What is Prosthetic Surgery?

What is Prosthetic Surgery?

Arthrosis is the friction of joint surfaces against each other because of emerging subchondral bone and narrowing joint space due to the wear of cartilage tissue over the years, creating joint surface lubricity. Patients hear the crackling of their joints due to friction. These sounds are enhanced over time, and restriction of movement and pain are onset. Various treatments are planned according to the patient’s age, movement restriction, and pain status.  There is undoubtedly a solution to this situation, particularly occurring in the knee and hip joints.

What is Gonarthrosis and How Is It Treated?

Various treatments are performed before prosthetic surgery to treat gonarthrosis. We plan total knee prosthetic surgery when escalating pain, inability to walk even 100 meters, and continuing pain despite pain medications are present in patients. A significant criterion for this operation is the patient’s age. It is not our preferred method of treatment in a young patient if there is no exceptional condition. So, what do we do in total knee prosthetic surgery? After cleaning the joint surfaces using specialized guides, we adapt the metal prosthetic joint surfaces with the bone cement. To reduce the friction of these two metal surfaces against each other, we include a specialized plastic layer made up of polyethylene into the system.  So, what awaits the patient following surgery? After removing the drain, placed in the knee joint postoperatively (it is generally removed after 24 hours), the patient is allowed to step on the foot and walk as much as the pain allows. We want the patient to walk for 15-20 minutes every two hours and bend the knee. If performed by the rules, it is a satisfactory operation. The patient’s adaptation to the prosthesis generally occurs in 1.5-3 months.  Physical therapy performed in the postoperative period will allow the adaptation process to be faster and easier.

What Is Coxarthrosis and How Is It Treated?

Coxarthrosis is another disorder that we try to solve by prosthetic surgery. The criteria accepted for prosthetic knee surgery are also valid for coxarthrosis. So, what are we doing in prosthetic hip surgery? We perform steps similar to prosthetic knee surgery. The hip joint is different from the knee joint both structurally and functionally. The hip joint consists of a socket and a ball moving within, named the femoral head. In coxarthrosis, the femoral head’s roundness is lost due to cartilage wear on the surfaces of the head and socket, and eventually, pain, and movement restrictions occur. While replacing these surfaces, we initially cut off the femoral head. Then, we ream the socket with specialized guides, insert and tighten an appropriate-sized prosthesis, and adapt it to the bone with at least two screws.  Then, after rasping the femur with specialized guides, we adapt to the bone and unite the system.

What awaits the patient following surgery? We remove the drain after the first 24 hours. Following drain removal, we want the patient to stand up and walk fully loaded. We recommend that the patient walks for 15-20 minutes every two hours. Physical therapy may be required to shorten and facilitate the adaptation process.