Why would you need joint preservation surgery?

Joint preservation surgery is usually required to address the problems caused by osteoarthritis, joint dysplasia, post-traumatic damage or other joint problems and is used to restore articular surfaces, reduce pain and improve quality of life. Factors such as the patient's general health, age and activity level play an important role in evaluating surgical options. Joint preservation surgery is a surgical method generally used to treat joint damage caused by various conditions and to restore functionality. Conditions that can be treated with joint preservation surgery include:

●       Osteoarthritis (arthritis of the joints): Osteoarthritis is a common condition that causes wear of articular cartilage and deformation of joint surfaces. Joint preservation surgery can be performed in the early stages of osteoarthritis to preserve articular surfaces and help the patient maintain mobility.

●       Joint Dysplasia: Joint dysplasia, a congenital condition, occurs when the joint surfaces do not develop properly. Joint preservation surgery can be used as an option to correct this condition and preserve articular structures.

●       Traumatic Injuries: Traumatic joint damage caused by accidents, falls or sports injuries can be treated with joint preservation surgery. This surgery can help restore joint function by repairing damaged articular surfaces.

●       Cartilage Disorders: Joint preservation surgery can be used to treat cartilage disorders with cartilage transplantation or repair. The procedure can reduce pain and maintain joint health by restoring cartilage tissue in the joint.

●       Joint Infections: Joint preservation surgery can be used to treat damage caused by joint infections. Surgery may involve removing infected tissue while preserving healthy joint tissue.

What are the types of joint preservation surgery?

Joint preservation surgery includes a variety of methods that aim to preserve joint health and effectively address joint problems. The types of joint preservation surgery are:

●       Debridement (clean-up): Debridement is a surgical procedure that aims to restore joint health and is usually performed arthroscopically. Arthroscopic debridement is a minimally invasive technique that allows a thin camera and surgical instruments to be inserted into the joint. Debridement is particularly effective in treating conditions such as meniscal tears, cartilage damage, free-floating fragments of cartilage or problems involving the synovial membrane. The benefit of debridement is that it is a minimally invasive procedure with less postoperative pain and a fast recovery. It is an effective option to restore joint health, reduce pain and improve joint function.

●       Cartilage Transplant: Cartilage transplantation is a surgical procedure to repair damaged or lost articular cartilage in order to restore joint health. It is often used to treat joint cartilage damage caused by conditions such as osteoarthritis, traumatic injuries or cartilage disorders. Cartilage transplant involves a three-stage procedure. In the first stage, some cartilage is retrieved from the joint that needs cartilage transplant. Donor cartilage can be harvested from the patient's own body or from another donor. The recipient site is then carefully prepared. Damaged or missing cartilage tissue is removed to create a suitable substrate. Healthy cartilage tissue is then implanted to the defect area to restore joint function. Cartilage transplant can offer patients a number of benefits, including reduced joint pain, increased mobility and restored joint function. However, it should be noted that every surgical intervention comes with risks. 

●       Microfracture: Microfracture is a surgical procedure that aims to stimulate the body's own healing processes by creating small holes in the bone beneath damaged articular cartilage. This technique is a minimally invasive procedure specifically developed to treat small cracks and damage in the cartilage surface. It is often used to address joint problems caused by cartilage damage or fractures. A special instrument is inserted through small incision to create microscopic holes in the cartilage surface. These holes activate the body's own healing mechanisms. The bleeding through these holes initiates an influx of vital reparative cells that will eventually repair the defect. After microfracture, new cartilage cells grow on the cartilage surface and the cracks close naturally. The benefits of this technique are that it is minimally invasive and uses the patient's own cells. It is an important surgical method used to rebuild joint health and provide patients with a more effective treatment option.

●       Osteo-Arthroplasty: Osteo-arthroplasty is an effective surgical method for articular cartilage repair. It is especially used to treat cartilage damage and to restore joint function in osteoarthritis. It is preferred to solve joint problems caused by cartilage wear due to arthritis, degeneration or traumatic injuries. During surgery, damaged cartilage tissue is first removed with surgical instruments and then a prosthesis or graft is placed on the joint surface. A prosthesis is an artificial device that replaces the joint. A graft is immunocompatible tissue. This method offers an effective way to resurface and repair joints. The benefits of this method are reduced pain, increased joint movement and improved quality of life. However, as with any surgical intervention, osteo-arthroplasty involves certain risks.