What are the risks of artificial joints?

Have many patients seriously considered the necessity of undergoing artificial joint surgery?

The average lifespan of an artificial joint is only 5-10 years. The main reason is that artificial joints can never fully integrate with the natural bone. Over time and with increased activity, prosthetics can easily become loose or dislocate. Therefore, doctors usually recommend that patients wait until they are 65 years old to have the surgery. If the surgery is performed too early, patients may need a revision surgery in 5-10 years, and the outcomes are unlikely to be ideal.

Statistics show that 1 in 5 people are dissatisfied with total knee replacement surgery. Although modern surgical techniques and materials have improved safety, the fundamental issues with surgery still exist (artificial joints cannot integrate with natural bone).

Why replace artificial joints only after 65? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLD1reVgWpU

Four Common Misconceptions About Joint Replacement

There are certain risks associated with joint replacement surgery

Surgical risks include:

• Complications from anesthesia and the surgery itself, such as bleeding, infection, and cardiovascular events
• Delayed recovery from surgical wounds or wound dehiscence
• Nerve damage leading to sensory or motor deficits
• Dislocation or loosening of the artificial joint; for example, jumping, falls, or heavy lifting can cause vertical/lateral loosening, and even fractures may require revision surgery
• Prosthetic size mismatch leading to improper alignment, causing joint instability, loosening, and pain
• Allergic reactions to metals or polymers, caused by wear and tear releasing alloy particles, leading to allergic reactions in surrounding tissues
• Wear, corrosion, or fracture, causing prosthetic failure and the need for replacement
• Foreign body reactions or bone resorption, leading to loss of surrounding bone density

Post-operative recovery risks include:

• Bacterial infection is the most severe complication (due to foreign bodies in the body), leading to pus formation and tissue necrosis, which can result in long-term pain, pus discharge, and inability to walk; amputation may be the only solution to relieve pain
• Osteoporosis; the artificial joint can affect bone metabolism, leading to osteoporosis and increased risk of joint loosening
• Joint stiffness; surgical scarring, fibrosis, or calcification can cause tightness and stiffness, resulting in difficulty flexing and pain, requiring long-term rehabilitation
• Limited joint mobility, preventing full functional recovery
• Leg length discrepancy; straightening the knee post-surgery can lead to slight leg length discrepancies, potentially affecting the spine, such as causing scoliosis
• Risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism

Thus, numerous risks, complications, and sequelae make surgery the last resort for O-shaped knee pain.

But why do doctors still recommend surgery?

In fact, hospitals, equipment companies, insurance companies, and other stakeholders promote surgery as the mainstream treatment for profit, while concealing the fundamental issues of surgery. Surgery is not a panacea; it can damage surrounding tissues and does not address the root causes of pain in the long term.

How should patients address O-shaped knee pain?

Given the numerous risks, complications, and sequelae associated with surgery, patients should pursue proper conservative treatments (orthotic K39d) and correction to safely open the inner knee space and address O-shaped knee pain without the risks and complications associated with artificial joint replacement surgery.