Types of Joint Replacement - Shoulder replacement - Hip replacement - Knee replacement - Ankle replacement - Finger joint replacement - Elbow replacement

Risks and Complications - Medical risks - Heart attack - Stroke - Venous Thromboembolism - Pneumonia - Increased confusion - Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) - Intra-operative risks - Mal-positioning of the components - Shortening - Instability/dislocation - Loss of range of motion - Fracture of the adjacent bone - Nerve damage - Damage to blood vessels - Immediate risks - Superficial or deep infection - Dislocation - Medium-term risks - Dislocation - Persistent pain - Loss of range of motion - Weakness - Indolent infection - Long-term risks - Loosening of the components - Polyethylene synovitis - wear of weight-bearing surfaces - Controversies: best bearing surface, cemented vs uncemented fixation, minimally invasive surgery

Technique - Pre-anaesthetic work-up required - Pre-operative planning with accurate X-rays and implant design - Hospitalization followed by weeks of protected function, healing, and rehabilitation - Early mobilization to reduce complications - Physiotherapy for recovery of function

Materials used in joint replacement - Metals and metal alloys such as cobalt, chrome, titanium, vanadium, stainless steel, aluminum, nickel, hafnium, silicon, cobalt-chrome, tungsten, and zirconium - Ceramic materials used in knee replacements - Ceramic components designed to be benign and not sharp if shards break off

Prosthesis replacement and History - Prostheses may need to be replaced due to complications like infection or prosthetic fracture - Replacement can be done in one surgical session or in separate surgeries - Animal testing of artificial joints began in 1939 - Previous forms of arthroplasty included interpositional arthroplasty and excisional arthroplasty - Most common form of arthroplasty today is the surgical replacement of a joint or joint surface with a prosthesis