At OrthoUnited, we take pride in offering patients the latest and most advanced surgical techniques designed to offer a more natural, comfortable end result. In fact, we were the area’s first ambulatory orthopaedic surgery center and are known today as a leading provider of outpatient orthopaedic surgery.
When you’re living with the pain, discomfort, and limited mobility that comes with osteoarthritis, you can trust the experienced surgeons at OrthoUnited to help restore proper movement and function in the affected joints.
Before we can explore the various surgical options available to treat osteoarthritis, we must first discuss what osteoarthritis is and what causes it.
What is Osteoarthritis?
Babies have much more cartilage than adults, which is why their bodies are so forgiving when it comes to trip ups and tumbles. Cartilage naturally decreases as we age, but some should remain to protect the joints from rubbing against each other.
When the cartilage covering the ends of your bones wears away, it leaves your joints exposed and prone to friction. That friction compounds over time and can cause rough edges or even cysts to form on your joints. That same friction is what leads to inflammation and pain, the two telltale signs of osteoarthritis.
Most Common Surgery Options for Osteoarthritis
Just because that protective cartilage on your bones is gone doesn’t mean there’s no way to restore proper movement and function. Skilled orthopaedic surgeons can use advanced surgical techniques to remove damaged cartilage and smooth the surfaces of the affected joints.
Arthroscopic Surgery
Using an arthroscope or a pen-sized tube with a camera attached, the surgeon explores the inside of your joint and is able to smooth rough spots and remove bone fragments and damaged cartilage. This surgical method is proven to be less effective for osteoarthritis than total joint surgery, but may be a viable option for someone in the early stages of osteoarthritis. Learn more about arthroscopy.
Total or Partial Joint Replacement Surgery (Arthroplasty)
Joint replacement surgery, whether total or partial, removes the diseased joint or parts of the joint and replaces it with an artificial joint made of plastic or metal. This surgical option is more involved than arthroscopic surgery, but can also be performed as an outpatient procedure with at-home recovery. Our orthopaedic outpatient surgery center (Ohio Specialty Surgical Suites) was the first of its kind in the area, and it houses some of the most advanced equipment available.
Patients generally experience a huge improvement in quality of life following joint replacement surgery and experience restored movement and function. As we love to say at OrthoUnited, “You have one life to live. Let’s get you back to living it!”
Robotics-Assisted Surgery
Similar to joint replacement surgery, robotics-assisted orthopaedic surgery involves the surgeon’s use of a robot to provide real time feedback about the patient’s anatomy while removing diseased parts of the affected joints and replacing them with artificial ones. The use of a robot allows for greater precision and has been proven to lead to more natural, comfortable results.
Find the Right Treatment for You
If you’ve been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and are ready to take the next step in your treatment journey, trust the experts at OrthoUnited. If you suspect you may have osteoarthritis and want to do something about the discomfort, we can help! Contact us today to schedule an appointment—we may be able to see you the very same day.
