If knee or hip pain is affecting your quality of life, joint replacement surgery can help. At Fairview, we have a long history of performing successful hip and knee replacements. Our team provides exceptional care and support from the day you decide to schedule surgery all the way through recovery
Educational resources
Every major surgery has risks, but knee and hip replacements are safer than most. Learn more about your joints and take advantage of these resources to help prevent problems and prepare for recovery.
How joints work
The ends of the bones in your joint are covered with cartilage, a smooth, tough tissue that allows your joint to move easily. The cartilage also acts as a cushion to protect the bones. Muscles and ligaments surround your joint and keep it stable as it moves.
What causes joint pain?
Joint pain is often caused by a disease called arthritis, or osteoarthritis. The disease causes the cartilage to wear away from the bones, and the joint loses its cushion. The surface of the bones becomes rough. These rough edges may rub against each other, bone on bone, causing pain.
As the pain gets worse, you may try to stop using the painful joint. And as you use it less, the joint loses its flexibility and strength.
What happens in joint replacement surgery?
During a joint replacement, doctors remove damaged cartilage and bone from your joint and replace it with new parts made of metal, strong plastic or other material. These parts fit together to create a new joint with smooth surfaces, so the joint can move in a more natural, comfortable motion. The new joint is called an implant, artificial joint or prosthesis.
Surgery usually lasts about two hours. First the surgeon removes the diseased bone and cartilage, and then they prepare the remaining bone for the implant. Once the surgeon fits the implant into the bone, the skin is closed with staples or stitches.
