Joint may lose their function due to an injury or gradually with the passing age. Joint replacement or arthritis in middle age and old people it’s common disease that is irreversible and is a major cause of wear and tear in joints. Therefore joint replacement surgery in Pakistan is a successful procedure to cure a damaged joint that is hard to repair through other methods.
It gives relief from joint pain and restores functionality so a person could perform daily activities comfortably. The damaged joint components are removed and replaced with artificial parts that replicate the function of natural ones. These components are made of metal, plastic, or ceramics, and bone cement is used to fix them in place.
What joint is made of?
A Joint is formed at the point where two bones meet. The human body is composed of multiple sorts of joints such as a hinge joint i.e. knee joints. The ball and socket joints are found in the shoulder and hip. Each joint has its range of motion and allows movement in a certain direction. The knee joint can straighten and bend like a door hinge whereas the shoulder joint allows forward, backward, left, and right movement.
A Joint is not just a bone it also comprises soft tissues such as muscles, ligaments, and tendons that provide stability to the joint and assist in movement. A rubbery cartilage protects the bone ends from rubbing upon each other.
What drives you towards joint replacement surgery?
Here are mentioned the most common reasons that lead you towards joint replacement surgery in Pakistan.
- Osteoarthritis
It’s a degenerative disease that causes wear and tear of joints. The cartilage covering the bone ends forming joints gradually wears away in osteoarthritis. This causes joint pain, stiffness, lost range of motion, and swelling around the affected joint. Trauma to the joint, stress due to repetitive motion or overuse, deformed bone, and other issues such as metabolic diseases further worsen the condition. Knee or hip replacement surgeon in Pakistan suggests joint replacement surgery as soon as osteoarthritis begins to interfere with activities lowering the quality of life.
- Osteonecrosis
Joint injury for example joint dislocation and fractures sometimes may hinder blood circulation toward certain parts of the joint. This limited blood supply collapses the bone giving way to arthritis. As per the knee or hip replacement surgeon in Pakistan mostly hip, knee, or shoulder joint develops osteonecrosis.
- Rheumatoid arthritis
It is an autoimmune disease that attacks the joints’ health. Inflammation is caused to the underlying tissues of the joints arising pain and swelling around it. The Joint becomes unstable, couldn’t function properly, become deformed, stiffness develops, and joint mobility is compromised. Joint replacement surgery in Pakistan is recommended for patients of rheumatoid arthritis when the cartilage is badly damaged and no other treatment work to provide relief from the symptoms mentioned.
- Post-traumatic arthritis
When an injury occurs to the joint, arthritis develops rapidly if proper treatment is not provided. Joints become stiff and painful, and swelling dwells. In some cases, post-traumatic arthritis develops temporarily and becomes better with good care, physical therapy, and little lifestyle change. For those in which it becomes severe, surgeons recommend joint replacement surgery to relieve pain and regain lost function.Although any joint within the body can be replaced, however, knee and hip replacements are common surgeries performed by a knee or hip replacement surgeon in Pakistan. The first try of every orthopedist is to treat symptoms through non-surgical methods but when all such procedures fail to provide a cure, joint replacement surgery becomes a necessity.
How to prepare for surgery?
For a joint replacement surgery in Pakistan, many weeks before surgery your surgeon will begin to prepare you for the operation. It includes a thorough health checkup to see if you are the best candidate for replacement surgery or not. Several tests are ordered such as a cardiogram and blood tests to make further proceedings.
What you have to do is to discuss every minute detail of your medical history and ask questions to your doctor. Eat healthy food and practice exercises instructed by your physical therapist to become physically strong so recovery afterward is fastened up. Prepare your home so when you come back after surgery everything is according to you and stress is not put on your newly implanted joint. For example, get a shower bench, and install handrails in the shower area and on the wall nearby the toilet seat. This is helpful, especially for patients going through knee or hip replacement surgery. Making such arrangements in advance ensures complete rest afterward thus accelerating the recovery period later.
- Performance of surgery
The whole procedure takes a few hours and performs in a hospital. While surgery the damaged cartilage is removed along with a small portion of bone beneath. The joint components are detached and new artificial or prosthetic parts are implanted made up of metal, ceramic, or plastic that imitate the function of the natural joint. For example, a hip replacement surgeon in Pakistan replaces the arthritic hip joint by detaching the top of the femur bone i.e. ball replacing it with a metal ball along with the stem that is inserted into the bone center for a good grip and stability. The socket within the pelvic bone is removed and substituted with a plastic socket. As per an ACL injury doctor in Lahore, anterior cruciate ligaments are kept intact while replacement surgery.
Complications are expected
Complications are expected in any sort of surgery, however, your surgeon will explain impending risks and possible complications that might arise after joint replacement surgery. Complications may develop while surgery or gradually mature afterward. They may include infection, nerve injury, blood clots, loosening of the new implant, or dislocation of the prosthesis. All such complications can be treated with good care and by following the instructions of your surgeon.
Follow the instructions
Joint replacement surgery in Pakistan is a very successful procedure that has changed the life of many. You can make your new joint long-lasting by following the instructions of your surgeon. Make a proper balance between rest and exercise, and strictly follow the prescription to take medicine timely. Pain is a common issue that may persist for a few months. Obedient patients can recover faster and get back to routine activities immediately after surgery.
