In 1998, arthritis and other rheumatic conditions affected 43 million people.  This number is expected to climb to 60 million by 2020 as the "baby boom" generation ages.  This is roughly 20% of the worlds population. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States today. 

Symptoms of pain, aching, stiffness or swelling in or around a joint on most days for at least a month are common characteristics of arthritis. Everyday activities can lead to wear and tear on the joints, resulting in the wearing away of the smooth cartilage until the underlying bone is exposed. Bone rubbing against bone in the arthritic joint causes the pain and limits the mobility of the joint. Many individuals must decrease their daily activity level. It is mainly a disease of adults; however, children may also have arthritis. There is no single cause for osteoarthritis.

Prevailing myths have portrayed arthritis as an inevitable part of aging that can only be endured.  There are, however, interventions.  The goal of intervention is to prevent or reduce arthritis related pain and disability.  Interventions include:  early diagnosis, appropriate medical management, physical activity, physical and occupational therapy, and joint replacement surgery when necessary. 

To learn more about Arthritis, visit the Arthritis foundation web site.
 

The Knee replacement surgery was first performed in 1968, and advancements in surgical materials and techniques since then have greatly increased its effectiveness.  Total knee arthroplasty is among the most successful medical and surgical treatments developed during the twentieth century.  total knee arthroplasty successfully relieves pain, corrects deformity, and improves function for patients with painful arthritic knees.  More than 90% of patients with knee replacements are expected to have good to excellent results for 10 or more years.  In 2000, a total of 235,176 total knee arthroplasty procedures were performed in the United States.  This number is likely to increase.

In addition to a total knee replacement, other surgical options may be indicated.  There procedures are appropriate for certain age groups and disease patterns.  When the cartilage damage is confined to a single side of the knee, "minimally invasive" Unicompartmental surgery or "high tibial" osteotomy may be an option.  Computer-assisted / navigation systems are now becoming available in our area.  The systems supplement intra-operative decision making, facilitating knee replacement component positioning.

Visit the Arthritis Foundation to learn more or watch a video about Total Knee Replacements. 
 

The Hip Replacement surgery was first performed in 1960, and there have been numerous advances in surgical techniques and technology since that time.  In 1999, as many as 267,720 primary total hip replacements were performed in the United States.  Similar to knee replacements, more than 90% of patients are expected to have good to excellent results for 10 or more years.  In hip replacement surgery, the arthritic hip joint is replaced with an artificial hip joint composed of metal, plastic, or ceramic components.  A metal or ceramic ball is attached to a metal stem, which is then fixed into the thigh/femur bone and the metal socket is secured to the pelvis.  The ball and socket function similar to your natural hip. 

Visit the Arthritis Foundation to learn more or watch a video about Total Hip Replacements.