Joint Preservation
Joint Preservation Surgery In Vizag
What is Joint Preservation Surgery?
It is an orthopedic procedure to preserve and repair a painful and deteriorating joint. It involves correcting anatomic abnormalities of the joint, restoring normal joint motion without needing replacement, and maintaining the cartilage and bone health of the joint.
Although any joint in the body can undergo the procedure, the knee, shoulder, and hip joints are the most frequently treated ones.
Candidates for Joint Preservation Surgery
Even though joint pain is common in adults and adolescents, patients in their early to mid-teens are the most suitable candidates for the surgery.
If you experience any of the following, you may be a potential candidate for a joint preservation surgery:
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Deformity of the joint's cartilage
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Constant and worsening joint pain
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Difficulty in performing daily tasks
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Pain following an arthroscopy procedure and/or previous joint replacement
Why Would You Require Joint Preservation Surgery?
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In most cases, joint preservation is necessary to address the issues brought on by osteoarthritis.
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Joint preservation can aid in pain relief even though it won't be able to treat arthritis.
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Patients who only experience joint pain in specific joint regions and the entire joint have a higher success rate with joint preservation.
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Those who had tried non-surgical options without success would be offered this form of treatment.
Let's discuss,
Procedure of Joint Preservation Surgery
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A combination of the two techniques, arthroscopic surgery or open surgery, may be used for joint preservation. However, surgeons most frequently use arthroscopy alone for joint preservation.
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During arthroscopy, the surgeon inserts a tool called an arthroscope into the injured joint. This is also known as keyhole or minimally invasive surgery. It allows the surgeon to examine the joint and perform necessary repairs simultaneously.
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This procedure treats various joint conditions and is carried out through tiny incisions.
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In joint preservation surgery, only one or two portions of the joint are typically repaired.
Benefits of Joint Preservation Surgery
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Minimally invasive (mostly performed using the arthroscopic "keyhole" technique)
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Minimal scarring and bleeding
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Shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery
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Reduces or prevents future joint cartilage damage
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Relieves joint pain
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Enhances or restores joint function
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Prevents or minimizes further joint degeneration
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Extends the life of the joint
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Postpones or prevents joint replacement surgery
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Lowers the long-term cost of medical care
Recovery After Surgery
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After the procedure, a customized physiotherapy regimen may be advised until the affected joint can move normally again.
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The average hospital stays for patients following joint preservation surgery is 2 to 4 days. Crutches are required for up to 6 weeks after that.
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After two weeks, specific movements can be used to regain range of motion and muscle strength.
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After surgery, intense physical activity can be resumed four to six months later.
Imaging Tests
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X-rays of the knee are taken to detect bone spurs, joint alignment and fractures.
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CT scans help doctors to see pictures of soft tissues like muscles and ligaments.
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MRIs are done to get detailed images of the structures from different angles inside the knee joint. These include blood vessels, cartilage and bones.
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An arthroscopy test is done to see the inner anatomy of the knee.
Manual Resistive Tests
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Varus and valgus tests are done to determine the stability of the leg bones below and above the knee. In these tests, stress is applied to the knee with the immobilisation of the ankle.
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Apley's compression test uses a slight force to determine the state of the knee meniscus.
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Patellofemoral compression tests are conducted in which pressure is exerted on the thighbone and the kneecap to check whether there are any issues in that particular region.