Overview
What Is Joint Replacement Surgery?
In joint replacement surgery, also called arthroplasty, the damaged surfaces of a joint are removed and replaced with implants made of metal, plastic or ceramic. The new surfaces move smoothly against each other, which may relieve the grinding pain of arthritis. The knee and hip are the joints most often replaced.
In a knee replacement, the ends of the thigh and shin bones are resurfaced, either fully (total) or on one side only (partial). In a hip replacement, the worn ball at the upper end of the thigh bone and the socket in the pelvis are replaced. Dr. Hamie performs total, partial and robotic-assisted knee replacement, hip replacement and revision of failed knee replacements.