Truth be told, joint replacement surgeries are more common today than a decade back. Some of the major reasons as to why patients opt for these orthopaedic surgeries are generally due to arthritis, reduced joint performance during sports, persistent pain, regardless of the non-surgical treatments utilized and physical exercises conducted. Meanwhile, although undergoing a joint replacement surgery is recommended in some cases, there are various considerations pertaining the type of joint surgery to undergo, the hospital, and the outcome possibilities. Here are some of the major questions for a comprehensive evaluation;

1. Does the pain persist even while resting or after resting?

Patients who persistently experience severe pain during or after resting are automatically joint replacement candidates. Other considerations where the pain prevents an individual from conducting his or her normal duties is another case that can make one a joint replacement candidate.

2. What is Your Age?

Arthritic patients aged 53 and above are considered joint replacement candidates, but one under that age must understand the associated risks. Osteoarthritis, which is a degenerative joint disease commonly attacks individuals above the age of 50 and can certainly reduce their quality of life. An orthopaedic surgeon will surely evaluate your surgical requirements for better outcomes.

3. Your Body Mass Index?

Obesity is one of the commonest reasons for arthritis in patients, but is also is also among the reasons that will hinder you from undergoing a joint replacement surgery. Harbouring accumulated fat in the joint region will only increase your surgical risks and that is why many orthopaedic doctors advise their patients to lose some weight before the surgery. It isn’t recommended to resort to aggressive or strenuous activities, but those suggested by the surgeon.

4. What is the Suitable Joint Replacement Approach?

There are various joint replacement approaches that include, robotic approaches, keyhole joint replacement procedures, partial joint replacement and total joint replacement approaches. Although the cost is the major fundamental factor for keyhole and robotic procedures, the extent of damage is another vital consideration before the surgery. Certainly, a partial joint replacement will be conducted in case only a part of the joint is diseased or damaged, whereas total joint replacement will be conducted in case the entire joint is damaged.

5. What are the Associated Risks?

Surgical possibilities are crucial and must be effectively communicated to a patient before the surgery. Cases where your surgery is associated with various side effects and complications, a surgery may be excluded, whereas in case fewer risks are involved, a surgery may be conducted. Infection, thrombosis, stiffness, neurological injury, persistent pain, Deep vein thrombosis, deformity, poor healing, the prevalence of other medical conditions, a botched surgery among others can prevent one from undergoing a joint replacement surgery.

6. Your Occupation?

Sports injuries and other related joint injuries, i.e. due to an accident may require joint replacement. However, your functionality without a surgery and other treatments must be evaluated plus the total morbidity and medical problems. It is also essential to evaluate the amount of pain experienced during activities or after activities for better treatment approaches.