Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Neurosurgery Located in Huntsville, Madison, Athens & Decatur, AL
SportsMED Orthopedic Surgery & Spine Center
Joint pain is a widespread problem that often responds well to physical therapy and other conservative treatments. When these approaches aren’t helping to relieve your pain, it might be time to think about having a joint replacement surgery at SportsMED Orthopedic Surgery & Spine Center. Our board-certified physicians have the skills and experience to perform the highest quality joint replacements. Call us today to learn more or use the online form to book an appointment at one of our four locations servicing the communities of Huntsville, Madison, Athens, and Decatur, Alabama
Joint Replacement Q & A
What is joint replacement?
When no other treatments are helping, joint replacement is a surgical option for patients who have damage to their joints or severe deterioration.
Damage to joints can occur from:
- Acute trauma
- Arthritis
- Repetitive stress
Damaged joints can be excruciating and cause a great deal of disruption to your daily life. Fortunately, with advancements in technology and new surgical techniques, combined with the skills of the orthopedic specialists at SportsMED Orthopedic Surgery & Spine Center, joint replacement can give you a better outcome and help you lead a happier, pain-free life.
Which joints are suitable for joint replacement surgery?
Joint replacement surgery is suitable for:
- Knees
- Hips
- Shoulders
- Wrists
- Elbows
- Ankles
The joint replacement program at SportsMED supports you through every phase of care, from the preoperative education to your last physical therapy session.
What are the most common joint replacement procedures?
Knee and hip replacements are the most common procedures in orthopedic medicine today. Some of the joint replacement procedures the team at SportsMED perform most often include:
- Hip replacement surgery
- Complex knee and hip revision
- Total knee replacement
- Partial knee replacement
- Shoulder replacement
- Partial shoulder replacement
- Reverse total shoulder replacement
A partial joint replacement is suitable for some patients if only one part of their joint is affected by injury or deterioration. This is an advantage, as it’s always preferable to keep as much of your original joint as possible.
However, for most people, especially those who have degenerative diseases like arthritis, total joint replacement is usually necessary.
How is joint replacement surgery carried out?
As much as possible, the surgeons at SportsMED use minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques to carry out joint replacement surgery.
An arthroscope is a flexible tube with a camera that goes inside your joint through a small incision. The camera sends back images your surgeon uses as guidance to carry out the operation. Arthroscopic techniques cause significantly less tissue damage and enable a faster recovery.
There are different approaches your surgeon can take to carry out your joint replacement surgery. For example, hip replacement surgery might take an anterior (front), lateral (side), or posterior (rear) approach, depending on what’s most suitable for each patient. The posterior approach is typically more straightforward and causes less tissue damage.
What is joint replacement surgery?
Knee and hip revisions are complex joint replacement surgeries that involve repairing or replacing implants that patients already have. Sometimes these implants wear out or fail, meaning you need to undergo further surgery.
This is one of the most challenging forms of surgery, but SportsMED has surgeons who are experts in complex knee and hip revision.
If you’re experiencing debilitating and overbearing joint pain, call SportsMED today or book an appointment online.