joint replacement

Last reviewed 03/2022

Joint replacement may be partial or total:

Partial joint replacement:

• is performed in the elderly and frail with fracture of the neck of femur, e.g. Thompson's hemiarthroplasty
• is performed when only one compartment of a joint is replaced, e.g. the medial compartment of the tibiofemoral joint

Total joint replacement:

• both articular surfaces are completely replaced by prosthesis
• the concave component is usually high density polyethylene and the convex component is metallic
• they may be secured with or without acrylic grout, also called cement