ORTHOPEDICS/HIP & KNEE/SURGICAL TECHNIQUES
Suitability Features
A joint switching surgery is a classic therapy for serious Osteoarthritis. Hip and/or knee joint switching are mostly performed with persons between the ages of 55 and 80.
Usually, surgery is not recommended to older persons due the high risk of anesthesia complications or also due to bone fragility.
The question is: But
Is any of these arguments true; are there ages when having a joint switching an obstacle?
Features Considered by Specialists
Generally, age itself is never an ambiguity for any surgery, including a joint switching.
Specialists are far more involved in the overall health of a person rather than the chronological age.
Because of this rule, a younger person might be considered unhealthy for some surgeries, while an elderly person may pass the evaluation without any difficulty.
When performing a suitability valuation, an orthopedic specialist will focus on three main features:
- Current health status
It is the principal criteria. It is a recap of the medical history showing any serious or chronic health disorder.
- 2- Physical strength
Physical strength will also need to be evaluated to ensure safe undergoing the renovation process.
- 3- The mental function:
This should be evaluated as well to ensure the aptitude to accepting the procedure and preventing any damage to the person and the implant.
Exclusion Features
While age alone did not exclude a person from surgery, other factors should be taken into consideration such as:
- Serious Osteoporosis
Performing the surgery with serious Osteoporosis may almost become impossible because the bones are so brittle to support a new joint.
- An existing inflammation
May as well exclude surgery, at least until it is completely healed.
- Smoking
Smokers are ten times more expected to require a revision surgery than non-smokers.
- Obesity
Might also be an excluding factor, although with not a direct contraindication.
- Alcoholism or mental illness
Can even make surgery impossible since it is difficult avoiding falls with these features.
Features to take into consideration
If old persons feel in need of a joint switching surgery, they should start by asking themselves these little simple questions:
- Is pain seriously impacting your way of life and preventing you from doing everyday duties such as shopping, driving, or cleaning the house?
- Does the pain prevent did not allow you sleeping or interfering with your ability to walk, stand, sit, or navigate stairs?
- (If you smoke), are you willing to quit helping future improvement?
- Are you willing to quit alcohol abuse for the same above reason
- (if required), are you willing to exercise and lose weight, to better ensuring recovery?
- Is there someone to assist you during rehabilitation?
If the answer to any of these above questions is “NO”, you should discuss with your specialist whether a joint switching surgery is the right alternative or if there are other therapy procedures thay you may afford.