1. What is artificial joint replacement? Artificial joint replacement is to remove the worn out and damaged joint surface and implant an artificial joint, just like a braces, to restore the normal and smooth joint surface. It can be considered as one of the greatest breakthroughs in orthopedic surgery in this century. Currently it has been applied to the treatment of shoulder joint, elbow joint. It has been used to treat shoulder, elbow, wrist, interphalangeal joint, hip, knee and ankle joints, but total artificial hip and knee replacement is the most common. The design and materials of artificial joints are the result of the continuous efforts of biomechanics experts, materials engineers and orthopedic surgeons. It is mostly made of metal and high-density plastic materials according to the structure, shape and function of human joints. The types of metal include alloy, cobalt-chromium alloy, ceramic and stainless steel, etc., while the plastic material is high-density and wear-resistant polyethylene. In order to make the joints and bones close together, and not easy to loose in the future, you can use bone cement to fix it or use the hole treatment on the artificial joints to let the bones grow in. 2.What are the conditions that require artificial joint replacement? Osteoarthritis is the most common reason for artificial joint replacement. When arthritis is more serious, the cartilage of the joint surface will be severely worn and damaged, and even deformation, often leading to pain, functional limitations and walking difficulties, at this time, conservative treatment is not effective, artificial joints are the most short-tailed choice. Others, such as rheumatoid arthritis, ischemic necrosis of the femoral head, in the more serious often consider artificial joint replacement. Displaced femoral neck fracture in the elderly to avoid future complications of ischemic necrosis of the femoral head and poor fracture healing, is also an indication for 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. 3.How long is the life span of artificial joint? Patients often ask physicians this question, in fact, it does not have a certain answer, as in driving, such as normal use without accident, the car can drive a long time, if not to cherish every day overloaded with rugged mountain roads, I believe that soon the end of life. Generally speaking, if it can be used normally, 90% of the patients can use it for more than ten years. 4.How long can I walk normally after artificial joint replacement? Artificial joint replacement is like eating sugarcane upside down, the more you eat, the sweeter it gets. The first few days after the operation are hard, but after the drainage tube is removed (about two or three days), the patient is encouraged to get out of the bed, practice walking with a walker or crutches, and start the bedside rehabilitation exercises, and the patient can be discharged from the hospital in about seven to ten days after the operation. If the joint fixation method is porous, a walker or crutches are usually needed for six weeks to three months after the surgery to reduce the weight bearing of the joint, so as to allow the bone to invade the surface of the porous artificial joint and produce a strong bond. If the patient is older (usually over 70 years old), has osteoporosis or neurological disorders such as stroke, and needs to get out of bed soon, the surgeon will use bone cement to fix the artificial joint, so that the limb can be weight-bearing immediately after the surgery, and to shorten the time of crutch use. Generally speaking, three months after surgery, daily activities can gradually return to normal. Occasionally, patients will still feel a slight swelling or numbness of the limbs, as long as there is no pain aggravation or inflammation, do not have to pay too much attention to, as time goes by, will be gradually into the realm of Tail. 5.After the artificial joint replacement surgery, what do I need to pay attention to? Orthopaedic wards will give patients an educational material after joint replacement surgery, in addition to informing the patient to return for regular checkups, and reminding the patient how to continue to strengthen muscle exercise to avoid inappropriate postures and movements, we also hope that the patient can maintain an ideal weight, in case of increased swelling and pain in the wounds, there is a secretion, hear abnormal sounds in the joints, or joints are injured resulting in difficulty in walking, you should return to the hospital for examination immediately. In addition, when you have a dental disease that needs to be treated by a dentist, have any wound on the skin that is inflamed, or need to undergo other surgeries, please inform the doctor that you are a patient who has received an artificial joint replacement, and please give you some prophylactic antibiotics to prevent bacteria from entering the joints, which can lead to serious infections. 6.What are the risks and complications of artificial joint replacement? All surgeries have their own risks. Before surgery, the anesthesiologist will evaluate the patient’s physical condition, and if necessary, consult with other physicians to ensure that everything is in order before the surgery, so that the risks of the surgery can be minimized. The most devastating post-operative complication is infection, which can occur within a few days or years after surgery. It can occur within a few days after surgery or years later. In mild cases, antibiotic treatment is needed, while in severe cases, the artificial joint has to be removed and debrided, and a new one implanted after the infection is under control. Fortunately, it is rare, occurring in about 1% of total artificial knee replacements, for example. Other complications can be categorized as follows: loosening of the artificial joint, dislocation of the artificial joint, wear and tear of the artificial joint, and others, such as damage to blood vessels, nerves, fractures, venous embolism, and joint instability.