When does a person know the time is right for joint replacement surgery?
Updated October 09, 2014.
Question: When does a person know the time is right for joint replacement surgery?
Answer:
Elective joint replacement is not just reserved for the "over the hill gang". The need for joint replacement may occur at any age. There is controversy about the optimum time to consider a new joint, and many factors are considered before the final decision is made. Even with the current state of the art, computer assisted joint replacement surgery, there is a life expectancy of a replaced joint of only 15-20 years.
Thus, depending on your age at first replacement and life style, future revisions may be necessary. I have always used two criteria to help my patients make their decision, intractable pain and reduction in quality of life. When a patient has daily intolerable pain from a damaged joint, and simple activities of daily living are compromised, in my opinion that is the time to consider joint surgery. It is not always necessary to replace the entire joint, and younger patients may be well satisfied for a time with joint resurfacing. (Answer provided by the late Dr. Raymond Federman, aka Dr. Bones, who passed away on September 2, 2003. The care of his patients even in retirement was always his joy.)
Question: When does a person know the time is right for joint replacement surgery?
Answer:
Elective joint replacement is not just reserved for the "over the hill gang". The need for joint replacement may occur at any age. There is controversy about the optimum time to consider a new joint, and many factors are considered before the final decision is made. Even with the current state of the art, computer assisted joint replacement surgery, there is a life expectancy of a replaced joint of only 15-20 years.
Thus, depending on your age at first replacement and life style, future revisions may be necessary. I have always used two criteria to help my patients make their decision, intractable pain and reduction in quality of life. When a patient has daily intolerable pain from a damaged joint, and simple activities of daily living are compromised, in my opinion that is the time to consider joint surgery. It is not always necessary to replace the entire joint, and younger patients may be well satisfied for a time with joint resurfacing. (Answer provided by the late Dr. Raymond Federman, aka Dr. Bones, who passed away on September 2, 2003. The care of his patients even in retirement was always his joy.)
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