Excessive wear may contribute to loosening and may require revision surgery. Prosthetic Breakage - Breakage of the metal or plastic joint replacement is rare, but can occur. A revision surgery is necessary if this occurs Nerve Injury - Nerves in the vicinity of the total joint replacement may be damaged during the total replacement surgery, although this type of injury is infrequent. This is more likely to occur when the surgery involves correction of major joint deformity or lengthening of a shortened limb due to an arthritic deformity. Over time, these nerve injuries often improve and may completely recover.
Most older persons can expect their total joint replacement to last a decade or more.
It will give years of pain-free living that would not have been possible otherwise. Younger joint replacement patients may need a second total joint replacement. Materials and surgical techniques are improving through the efforts of orthopedists working with engineers and other scientists. The future is bright for those who choose to have a total joint replacement to achieve an improved quality of life through greater independence and healthier pain-free activity.