Patient Education: Total Joint Replacement - An Important Treatment Option for Severe Joint Pain
 Very severe joint pain and stiffness may require total joint replacement (TJR). TJR is a surgical procedure in which an arthritic or damaged joint, such as a hip, knee, elbow, or shoulder joint, is removed and replaced with an artificial joint called a prosthesis. The artificial joint is designed to move just like a healthy human joint.
 Hip replacement involves replacing the femur (head of the thighbone) and the acetabulum (cup). The artificial ball with its stem is made of a strong metal, and the artificial socket is made of polyethylene, a durable, wear-resistant plastic. In total knee replacement, the artifical joint is composed of metal, to replaced diseased bone, and of polyethylene, to replace diseased cartilage. Cement may or may not be used to anchor the prosthesis into place. When performed by skilled surgeon such as Dr.Pilcher, TJR is one of the safest and most successful types of surgery. Nearly half a million hip and knee replacements are performed every year in the United States. In 96% of cases, surgery is complication-free and results in significant pain relief and restoration of mobility. Dr. Pilcher has performed hundreds of joint replacements and stays current with the latest advances in surgical techniques and prosthetic materials, such as titanium and ceramic "bones" and new plastic joint liners that significantly increase the lifetime of the prosthesis.
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