Joint Preservation Surgery

The joint preservation surgery can be all arthroscopic, all open or a conjunction of the two techniques. However, arthroscopy alone method is most frequently employed for joint preservation.

Arthroscopy, also referred to as keyhole or minimally invasive surgery, is a procedure in which a device called an arthroscope is inserted into the affected joint to check for any damage and repair it simultaneously. This procedure is performed through very small incisions and is used to treat various joint conditions.

A joint preservation surgery typically involves repair of only a part or two of the joint. The spectrum of the surgery includes:

Cartilage repair or restoration
Bone altering or realignment
Transplantation or implantation
Joint resurfacing or reconstruction
Partial joint replacement

Joint preservation surgery will vary based on the requirement of the patient. The surgeon will discuss and choose the best option depending on the joint affected, type of injury or disorder, severity of the condition and age of the patient.

What is Joint Preservation Surgery?

Joint preservation surgery is an orthopedic procedure performed to repair and preserve a deteriorating joint causing pain.

A joint is a point in our body where two or more bones meet and connect through a fibrous tissue called cartilage. Major joints of the body include the hips, knees, shoulders, elbows, and ankles.

Joint preservation surgery typically involves:

Correcting the anatomic abnormalities of the joint
Restoring the normal joint motion without replacement
Maintaining cartilage and bone health of the joint

While the procedure can be used for any joint in the body, it is most commonly performed to the knee, shoulder or hip joints.

Benefits of Joint Preservation Surgery

Damage to a joint can reduce its full range of motion and cause severe pain. This can make it difficult to perform daily activities, especially if the pain is frequent or long-lasting. Joint replacement surgery involves removing the damaged joint, either partially or completely, and replacing it with a prosthesis.

However, in young active patients or athletes, prostheses are more likely to wear out over time and may eventually require another surgery. In such cases, preserving the joint through surgery can help prevent further damage or delay the development of degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis. This allows the patient to return to normal activities without causing more harm to the joint.

Causes of Joint Pain

You can damage a joint suddenly or it may happen gradually over time. The causes of joint pain can be:

Injury to the joint cartilage
Bone dislocation due to trauma
Natural wear and tear of the joint
Degenerative diseases such as arthritis
Inherited abnormalities in the joint

Whatever the cause, the joint should be preserved as long as possible. This is particularly true if the patient is a younger, active person.

Indications for Joint Preservation Surgery

Although joint pain is common in both adolescents and adults, the surgery is best suitable for patients who are in their early teen years to middle ages.

You can be a potential candidate for a joint preservation procedure if you experience any of the following:

Cartilage deformity in the joint
Inability to do daily activities
Increasing and constant joint pain
Joint pain following an arthroscopy procedure
Pain after previous joint replacement

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