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Posts tagged joint replacement
New Technologies for Joint Replacement
0754 days
There is no doubt that joint replacement has come a long way since the first years this surgery was performed. Technology has improved significantly as has surgeon knowledge. After years of trial and observation, it has come to be known that a “one size fits all” attitude towards joint replacement is not sufficient enough. Many patients who have had some of these older technologies implanted, have had to go in for revision (or second) surgeries to correct a misalignment or fitting. Now, this isn’t to say that these patients shouldn’t have had the surgery. Back when the original surgery was performed, they had the best technology available at the time.
The good news going forward is that that technologies being produced for joint replacement nowadays lasts longer, allows the patient more mobility and gives them a decreased risk of needing a revision surgery. A lot of the technology being used in knee and hip replacement surgeries is gender specific. It is no secret that men tend to have bigger bones than women, so why should implants be the same size? Surgeons now have the ability to offer their patients a very customized joint replacement experience. There are many different size options available to surgeons, helping them to get the right fit. In addition to size options, there are stability options and material options. This allows the surgeon to truly give each patient exactly what they need in order to get the best results possible.
This is definitely the age of computers and the world of joint replacement is no exception. Orthopedic companies have harnessed the power of computers along with imaging technologies like CT scans to help surgeons get a perfect alignment on a patient’s joint. These new software programs when used in conjunction with imaging technology, creates custom cutting blocks and guides for surgeons to use during surgery that will get them ideal alignment for each patient, customized to their scans.
With the baby boomer generation getting older, and the general population of America especially being overweight, the number of people needing joint replacement surgery is increasing every day. With all of these new technologies, patients can get relief from painful joints earlier with implants that will last them a lot longer. I’m sure technology will continue to grow and develop but joint replacement patients who embark on this journey now are in for a good experience with some very reliable technology.
History of Joint Replacement
0813 days
By now, just about everyone knows that it is possible to have a painful, arthritic joint replaced. They might not know much about the actual procedure but it has become more and more prominent with the baby boomer generation getting older. When and where did joint replacement surgery get its start though?
Hip replacement surgery happened first and it was back in 1940 at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. Dr. Austin Moore performed the first metallic hip replacement surgery. Progress continued to be made with the development of joint implants through the decades. By 1970, patients who had hip replacement surgery could expect to walk almost immediately after surgery.
Knee replacement surgery really began to grow in the 1960’s after so much success had been made with hip replacements. Knees proved to be a more difficult joint to develop and the implants wore down quickly. Engineers all over the world have worked for years and have developed implants that now offer patients an increased range of motion with less wear.
Joint replacement surgery techniques and implants still have a lot of development ahead of them and new technologies are being introduced all the time. Patients with severe arthritis however can rest assured that if they need a joint replacement, they will have a happier, more independent and less painful life after surgery!
