Article

There are two main surgical treatments for osteoarthritis: conservative
treatments, where the damaged cartilage is left in place, and radical treatments,
where the cartilage is replaced by an artificial endoprosthesis; this latter
procedure is termed joint arthroplasty. These treatments are only offered to
symptomatic patients. Arthrodesis is yet another surgical intervention in cases
of osteoarthritis. It will sacrifice the joint's articular function and is
performed on small osteoarthritic joints, such as wrists and ankles, for instance. Osteoarthritis symptoms are usually the consequence of an imbalance
between the load applied to a joint and the surface available to support that
load. Therefore, conservative treatments will either tend to decrease the load
exerted on the joint, such as in a tibial valgus osteotomy for instance, or to
improve the articular surface supporting that load. Sometimes, both can be
provided at the same time; the peri-acetabular osteotomy for hip dysplasia is an
example of such a procedure. Conservative treatments are usually offered to young
patients in order to delay, if not avoid, the need for a joint prosthesis. They
are usually performed before osteoarthritis appears or at an early stage. Joint
arthroplasties have overwhelmingly excellent functional results and today's
research is directed towards providing rapid recovery, very long-term stability,
and the assurance of a good functionality in extreme conditions. However,
complications with joint arthroplasties can be serious with little, if any,
reasonable salvage solution. Therefore, these procedures are offered to patients
who have failed adequate medical treatment measures.
CI - Copyright (c) 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS