• What is the Artroplasty?
• Arthroplasty or Joint Prosthesis Surgery is the procedure of surgically removing the damaged joint cartilage and replacing it with an artificial joint surface. The purpose of this procedure is to imitate the natural, slippery and functional movements of a healthy joint by creating a new artificial joint.

• Where does it apply?
• Although it is possible to change many joints in this way nowadays, the joints which are mostly frequent for the performance arthroplasty are knee, hip and shoulder joints.

• For what reason the joint prosthesis is needed?
• Joint calcification (osteoarthritis) is one of the main reasons for the application of joint prosthesis. Joint calcification is a chronic joint disease with pain, deformity and loss of function as a result of damage to the joint surfaces due to various reasons.

• How do I know if I need a joint prosthesis?
• Patients who need joint prostheses have limitations in daily functions due to pain, difficulty in movements, difficulties in walking and climbing up and down stairs. Night rest pain may develop in advanced stages. In time, deformities may occur in the joints.

• How is it treated?
• In the treatment, the cause of the pain is first investigated. After that pain and functional limitations are tried to be eliminated with non-surgical treatments. Medication and physical therapy are used in the early stages of the disease. Patients are definitely advised to lose weight. Cortisone injections into the joint, injections that mimic the joint fluid (hyaluronic acid) or PRP (thrombocyte rich plasma) injections to control the complaints due to the disease are useful applications in the early stages.
• In surgical treatments, depending on the degree of damage to the joint and the functional state of the patient, there are different treatment options from arthroscopic surgery to surgery in which angular corrections are made by cutting the bone and joint prosthesis surgery (arthroplasty). Joint prosthesis surgeries take the last place among the surgical options mentioned above. While planning the surgical treatment, the patient should be informed and the decision should be made according to their expectations.

• What awaits me after prosthetic surgery?
• Surgery is usually performed with local anesthesia for elderly patients. Post- operative pain is controlled with medication. When no problem develops after prosthesis surgery, patients usually start walking the next day and are discharged on the third day after surgery. The patient continues to walk and exercise with a walker inside the house.

• What should I pay attention to after prosthesis surgery?
• Lie down with a pillow between your legs for six weeks after the operation.
• Do not sit on low seats and chairs.
• Do not put your leg on your other leg/Do not cross your legs.
• Do not turn over by pushing all your weight onto your operated leg.
• While Sitting or standing don’t bend yourself if you want to pick something from the floor.
• Do not crouch on the ground.
• Be very careful while walking to avoid falling and bumping.
• Do your prayer by sitting on a chair.
• Use a squat toilet, get a toilet riser if needed.
• Pay close attention to foot and nail care to avoid infection.

• Can MRI be performed after the operation?
• Most modern prostheses are made of MRI compatible metals. For this reason, there is no problem in performing MRI of areas except for the operation area.

• What are the possible problems to be encountered?
• In patients who are candidates for arthroplasty surgery, accompanying diseases with age may bring some risks for anesthesia and surgery. If there is an infection in any place before the surgery, it should be treated before the prosthesis surgery. Postoperative infection (inflammation) and clot formation in the veins are important. Your doctor will take the necessary measures to reduce these issues.
• Prostheses used in arthroplasty surgery can last up to 30 years. Successful results are obtained for patients with a well-applied prosthetic surgery. It is very important for the success of the surgery to inform the patients in detail before the prosthesis application for the patient's compliance with the recommendations.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mesut TAHTA

Orthopedics and Traumatology