What is Small Joint Replacement Surgery
You probably have heard of hip replacements, but did you know that you have small joint replacement for your hand and wrist?
Small joint replacement surgery is a procedure in which bone and structures that line the joint are removed and replaced with new parts. This procedure is necessary when the articular cartilage (the substance on the surface of a bone) wears out or is damaged, which means the bones will no longer glide smoothly against one another. It may also may come from abnormal joint fluid.
The new parts may be made of metal, plastic, or materials that are carbon-coated. They allow the joints to move again without pain, increase range of motion, and can improve the look of the joints. Finger joints, knuckle joints, and wrist joints are commonly replaced.
After small joint replacement surgery, you will most likely work with a hand therapist and could possibly wear a splint. However, with this procedure, there are always risks. There could be an infection, or the implant could fail, causing more joint pain. The implant could also wear out over time, resulting in the need for another surgery. In addition, vessels, nerves or other structures near the surgery site could be damaged. Talk to your doctor about the risks of joint replacement surgery before agreeing to the procedure.
If you have joint pain, surgery may or may not be the answer. Consult a hand surgeon, as every case is different. Visit our website to learn more about joint replacement surgery and the alternatives to surgery.
Description of the Joint Replacement Procedure
In a joint replacement, the abnormal bone and lining structures of the joint are removed surgically, and new parts are inserted in their places. These new parts may be made of special metal or plastic or specific kinds of carbon-coated implants. The new parts allow the joints to move again with little or no pain. Finger joints (called PIP), knuckle joints (called MP) and wrist joints can all be replaced (Figure 1).
Artificial joints in the hand may help:
- Reduce joint pain
- Restore or maintain joint motion
- Improve the look and alignment of the joint(s)
- Improve overall hand function
Causes
In a normal joint, bones have a smooth surface made of a substance called articular cartilage on their ends that allows one bone to glide easily against another. Joints are lubricated by a thin layer of fluid (synovial fluid) that acts like oil in an engine to keep parts gliding smoothly. When the articular cartilage wears out, is damaged, or the joint fluid is abnormal, problems develop, and joints often become stiff and painful. This is arthritis, which may be possible to treat with this procedure.
Recovery
Therapy supervised by a trained hand therapist is almost always required after any joint replace-ment surgery, usually for several months. Special splints are generally used depending on which joint was replaced and how the surgery was done (Figure 2).
To ensure the best results after surgery, follow your surgeon and therapists’ directions, call your surgeon if you experience a sudden increase in pain or swelling, and call your surgeon if your hand or wrist becomes red, hot or crooked.
Call your surgeon or therapist if you have specific questions about your new joint(s).
Risks
Some risks of this procedure include:
- Implant loosening, fracturing or wearing down over time, which may require subsequent surgery
- Infection
- Joint stiffness or pain if the procedure or implant fails
- Dislocation of the artificial joint
- Damage to vessels, nerves or other structures in the region of the surgery
Alternatives
Some alternate procedures for treating arthritis include:
- Joint injections
- Oral medications such as aspirin or anti-inflammatory medicines
- Hand therapy exercises and protective splints
- Arthrodesis surgery to fuse bones together, which relieves pain by eliminating motion be-tween damaged joint surfaces
- Resection arthroplasty, which is a surgery to remove arthritic surfaces and/or bone
- Surgery on tendons or ligaments to repair related joint injuries
BoulderCentre for Orthopedics & Spine can help. Ask to see one of our hand, elbow and wrist specialists.
Article courtesy of American Society of Hand Therapists.
