Total Joint Replacement

Types of Joint Replacement Surgeries

Joints can be damaged due to injury or as a result of arthritis. When joints are damaged, the patient may be in pain or find it hard to perform daily activities. In some cases, nonsurgical treatments like medications or physical therapy may relieve pain and help regain motion. However, nonsurgical treatments are not always successful, and joint replacement surgery may be the best solution.

Hip Replacement

The hip joint includes a ball and socket. The socket is in your hip bone, which is also called the pelvis. The ball fits into the socket at the top of your thigh bone, which is also known as the femur. The ball rotates within the socket, allowing for motion in various directions. In a healthy hip joint, smooth cartilage covers the ball and socket, allowing the ball to glide easily in various directions.

Joints can be damaged due to injury or arthritis. This damage can cause pain and limit movement. In most hip joints requiring replacement, the smooth cartilage is worn. The lack of cartilage between the bones causes pain and decreased range of movement. During a total hip replacement, the damaged part of the joint is removed and replaced with an artificial one. A stem with a ball attached goes into the femur and a smooth metal material lines the socket in place of cartilage. This helps relieve pain and regain motion in the hip.

Knee Replacement

The knee joint is the largest joint in the body and is a hinge joint. The knee joint includes three different bones – femur (thigh bone), the tibia (shin bone), and the patella (kneecap). Ligaments attach these bones to each other and provide stability. Tendons attach the muscles of the calf and thigh to the bones.

In a healthy knee joint, cartilage covers the bone surface. Fluid in the joints allows the bones to glide smoothly. The kneecap rides smoothly within a groove on the thigh bone.

Joints can be damaged due to injury or arthritis. Arthritis affects the cartilage and surfaces of the bones within the joint. As the cartilage begins to erode the knee joint becomes stiff, painful and unstable. Our orthopaedic surgeons will assess your knee’s stability, range of motion and strength.

During a total knee replacement, a surgeon removes the surface of the damaged bones and replaces the knee with an artificial implant that is selected to fit your anatomy.  Implants replace the lower portion of the femur and the upper portion of the tibia. The femur and upper portion of the tibia are fitted with metal implants while the back of the patella is fitted with a plastic implant.

Shoulder Replacement

Our shoulder joints have three main bones: the collarbone (clavicle), the shoulder blade (scapula) and the upper arm bone (humerus). The glenoid (part of the scapula) and humeral head (part of the humerus) are normally the parts of the shoulder that must be replaced because they rub together when you move your arm.

In a healthy shoulder, these portions of bone are covered with cartilage, which enables painless motion for lifting, pushing and pulling. Arthritis can damage this protective cartilage making these motions painful.

During a shoulder replacement surgery, the damaged joint is removed and replaced with a prosthesis. The prosthesis is a metal, plastic or ceramic device designed to replicate the movement of a normal healthy joint.

ExactechGPS® Guided Personalized Surgery is the latest advancement in technology that provides surgeons with real-time visual guidance and alignment data in shoulder replacement surgery. Freeman is the first in the state and only facility in Southwest Missouri to utilize ExactechGPS.

This advanced platform provides a visual map of the patient’s joint on a screen, allowing surgeons to combine preoperative planning with intraoperative computer-assisted technology, to perform implant alignment relative to the patient’s needs.

The technology’s preoperative planning tool allows surgeons to plan their cases in advance of the surgery through a virtual simulation. Surgeons can then execute their plan in real time during the surgery based on a 3D anatomical model of the patient’s shoulder, making adjustments as needed.

With the help of ExactechGPS, a surgeon can see important parts of the shoulder anatomy that are normally difficult to view during surgery. With this comprehensive visual, the surgeon can verify precisely where to remove damaged bone and place the implant.

Joint Revision

Joint revision surgery may be necessary for younger individuals who demand a lot from their joints or for patients with older implants that may have worn down significantly over time through mechanics or by friction.

If the implant used in a joint replacement loosens, wears or becomes infected, the affected joint may become swollen and painful. When this occurs, a joint revision procedure may be recommended to remove the old implant and replace it with new components.

It may be time to consult with a joint revision surgeon if the patient experiences any of the following symptoms:

• Limping
• Stiffness
• Instability

Joint revision surgery is a complex procedure that requires an experienced and skilled surgeon, extensive preparation and the use of a special implants and tools.

Freeman orthopaedic surgeons have undergone additional advanced training to perform joint revision replacement surgeries and work with patients to develop individualized treatment plans.