Joint preservation involves various treatment procedures that delay or avoid joint replacement surgery by preventing joint deterioration. The treatments aim to ease and relieve pain and restore normal motion and the functioning of your joints. Joint preservation Cumming also reduces complications and risks after complete joint replacement. The joint preservation technique your doctor uses depends on age, injury location, the severity of your condition, and general health. Joint preservation involves non-surgical and less-invasive treatments. There are many procedures for joint preservation, and here are some.
Medications
Your doctor can prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen to reduce your joint pain and inflammation. You can also apply topical gels and ointments over the affected joint region to ease discomfort.
Corticosteroid injections
Corticosteroid injections involve your specialist administering the medication directly into the affected joint. Corticosteroid injection combines a numbing agent and cortisone that eases pain caused by arthritis, injury, or mechanical stress. This joint preservation technique reduces pain temporarily for about three months, so your specialist can confirm whether the injected joint is the source of your pain. Cortisone minimizes inflammation, providing longer relief.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
Platelet-rich plasma involves your doctor drawing a blood sample and centrifuging it to separate platelets. The doctor mixes the separated platelets with plasma and injects them into the damaged joint. Platelets help in blood clotting and contain specific proteins known as growth factors that help in the healing process. Doctors can use PRP to treat arthritis, fractures, and injured muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Platelet-rich plasma therapy helps to relieve pain, and swelling quickens the healing process, and delays joint replacement surgery.
Surgery
Surgical joint preservation methods help to repair damaged bone, re-join broken bones, or repair tore ligaments that alter the proper functioning of your joints. Doctors mostly do surgery on hip and knee joints if other treatments are ineffective. The commonly used surgical techniques for joint preservation include:
Internal fixation
Internal fixation is a technique where your surgeon uses metal plates, crews, or pins to stabilize the displaced bones. Occasionally, surgeons do not remove the screws and rods after you heal.
Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy involves your specialist inserting a small scope through a small cut to view the injured area. The specialist can also use small instruments to clear or repair damaged tissue, enhancing joint healing.
Osteotomy
Osteotomy involves your surgeon realigning bones by removing your joint’s damaged or arthritic part. The surgeon will then place the weight-bearing force on the normal joint cartilage, reducing stress on your joint. Osteotomy can treat dysplasia and osteoarthritis symptoms.
Resurfacing
Resurfacing is where your surgeon uses metal caps to resurface the joints in your ball and socket regions. Surgeons mainly use this procedure in hip joints. Resurfacing relieves stress and friction on your muscles, reducing joint pain.
Partial replacement
Partial replacement is similar to resurfacing but needs implants in a part of your joint region. It relieves pain and preserves the unaffected portion of your joint. Your joint can restore normal functioning without a complete joint replacement.
Joint preservation involves treatment procedures that delay or avoid joint replacement surgery by preventing joint deterioration. Medications, PRP, joint injections, and surgery are the procedures used in joint preservation. Schedule an appointment at Stephen Fisher, M.D for joint preservation to restore your joint normal functioning.
