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Arthritis - Surgery
- Topic Overview
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Health Tools
- Cause
- Symptoms
- What Happens
- What Increases Your Risk
- When To Call a Doctor
- Exams and Tests
- Treatment Overview
- Prevention
- Home Treatment
- Medications
- Surgery
- Other Treatment
- Other Places To Get Help
- Related Information
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In most cases, people can manage their osteoarthritis symptoms with medicine and lifestyle changes. But surgery may be an option if:
- You have very bad pain.
- You have lost a lot of cartilage.
- You have tried medicine and other treatments, but they haven't helped.
- Your overall health is good.
One Man's Story:
Steve, 55 "I wasn't sure about having surgery since I was so young. I had heard that an artificial hip could give out in 10 to 20 years ... But when the medicine I was taking stopped working, I figured I had gone as far as I could go with this, and decided to go ahead with the surgery ... It's a strange feeling to be able to walk without a limp and to walk up and down stairs without grabbing on to the railing."—Steve Read more about Steve and how he learned to cope with arthritis. |
Surgery Choices
Types of surgery for arthritis include:
- Arthrodesis. This joins (fuses) two bones in a damaged joint so that the joint won't bend. Doctors may use it to treat arthritis of the spine, ankles, hands, and feet. In rare cases, it's used to treat the knees and hips.
- Arthroscopy can help
relieve pain for a short time and allow the joints to move better. In some
cases, the relief lasts a long time.
Arthroscopy may help delay surgery to replace the
joint that hurts. But it doesn't seem to help
the arthritis itself.7 It may work best for people who
have pain or a hard time moving when their joints become
“locked” or stuck because of loose
cartilage or bone fragments. See a picture of arthroscopy
. - Hip resurfacing surgery. This is most often done in younger, more active people who have pain and disability caused by a badly damaged hip.
- Joint replacement. This is done when other treatments haven't worked and damage to the joint can be seen on X-rays. It involves surgery to replace the ends of bones in a damaged joint. The surgery creates new joint surfaces. Learn more about:
- Osteotomy. This is done to correct certain defects in the hip and knee. In most cases, it's done in active people younger than 60 who have mild arthritis and want to delay surgery to replace their hip or knee.
- Small joint surgery. This is used if pain in the joints of the hands or feet is so bad that a person can't use those joints. In some cases, doctors will replace joints in the toe. But this is rarely done in young, active people.
A newer procedure for arthritis of the knee uses a small cup shaped like a "C." It's placed in the joint space of the inner knee and acts as a cushion for the joint. It may help delay surgery to replace the knee.
What to think about
Before deciding to have surgery
If you're in poor health or have certain health problems, you may not be able to have surgery. Your doctor can help you decide if surgery is right for you.
Here are some things to think about if you're thinking about surgery:
- After surgery, most people are able to go back to doing their daily tasks and sports with less pain.
- You will need several months of physical therapy to get the best use of your joint.
- Replacement joints typically last 10 to 20 years. You may need another surgery if the new joint wears out.
For help deciding whether to have joint replacement surgery, see:
If you decide to have surgery
In the days or weeks before your surgery, talk to your doctor about what you need to do to get ready for your return home. For example, you may need to arrange for someone to drive you home and to help you after your surgery. Or you may need to make changes to your home, such as removing small rugs, to help you move around.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: April 8, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Stanford M. Shoor, MD - Rheumatology | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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