Arthritis and Joint Replacement

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Mediheal Group of Hospitals Eldoret Kenya

Why do you need to know?

What is Arthritis Arthros + It is= joint + inflammation Joints of the body Joints are like the moving parts of a machine Articular cartilage and its importance

Articular cartilage

Covers the end of the bone. Arthritis is a disease of articular cartilage

Cartilage has no nerve endings and poor blood supply

Made up of layers of cells and designed to withstand load and provide lubrication.

How common is it?

Leading cause of disability Affects 1 in 6 individuals 2/3 individuals with arthritis are women

How can I recognize it?

Two major types inflammatory and non inflammatory Degenerative more common than inflammatory Infections another important cause Can affect single joint a few joint and many joints Can be on one side of the body on both the sides Can be associated with spinal pain and arthritis

How can I prevent it?

Healthy diet Regular exercise Good posture Weight control

How do doctors treat it?

Non Operative
Medication Physiotherapy Articular Injections Splinting

Operative treatment A-Arthroscopic B-Joint replacement

When do I need surgery?

When non operative treatment cannot help your pain and inflammation When the joint is getting deformed and losing alignment.

Is surgery safe?
Safe, reliable, reproducible and changes quality of life All surgery has complications Most important is infection With current methods we can limit infection to less than 1 % Many factors to consider especially dibetes

Is surgery sucessful?
Pain free good range of motion of joint with good quality of life was the reason this surgery was invented.

Will I be able to walk afterwards?

Most certainly without support

How expensive is it? Why?

Cost of implant is the most important aspect Different implants vary in cost Most are imported Most are comparable Depends on the surgeon

What are the complications?

Infection major

Why Mediheal Hospital?

Infrastructure Expertise Quality of care Affordable cost

Can I avoid surgery?

Yes if you have no pain Yes if you have relief with medication Yes if your joint is not deformed

Thank You.
Dr.Panchu Subramanian Fellowship in Joint replacement surgery, Bangalore,India.