Every soul is worthy of living an active life. Many of us gradually develop joint pain with age, which may be because of weakness, disease, deformity, or injury. No matter what, joint pain limits mobility, depriving us of activities we have to perform every day. This stresses out the patient arousing feelings of depression, anxiety, and anger which affects the quality of life.
It’s substantial to consult an orthopedist right away to prevent further deterioration. Yes, it can be treated even the worse one can be managed through joint replacement surgery in Pakistan. You can consult Dr MA Wajid for this purpose as he’s the most competent orthopedic surgeon in Lahore providing treatment for various joint issues. By incorporating modern procedures for replacement surgeries he ensures faster recovery of patients with better results. He deals with candidates requiring shoulder, hip, and knee replacement surgeries. In a few cases, revision surgery is required for the replaced hip or knee joint, which he facilitates. If you are looking for surgeons for sports injuries then he is the best orthopedist to consult.
Exploration of natural joint structure
The end of the two bones meets to form a joint which ensures mobility so we can move our body in different ways. The Joint is further stabilized with the help of soft tissues such as ligaments, tendons, and muscles. They not only provide stability but also keep the joint align. The cartilage covering the bone ends prevents bones from rubbing together while moving. Cartilage damage is the major reason for joint replacement surgery in Pakistan if worsens. The hinge joint (i.e. knee) and ball and socket joint (i.e. shoulder and hip) are two major types of joints found in the human body. Other types include cartilaginous, fibrous, pivotal, saddle, synovial, condyloid, and gliding joints.
Understanding joint replacement procedure
An injury, disease or infection can cause wear and tear of the joint leading to a crucial state where replacement surgery is the only solution. The damaged joint is removed surgically and substituted with a prosthetic joint composed of metal, ceramic, or plastic components that are extremely biocompatible. Artificial implant imitates the movement of the natural joint thus patients can regain lost mobility after the procedure but with a little care. Few cases of joint replacement surgery in Pakistan may show some complications but the maximum confirms a high success rate.
What sort of joint replacement surgeries are mostly performed?
In Pakistan replacement surgeries of almost all the joints i.e. ankle wrist, shoulder, elbow etc. are performed. Most commonly conceived replacement surgeries are of hip and knee joints. Many cases of hip and knee joint pain, specifically knee arthritis with growing age are encountered around the country. Surgeons for sports injuries also described the significance of shoulder joint replacement surgery among athletes.
What leads you to joint replacement?
The first attempt of an orthopedist is to manage symptoms through non-surgical treatments. Patients are subject to medications and therapies to lessen pain. Joint replacement surgery is recommended for chronic pain that isn’t curable through conventional methods and affects the quality of life. The following conditions lead you to joint replacement surgery:
- Unending pain that lasts more than six months even after medications and makes it tough to do certain activities such as climbing stairs, walking, or standing up.
- Lost range of motion due to joint damage and pain that drags you towards poor quality of life by depriving you of normal activities and affecting your mood.
- Joint replacement provides relief for severe damage that is hard to cure through non-surgical treatments.
Major replacement surgeries performed in Pakistan and their success rate
Joint replacement is performed by proficient surgeons in Pakistan, who embroils modern technology in the procedures to operate with great precision and accuracy. Almost every joint can be replaced but the major and most common joint replacements are of hip, knee, or shoulder joints. Let’s see how successful joint replacement surgery in Pakistan is.
Knee joint replacement
Knees are the weight-bearing joints hence more susceptible to damage due to stress, overuse, injury, or a disease. According to Indus hospital and health network every 37 out of 1000 people suffer from knee joint pain due to osteoarthritis and 167 replacement surgeries are reported in the year 2019. Knee replacement surgery showed a huge success rate in Pakistan as it relieves pain, returns mobility, improves old damage, cures infections, and also imparts relief from rheumatoid arthritis.
80% to 90% of cases showed a positive response to the knee joint replacement surgery in Pakistan. Patients can move the new joint immediately after the surgery, and very few develop complications that are curable. The prosthetic joint lasts for almost 10 to 20 years with few precautions as guided by an orthopedist. Patients are advised to practice exercises designed by their physical therapist to strengthen knee joints. It increases the age of the new joint.
Hip replacement
The hip is a ball and socket joint that connects the pelvic girdle to the lower limbs. It is a weight-bearing joint like knee joints thus it demands more stability than any other joint in the body. Many people fall to hip joint issues in Pakistan due to an injury, a disease, deformity, or being overweight. Mild concerns can be sorted non-surgically but severe ones call for surgical mending. Osteoarthritis is a joint disease causing wear and tear of cartilage hitting many people which may lead to hip replacement surgery, a successful procedure in Pakistan.
