Arthroplasty: A Step Ahead To Bring Back Quality Of Life

Back in 1996, 12th October was declared ‘World Arthritis Day’ by Arthritis and Rheumatism International (ARI) to raise awareness around this condition. It was necessary because arthritis is often neglected and affects the patient’s mobility, causing severe pain. One of the best solutions for dealing with a disorder like this is arthroplasty, more commonly known as joint replacement surgery. However, only an expert can give the best advice regarding surgical treatments.

Arthritis is the inflammation of one or more joints, causing pain and stiffness that can worsen with age. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones wears down over time. Osteoarthritis can damage any joint, but the disorder mostly affects joints in your knees, hips, spine and hands.

If we talk about osteoarthritis in India, then according to the data, by 2025, India is expected to become the chronic disease capital of the world with 60 Mn people suffering from osteoarthritis. In India, among the population >70 years of age, 28.1% male and 31.6% female are suffering from osteoarthritis. 

The symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain, stiffness, loss of flexibility, swelling, crackling sound from the joint, formation of extra bits of bone, which feel like hard lumps around the affected joint. The presence of any such symptom calls for immediate attention from a doctor, without any delays. Additionally, a person suffering from obesity is at a higher risk of osteoarthritis because heavyweight adds stress and pressure on the joints. Elderly people are also prone to osteoarthritis and those whose occupations require them to kneel, squat, and do the heavy lifting.

Osteoarthritis is a disease that can make daily tasks difficult. To bring back the quality of life, patients must look at arthroplasty surgery (joint replacement surgery) as an option. Arthroplasty is a surgical procedure to restore the function of a joint. Patients who undergo arthroplasty may experience improvement in joint pain, ability to perform activities, and thereby an improved quality of life.

According to doctors, patients generally avoid surgery due to fear and anxiety. Delay in arthroplasty can lead to irreparable damage to not just their joints but also other complications in their daily lives. Performing arthroplasty at an early stage can help patients recover sooner and bring back quality of life. Today, arthroplasty is considered as one of the most successful and cost-effective procedures in end-stage arthritic conditions. Patient-reported outcomes are shown to improve dramatically with respect to pain relief, functional restoration, and improved quality of life. Millions of patients around the world have been benefited by arthroplasty.

If you or anyone in your family suffer from any of the symptoms listed above, you can consult your doctor.