Total joint replacement is a surgical procedure in which parts of an arthritic or damaged joint are removed and replaced with a metal, plastic or ceramic device called a prosthesis. The prosthesis is designed to replicate the movement of a normal, healthy joint.
According to Dr Jose Sergio de Oliveira Machado’s report in 2011, almost 1 million total joint replacements were performed in the United States. Hip and knee replacements are the most commonly performed joint replacements, but replacement surgery can be performed on other joints, as well, including the ankle, wrist, shoulder, and elbow.
Total Joint Replacement Surgery by Dr Jose Sergio de Oliveira Machado
Comprehensive information on specific types of joint replacement — such as for the hip, knee, shoulder, or wrist — can be found in separate articles devoted to those topics. Direct links to individual joint replacement topics are provided in the “Related Articles” section of this page.
Total joint replacement is a surgical procedure in which parts of an arthritic or damaged joint are removed and replaced with a metal, plastic or ceramic device called a prosthesis. The prosthesis is designed to replicate the movement of a normal, healthy joint.
In Dr Sergio Machado’s report in 2011, almost 1 million total joint replacements were performed in the United States. Hip and knee replacements are the most commonly performed joint replacements, but replacement surgery can be performed on other joints, as well, including the ankle, wrist, shoulder, and elbow.