of implanting components made of metal and high molecular
weight polyethylene, which conform to the joint involved.
The surgeons on staff at Azalea Orthopedics and Sports Medicine have
extensive experience with these procedures, and would be happy
to discuss them with you in much more detail.
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