Why and when is a hip or knee prosthesis necessary?
When we consider that a hip or knee prosthesis is necessary, it is when we have a destruction of the joint, generally due to osteoarthritis, and this causes pain. Therefore, the pain will be the situation that we will find to indicate what would be an arthroplasty or a hip or knee prosthesis.
How has the treatment evolved over the years?
The evolution of prostheses or hip and knee arthroplasty as a whole has evolved along four lines. On the one hand, with new designs and new materials, seeking greater durability of these implants, that is to say, of the materials. On the other hand, in an improvement of the surgical technique. And, on the other hand, because of the rehabilitation protocols for this hip or this knee, looking for a faster recovery, a greater functionality of the joint.
What new materials are the prostheses made of and what advantages do they offer the patient?
The evolution and improvement of the materials are directed in some way to a better fixation of these implants to the bone, looking for new titaniums that are more porous or the porosity of a new material which is tantalum. On the one hand, there are new developments in cements and surgical techniques that allow a better anchorage of these metallic surfaces to the bone by means of the cementation technique. And, on the other hand, new polyethylenes that produce less wear, or new ceramics that also produce greater longevity, are being sought for what would be the friction surface or the articulation.
What does Resurfacing consist of?
The prostheses that we call surface or articular surface replacement prostheses are those that in some way allow only the replacement of the damaged part of the joint, both in the hip and now also new designs in the knee. With this we intend in some way to conserve and preserve as much as possible the bone that will support the prosthesis or the articular surface, seeking in some way that in the future we will have enough bone stock to implant or to replace this implant that has been worn out by time.