Arthroplasty

This is joint replacement. It is technically possible on any joint, but it generally happens on the hip and knee joints. Can be a hemiarthroplasty (one side of the joint) or a whole one.

Replacements do not last as long as regular joints, generally 10-20 years, but its slowly improving.

Knee replacement

Basically:

1. Cut the knee open.
2. Saw the epicondyles off both sides
3. Attach a covering plate to the top of the tibia, and cement it in.
4. Carefully shape the bottom of the femur, attach the bigger side of the artificial joint, and cement it in.
5. Sew em up!