Surgery

In most cases, people can manage their osteoarthritis symptoms with medicine and lifestyle changes. But surgery may be an option if:

• You have very bad pain.
• You have lost a lot of cartilage.
• You have tried medicine and other treatments, but they haven't helped.
• Your overall health is good.

Surgery choices

Types of surgery for arthritis include:

• Arthrodesis. This joins (fuses) two bones in a damaged joint so that the joint won't bend. Doctors may use it to treat arthritis of the spine, ankles, hands, and feet. In rare cases, it's used to treat the knees and hips.
• Arthroscopy can help relieve pain for a short time and allow the joints to move better. In some cases, the relief lasts a long time. Arthroscopy may help delay surgery to replace the joint that hurts. But it doesn't seem to help the arthritis itself.⁷ It may work best for people who have pain or a hard time moving when their joints become "locked" or stuck because of loose cartilage or bone fragments.
• Hip resurfacing surgery. This is most often done in younger, more active people who have pain and disability caused by a badly damaged hip.
• Joint replacement. This is done when other treatments haven't worked and damage to the joint can be seen on X-rays. It involves surgery to replace the ends of bones in a damaged joint. The surgery creates new joint surfaces.
  • Hip Replacement Surgery
  • Knee Replacement Surgery
  • Shoulder Replacement Surgery
• Osteotomy. This is done to correct certain defects in the hip and knee. In most cases, it's done in active people younger than 60 who have mild arthritis and want to delay surgery to replace their hip or knee.
• Small joint surgery. This is used if pain in the joints of the hands or feet is so bad that a person can't use those joints. In some cases, doctors will replace joints in the toe. But this is rarely done in young, active people.

A newer procedure for arthritis of the knee uses a small cup shaped like a "C." It's placed in the joint space of the inner knee and acts as a cushion for the joint. It may help delay surgery to replace the knee.

What to think about

Before deciding to have surgery

If you're in poor health or have certain health problems, you may not be able to have surgery. Your doctor can help you decide if surgery is right for you.

Here are some things to think about if you're thinking about surgery:

• After surgery, most people are able to go back to doing their daily tasks and sports with less pain.
• You will need several months of physical therapy to get the best use of your joint.
• Replacement joints typically last 10 to 20 years. You may need another surgery if the new joint wears out.

For help deciding whether to have joint replacement surgery, see:

Arthritis: Should I Have Hip Replacement Surgery?

Arthritis: Should I Have Knee Replacement Surgery?

Arthritis: Should I Have Shoulder Replacement Surgery?

If you decide to have surgery

In the days or weeks before your surgery, talk to your doctor about what you need to do to get ready for your return home. For example, you may need to arrange for someone to drive you home and to help you after your surgery. Or you may need to make changes to your home, such as removing small rugs, to help you move around.