replacement arthroplasty
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