As an established treatment, artificial joint replacement is now one of the mainstays in the treatment of severe joint disease. However, many patients in China are still skeptical about this technique, which is popular abroad and has become one of the common clinical procedures. “Artificial joint replacement is an important landmark technique in the history of orthopedics, with unquestionable safety and efficacy, and many patients with advanced arthritis have been freed from their pain and suffering as a result.” Many patients are reluctant to undergo the procedure because they mistakenly believe that it involves removing all the joints and replacing them with stainless steel joints, making their limbs robotic and unnatural. Instead, the surgery removes the worn and damaged joint surfaces and implants an artificial joint, just like a braces, to restore the normal smooth joint surfaces. Currently, this technique has been applied to treat shoulder, elbow, wrist, interphalangeal joints, hip, knee and ankle joints, etc., but total artificial hip and knee joint replacement is more common. The design and materials of artificial joints are the result of the continuous efforts of biomechanics experts, materials engineers and orthopedic surgeons, and are made according to the structure, shape and function of human joints. “Osteoarthritis of the knee is by far the most common reason for artificial joint replacement. When the arthritis is more severe, the cartilage of the joint surface will be severely worn and damaged, and even deformed, often leading to pain, functional limitation and walking inconvenience, at this time, the effect of conservative treatment is not significant, and the artificial joint is a better choice.” “Others such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis caused by joint destruction, deformity and loss of function and traumatic osteoarthritis are suitable for choosing artificial joint replacement. After artificial joint replacement, the pain of most patients can be reduced or even completely relieved, and the function and deformation of the joint can be significantly improved.” The service life of artificial joints is also the biggest concern of many patients, who are afraid that they will need to be “replaced” again soon after the surgery. Artificial knee replacement surgery patients in the first few days after surgery is more difficult. Generally speaking, three months after the operation, the patient’s daily activities can gradually return to normal. Occasionally, patients may still feel slight swelling and pain in their limbs, but as long as there is no pain aggravation or infection and inflammation, they do not need to be too concerned about it, and with the passage of time, patients will gradually feel better. According to the long-term follow-up data at home and abroad, generally speaking, the survival rate of prosthesis after 10 years of artificial joint replacement can reach more than 95%, and the survival rate of prosthesis after 20 years can reach more than 90%. Theoretically, the younger, more active or heavier the patient, the more likely the artificial joint will wear out and loosen, so unless there are special circumstances, doctors will try to wait until the patient is older to perform joint replacement. It is also recommended that patients maintain an ideal body weight after surgery and avoid strenuous exercise to minimize wear and tear on the artificial joint. The optimal age for knee replacement should be between 60 and 80 years old. With the continuous improvement in the quality and technology of modern artificial joints, age is no longer the primary consideration for knee replacement, but rather is determined by the patient’s health condition and the degree of knee disease. So what should you look for when undergoing artificial joint replacement surgery? “If the hip or knee joint has been in pain for a considerable period of time and has prevented normal walking, or even limping. Or, the walking distance is gradually shortened, the joint movement is limited, and sometimes there is pain or worsening pain when going up and down the stairs or getting up from a chair, it is best for the patient to go to the orthopedic department for the office visit and ask whether artificial joint replacement surgery is needed.” “Before patients undergo artificial joint replacement surgery, they must inform their doctors in detail about their medical history and morbidity, whether they have other medical diseases or surgical history, and stop using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, and if they have taken hormones, they must state the time and dosage of the medication. It is especially important to emphasize the need to cure chronic infections and skin diseases such as dental caries, sinusitis, tinea pedis, etc., and to keep the glycemic index below 8 in case of diabetic patients.