1.What is artificial joint replacement? People do not know much about artificial joints, and often think that during surgery, the joints will be completely removed and fitted with stainless steel joints, after surgery, the limb is like a robot, stiff and unnatural. In fact, artificial joint replacement only removes the worn and damaged joint surfaces and implants them like braces to restore a normal smooth joint surface. It is arguably one of the greatest breakthroughs in orthopaedic surgery in this century. It has been used in the treatment of the shoulder, elbow, and other joints. However, total artificial hip and knee joint replacement is the most common. The design and materials of artificial joints are the result of the continuous efforts of biomechanics experts, material engineers and orthopedic surgeons. It is made of metal and high-density plastic materials, which follow the structure, shape and function of the human joint. In order to make the joint and the bone tightly bonded, it can be fixed with bone cement or use the hole treatment on the artificial joint to let the bone grow in. 2.What conditions require artificial joint replacement? Osteoarthritis is by far the most common cause of artificial joint replacement. When the arthritis is serious, the cartilage of the joint surface will be severely worn and damaged, or even deformed, often leading to pain, functional limitations and walking inconvenience, when conservative treatment is not effective, artificial joints are the most short-tailed choice. Other cases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and ischemic necrosis of the femoral head, are also often considered for artificial joint replacement in more severe cases. Displaced femoral neck fractures in the elderly are also indications for artificial joint replacement to avoid future complications of ischemic necrosis of the femoral head and poor fracture healing. After the artificial joint replacement, most patients’ pain 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 of an artificial joint? Patients often ask doctors this question, in fact, it does not have a certain answer, as driving, such as normal use without accident, the car can be driven for a long time, if not as much care every day overloaded with rugged mountain roads, I believe it will soon be the end of life. Generally speaking, if you can use it normally, 90% of patients can use it for more than twenty years. The younger you are, the more active you are. The more active or heavier the patient, the more likely the artificial joint will wear out and loosen, so unless there are special circumstances, physicians will try to wait until the patient is older before performing the joint replacement. At the same time, the patient should also maintain the ideal weight to avoid strenuous exercise in order to reduce the chance of wear and tear of the artificial joint and its future replacement. 4.How long can I walk normally after the artificial joint replacement? After the drainage tube is removed (about two or three days), the patient will be encouraged to get out of bed, practice walking with a walker or crutches, and start bedside rehabilitation exercises, and can be discharged from the hospital about seven to ten days after surgery. If the joint is fixed by porous fixation, it is usually necessary to use a walker or crutches for six weeks to three months after surgery to reduce the weight bearing on the joint so that the bone can invade the surface of the porous artificial joint and create a strong bond. If the patient is elderly, has loose bones or has neurological disorders such as stroke, and needs to get out of bed early, the physician will often use bone cement to fix the artificial joint so that the limb can bear weight immediately after surgery and shorten the time of crutch use. Generally speaking, three months after surgery, daily activities can gradually return to normal. Patients may still occasionally feel slight swelling and pain or numbness in the limb, as long as there is no increased pain or inflammation, do not pay too much attention to it, as time will gradually into the shortcomings. 5.What do I need to pay attention to after the artificial joint replacement? The orthopedic ward will give the patient an information sheet after the arthroplasty. In addition to informing the patient to return to the hospital regularly, we will remind the patient how to continue to strengthen the muscles and avoid improper posture and movement. If you have a dental problem that needs to be treated by a dentist, have an inflamed skin wound or need other surgery, please inform your doctor that you are a patient who has received an artificial joint replacement and give you some prophylactic antibiotics to prevent bacteria from entering the joint and causing a serious infection. 6.What are the risks of artificial joint replacement? The anesthesiologist will assess the patient’s physical condition before the surgery and consult with other physicians if necessary to minimize the risk of surgery. At present, artificial joint replacement is a very common orthopedic surgery in our department, and the risk is very low. The most devastating post-operative complication is infection, which can occur within a few days after surgery or years later. In mild cases, antibiotic treatment is required, and in severe cases, the artificial joint is removed and cleaned, and a new one is implanted after the infection is controlled. Fortunately, it is a rare occurrence, with the incidence of total knee replacement, for example, being about 1%.