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Are you considering a joint replacement surgery? What are the best materials for the surfaces that contact one another? These are called the bearing surfaces. Let’s look at the benefits of different materials to understand the proposed procedure. Knowing your options can make you feel less anxious about the surgery and what to expect for the life of your implant.
Many improvements have been made in the past few decades in understanding the mechanics of the body, the healing of tissues, and the course of progression of diseases like arthritis.
Shoulder arthritis is a debilitating condition that can affect range of motion and cause pain and loss of function. In many cases, a standard shoulder replacement can be performed with excellent restoration of function and elimination of pain.
You may not be familiar with the term shoulder impingement, but you may have heard its more common name, “swimmer’s shoulder.” It’s an apt description, as swimmers have a greater chance of developing this condition because of the stress on joints and tendons characteristic of the sport. Other athletes such as baseball and tennis players may also develop shoulder impingement as a result of the repetitive swinging of the bat or racquet.
Shoulder arthritis is caused by a deterioration of cartilage that happens over time as a result of joint movement. Cartilage coats the inside of joints and in effect keeps the bones from rubbing together. The normal wear and tear of life, accidents, or the brisk tempo of sports and other physical activity, can contribute to the wearing down and loss of our cartilage and the development of arthritis.
Hip dysplasia is a condition that is rooted in the early years of life, but often does not fully impact joint function until adulthood. Also known as developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), it is a congenital defect that impedes normal development of the hip bones, and progressively interferes with joint function and mobility. This condition is thought to be due to an inherently loose hip joint in childhood. If left uncorrected, the hip socket develops an irregular, shallow, and upsloping shape that does not sufficiently cover the femoral head. Eventually, the round head of the femur begins to drift away from the shallow socket and may become completely dislocated. Hip dysplasia that is untreated can cause significant disability for patients including hip pain, labral tears, and progression to hip arthritis at a young age.
