A joint replacement surgeon, or arthroplasty surgeon, is an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in joint replacement surgery. Typically, such a surgeon works on the joints that are most commonly affected by disease and injury, such as the knees, hips, and elbows. A joint replacement surgeon often prescribes other types of treatment options for joint pain and dysfunctional joints, even though he specializes in arthroplasty. Other joint and orthopedic surgeries, such as osteotomy, may be performed by him. When a patient’s primary doctor is unable to help him manage joint pain, he will be referred to a joint replacement surgeon.
Joint replacement surgery is a type of orthopedic surgery, and a joint replacement surgeon is an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in repairing and replacing joints. Knee, elbow, and hip joints are some of the most common joints that a joint replacement surgeon works with. Injuries or arthritis frequently cause damage to these joints.
The joint replacement surgeon will repair or replace the dysfunctional joint during arthroplasty. When a patient needs an arthroplasty to replace a joint, the surgeon will usually insert a prosthesis made of a durable material. A prosthetic knee or hip joint is typically made of plastic or metal, whereas a prosthetic hand joint is typically made of a more flexible silicone rubber. In some cases, especially in older, less active patients, the prosthetic joint is fused or cemented to the patient’s bone. For younger, more active patients, surgeons frequently leave the prosthetic joint uncemented to allow their bones to grow into the prosthetic joint.
A joint replacement surgeon may or may not perform arthroplasty depending on the diagnosis. Other treatment and management options may be suggested by him. A surgeon may prescribe pain relievers, vitamins, and other supplements, as well as physical therapy. When it comes to walking aids, canes and braces are sometimes preferred over surgery. Other surgical options, such as osteotomy, which is used to improve the alignment of a joint and bones, may be more appropriate for some patients.
A patient can locate a joint replacement surgeon in the same way that he can locate other medical and surgical specialists. When a patient has joint pain, he usually goes to his primary care physician. His doctor will assess the severity of his pain and the various treatment options available to him. In most cases, this entails getting X-rays and attempting various treatment options such as pain medication and physical therapy, though these may be ineffective depending on the extent of the joint damage. If this is the case, the doctor will refer the patient to a joint-specialist orthopedic surgeon.