Dr. Gens Goodman, DO
Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery

Because joint replacement surgery is a comprehensive undertaking, it should only be done after a thorough analysis of the joint in question. While certain patients may think they need a hip or knee replacement due to pain, this is not always the case. There are specific disorders that elicit the need for joint replacement. Oftentimes, the pain is caused by something that can be treated with conservative, noninvasive options.

There are, however, several symptoms that indicate a hip or knee replacement is necessary. This does include pain, but may also include stiffness, immobility, joint instability, and pain that limits activities on a daily basis. Even still, these symptoms may point to treatment other than joint replacement. To truly find out if joint replacement is necessary, a full diagnosis of the condition is needed. Conditions leading to joint replacement surgery include:

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It is also known as “wear and tear” arthritis. This condition is mostly seen in patients aged 50 and older. Over time, degenerative arthritis is likely to strike at any number of joints. Osteoarthritis is characterized by damage to cartilage and bone spurs. In the most severe cases, the cartilage will have completely worn away, causing bone-on-bone contact.

Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

• Joint soreness and aches, made worse by movement
• Pain following overuse or extended inactivity
• Bony enlargements in the joint
  

Avascular necrosis

This condition is characterized by localized bone death. It is caused by an interruption of blood flow to the hip or knee. This bone death is painful to the patient and may cause the bone to collapse, leading to destruction of the joint.

Signs and symptoms of avascular necrosis include:

• No symptoms may be present during early stages
• Pain when pressure is put on the affected bone
• Severe pain in the case of joint collapse
• Significantly reduced joint function
  

Rheumatoid arthritis

Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age. It is an inflammatory disease that causes corrosion of cartilage around the joint. Once this corrosion becomes severe enough, it can lead to bone destruction.

Signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:

• Swollen, warm joints
• Joint pain
• Morning stiffness
• Fatigue, weight loss, and fever

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, you may be a candidate for hip or knee replacement surgery. Because candidacy can only be discovered after a full diagnosis is made, you are encouraged to call our office to schedule a consultation. Dr. Goodman is a caring practitioner who will make an accurate assessment to determine if any other treatment is available before resorting to hip or knee replacement.

A note on anterior hip replacement candidacy

At this time, the majority of patients requiring hip replacement surgery are candidates for the minimally invasive anterior approach to hip replacement. A very small number, about 2%, are not candidates due to their anatomy and other factors. This is determined upon your initial consultation. It is very likely that you can take advantage of this groundbreaking approach to hip replacement, contact our office today for an appointment.