What is Osteoarthritis Surgery?

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative illness that results from the breakdown of cartilage in the joints and causes pain that can sometimes be debilitating. The surgical methods used to correct this problem vary greatly depending on the severity of the disease and the joints affected. In some cases, surgeons seek to repair the damage while other procedures are designed to either immobilize the joint or replace it. Generally, the procedures are used as a last resort when other treatments have proven unsuccessful.

Arthroscopy is designed to be less invasive than other types of osteoarthritis surgery and allows the patient to recover quicker. The surgeon uses smaller instruments and a tiny camera to look inside the affected joint. Damaged tissue is removed and the joint is cleaned. Arthroscopy is generally considered to be a temporary solution, thereby allowing the physician to delay more serious types of osteoarthritis surgery.

Arthrodesis is an osteoarthritis surgery where two bones are fused together, thereby making the affected joint permanently immovable. The hands, feet, spine, and ankles are the joints where this surgery is most commonly used. Depending on the circumstances, screws and bone grafting can be used to achieve the connection between bones.

Osteotomy is a form of hip and knee osteoarthritis surgery that involves cutting the bone near the affected joint. The goal is to make the patient's weight shift slightly, take pressure away from damaged cartilage, and place more pressure on a healthier part of the joint. This type of surgery is usually prescribed for younger patients that still live active lifestyles.

Hip resurfacing surgery was developed during the 1970s. It involves replacing the outer surface of the ball end of the hip joint; in some cases, the surface of the socket is also replaced. The procedure fell out of favor because the materials used to replace the damaged bone were not durable enough but the eventual development of better materials changed the situation. This osteoarthritis surgery is usually considered more viable with patients younger than 60 years old.

Joint replacement surgery is often the final option when dealing with osteoarthritis. The procedure involves replacing the ends of both bones in the affected joint. It is generally used for patients who suffer with severe osteoarthritis in the hips, knees, or shoulders. Following this surgery, there can be a lengthy recovery period with a need for physical therapy.

There is also a version of joint replacement surgery used on the smaller joints of the hands and feet. These joints generally receive less stress than larger joints, so the surgeries are less common. The goal is to restore basic functionality to the smaller joints, thereby facilitating the ability to grip with the hands or wear shoes in the case of the feet.