The artificial hip joint lasts for 20 years or more if preventive measures are observed. 85% of patients showed successful survival with a prosthetic joint according to research conducted at Punjab Medical College. Patients of age 25 years or more were examined in this study. Some of the cases developed complications such as loosening of joints, dislocation, or infection but the majority of them were satisfied with the new joint.
The procedure is aimed to relieve pain and improve joint motion. It is the solution only when other treatments such as medicines, physical and other therapies fail to improve the condition. Continuous evolution in the surgical ways and prosthetic material is making it the safest and most adaptable procedure among patients.
Other replacements that are conceived
With advancing technology and the introduction of improved materials for prosthetic joints, joint replacement surgery in Pakistan is a safe procedure now. Most commonly occurring replacements are of hip and knee joints but shoulder, ankle, wrist, fingers etc. joints can also be replaced successfully with the incorporation of modern technology by surgeons in Pakistan.
Joint replacement in athletes
In the past, joint replacement surgery was not considered an apt decision for young athletes. They were advised to wait for the procedure until they reach a certain age till then they have to abandon sports activities to prevent the affected joint from stress. It is distressing for athletes as they are used to living active life so a sudden withdrawal from sports affects their moods negatively lowering their quality of life and depressing them. Professional athletes cannot give up their careers as it is their way of earning after all. So technological advancement in medical sciences brings in modern methods of joint replacement that ensure fast recovery with little care. Now athletes can return to sports as early as possible after a joint replacement surgery in Pakistan.
A minimally invasive technique makes the procedure safe and warrants quick recovery of wounds afterwards. Total knee replacement implants function for more than 15 years allowing athletes to lead an active life while enjoying sports. After a few hours of surgery, athletes can begin exercises designed by their physical therapist to strengthen joint and within 12 days doesn’t need support to walk.
Exact diagnosis and expert opinion matters
Get a joint examination before agreeing to replacement surgery as your consultant knows the best treatment to follow after a thorough diagnosis. Orthopedic surgeons or surgeons for sports injuries commence with a physical examination as patients reach them. The mobility of the affected joint is tested through assisted and non-assisted movement. The surgeon presses the area around the joint to check tenderness. He looks for redness, swelling, or any other visible signs to reach the cause.
An internal survey is made through imaging tests which may include x-rays, MRI, or CT-scan. These tests give visual evidence of damage occurring to the joint internally. Laboratory tests may be ordered to rule out other possible reasons such as infection. After reaching the root cause your surgeon will lay out a treatment plan that includes medicinal treatment with certain therapies at first hand. For patients that don’t respond to non-surgical cures well, replacement surgery is advised after a complete health checkup.
What complications are expected with joint replacement surgery?
Though joint replacement surgery in Pakistan yields success for 90% of patients, it may also cause complications in a few cases. Major hitches faced by some patients include:
- Development of infection in a wound or around a newly implanted prosthesis.
- Formation of blood clots.
- Malfunction of the new implant that is due to wearing away, loosening, or dislocation of joint.
- Nerves may get damaged while surgery.
These complications can be overcome by observing safety measures as guided by your surgeon and repairs can be made through revision surgery. The surgeon will explain possible issues that can be encountered during and after surgery.
Is joint replacement a permanent solution to arthritis?
Arthritis is a joint disease that causes wear and tear of the cartilage leading to pain, swelling and joint inflammation. The condition may reach a point due to ignorance where joints lose their mobility. The symptoms of this disease are manageable through medicinal treatment and physical therapy but the disease cannot be reversed or completely uprooted. Under severe conditions when non-surgical treatments fail to manage symptoms replacement surgery is workable as a whole new joint is implanted in place of the damaged one. Joint replacement surgery improves joint motion, reduces pain, and prevents further deterioration of the joint.
Extract of discussion
Joint replacement surgery is kept as a last resort by surgeons. The patient’s health condition is examined, the severity of the issue is observed, and disability is checked before recommending joint replacement surgery in Pakistan. Too young people are discouraged to go through this procedure whereas adults and old age patients are the best candidates for replacement surgeries. Altogether, joint replacement surgery is a successful method to relieve unending joint pain, improve the functionality of joints, and return patients to normal life where they can enjoy their loved activities. Moreover, it prevents other health issues like heart disease, obesity, etc. in the case of knee or hip joint concerns when a patient is deprived of walking under severe conditions.