When is joint replacement necessary?
Joint replacement surgeries, especially for knees and hips, have grown considerably because of an aging population whose joints are succumbing to wear and tear, as well as degenerative arthritis. In fact, a survey of nearly 5,000 surgeons found a 101% increase in hip and knee replacement procedures between 2012 and 2016.
Joint replacement may become necessary after years of increasing pain and inflammation caused by cartilage breaking down. The cartilage in your joints is a viscous substance that’s responsible for ensuring your bones glide smoothly across one another. When the cartilage begins to break down, that lubricating effect dissipates, leaving you with painful, swollen joints.
When the cartilage in your hip, knee, or shoulder joints is beyond repair, Dr. Parsa is able to provide you with a joint replacement that takes your cartilage out of the picture, replacing it with resurfaced bones and spacers that restore pain-free movement.
How is knee replacement surgery performed?
During a total knee replacement, Dr. Parsa removes what’s left of the cartilage from the ends of your femur and tibia, as well as a small amount of bone. Next, she replaces the cartilage and bone with metal implants.
Once the implants are bonded into place, Dr. Parsa resurfaces the underside of your kneecap with a plastic implant. Then, in the final step, Dr. Parsa places a spacer between the metal implants so your knee functions smoothly.
How is shoulder replacement surgery performed?
If you’ve spent years swinging a racquet or golf club, the soft tissue in your shoulder may fall prey to repetitive-use degeneration. When this happens, Dr. Parsa is able to replace the ball-and-socket joint with a metal ball and plastic socket, allowing you to regain use of your shoulders.
In cases where you’ve done serious damage to your rotator cuff, the connective tissue that holds your shoulder in place, Dr. Parsa may recommend a reverse shoulder replacement where she places the ball in your shoulder bone and the socket on the end of your upper arm bone.
How is hip replacement surgery performed?
Degenerative problems in your hip joints can seriously impair your ability to move without stiffness and pain. To alleviate these symptoms, Dr. Parsa turns to a total hip replacement where she replaces the damaged head of your femur with a metal implant.
After placing a plastic or metal ball on the metal stem getting attached to your femur, Dr. Parsa removes the damaged cartilage in your hip socket and replaces it with a metal socket. Then she places a spacer between the implants to allow for easy movement.
To find out if joint replacement can get you moving free of pain once more, call Dr. Parsa or use online booking to schedule an appointment.
