• Joint replacement is not for everyone.  It is a significant procedure that carries certain risks.  It can consume a great deal of your energy and resources, put demands on family and friends, and require long convalescence.  However, it often provides dramatic relief and is a viable option after other remedies have been tried.
  
• Usually, the basic symptoms that must exist for a doctor to recommend joint replacement surgery – known as arthroplasty – are disabling pain and x-ray evidence of joint damage, leading to a significant drop in ability to function and quality of life.
  
• Arthroplasty doesn't cure arthritis, but it can improve movement and ease localized pain.
  
• More than 500,000 total hip and knee replacement surgeries are performed each year in the U.S.  Partial replacement procedures each year reach about half that number.  There also are replacement procedures for other joints performed (shoulder, ankle, wrist).
  
• Generally, the age of a person receiving a total joint replacement is in the mid- to upper 60s.  This may vary depending on a patient's diagnosis and individual circumstances.
  
• Overall, more women undergo joint replacement procedures than men, and a much higher percentage (as high as 75 percent) undergo partial joint replacement procedures.
  
• Among patients identified as having the best chance for success with arthroplasty, three out of four replacement joints are fully functional after 25 years.  More than 90 percent of artificial hip and knee joints are successful for 15 years or more.
  
• Success rates for younger people tend to be lower due to greater "wear and tear" on the joint.  About two out of three patients 40 years old or younger achieve a 25-year success rate.
  
• Post-procedure complications can include dislocation, deep infection, aseptic loosening and osteolysis (bone loss).
  
• Replacement joints utilizing metal-on-polyethylene components enjoy excellent success rates and are the most common choice today.  New materials for hips include metal-on-metal and ceramics. 
  
• NSAIDs – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – are often prescribed in connection with arthritis and severe joint problems, while narcotic-based drugs are not.  There are a wide variety of NSAIDs, ranging from aspirin and Motrin to Vioxx and Celebrex.
  
• Cardiovascular side effects from certain Cox-2 Inhibitors (a category of NSAIDs) appear to be related to dose size.  For patients still taking Celebrex and other Cox-2 Inhibitors, the FDA and Arthritis Foundation recommend the lowest possible dose that best controls their symptoms.
  
• Physical therapy after arthroplasty is a virtual necessity and should be planned for.  It is a highly beneficial aspect of recovery.
  
• Arthroplasty patients who keep their weight under control and engage in a regular, low-impact exercise regimen have the best outcomes in terms of leading a normal life "post-implant."

*Quick Facts have been reviewed by Medical Advisors and are current as of October 2005.