Related ArticlesAsk Doctor about Surgical Procedures Surgical Benefits for Specific Joints Magnetic Resonance Imaging - MRI Cure Arthritis with Physical Therapy Importance of Professional Guidance |
Surgical Techniques for ArthritisWhile several types of techniques are commonly used, each case must be considered individually. What is appropriate for one person may not be appropriate for another. Synovectomy is one of the oldest surgical procedures to relieve pain in joints and has been for more than 50 years. This procedure involves removing the inner lining of a joint that has become thickened and painful. It has been performed most often on the knee, wrist, and fingers. A disadvantage of this operation is that in many cases, the synovial membrane grows back and symptoms may return. Tendon repair is frequently done to improve the disability of rheumatoid arthritis in the fingers and hand when the disease destroys the tendon or causes the outer surface of the bone to fray and tear the tendon sheath. Such procedures may involve removing the damaged bone surface, repairing worn tissue, and securing weakened tissue to healthy tissue nearby. Total replacement of the hip and knee joints has become fairly common and has a good rate of success. Benefits of Surgery in Specific JointsKnee: The major surgical procedures to improve the function of the knee joints are arthroscopy and partial or total joint replacement. These techniques offer relief from the serious problems of pain, instability, and loss of mobility but do not always restore full function in terms of flexibility and weight bearing. About 30,000 knee replacements are performed each year in the US. Elbow: Pain and stiffness in the elbow that limit use of the hand are important reasons for elbow surgery. Synovectomy is sometimes accompanied by resection. However, synovectomy does not help if there is osteoarthritis in the elbow or if the problem has been caused by injury. Sometimes physicians will recommend resurfacing or joint replacement instead. Shoulder: Pain in the shoulder can sometimes be helped by arthroscopy. Total joint replacement also relieves the pain in some cases but usually restores only a limited range of motion. Shoulder joint replacement requires a post-operative period of many months for recovery. |