Surgery for existing arthrosis
Frequently, unsuccessful arthrosis therapy results in surgical measures. The final therapy for arthrosis is often an artificial joint replacement, i.e. a total endoprosthesis (TEP). This is most frequently performed on the hip joint – hip prosthesis – and meanwhile almost equivalently on the knee joint – knee prosthesis.
However, prostheses can also be fitted (implanted) on the shoulder, the elbow joint, the ankle joint or the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe in cases of arthrosis. Recently, so-called bioprostheses for advanced rheumatism and arthrosis have also been implanted as joint replacements for small joints as part of a pilot study. The right time for an artificial joint replacement in osteoarthritis is determined by the pain of the patient, together with the changes on the X-ray.
Since artificial joints have a limited durability (hip joints last for about 15 years) and replacement operations are not only performed at a higher age and are more difficult than the initial implantation, attempts are made to delay the time of prosthesis implantation in “younger” persons. The decision must always be made on a case-by-case basis between doctor and patient. The surgical therapeutic measures are of course not limited to endoprosthetic joint replacement.
Other surgical procedures are also used. Please refer to the respective joint disease.
