Artificial joint: How do I decide in favour of (or against) it?

If your doctor recommends a joint replacement, you are probably suffering from very advanced joint wear and tear, which is causing you pain and restricting your quality of life. Nevertheless, you ultimately decide for yourself whether you want to have an artificial joint implanted or not. It is important that the surgery feels ‘right’ for you and you are ready for this new stage in your life. This article can help you to make the right decision for you.

When is the right time for an artificial joint?

The decision in favour of an artificial joint requires careful consideration of the individual circumstances. The first and most important factor is the extent of the pain and the associated reduction in life quality. Anyone to whom a prosthesis is recommended has usually already suffered for a very long time and has left little untried to improve their personal situation. Anyone suffering severely from osteoarthritis and who is unable to manage the symptoms despite conservative treatments is usually well advised to have an artificial joint.

Have you exhausted all conservative options?

Surgery is not always necessary. Conservative treatments are often sufficient to manage the pain and improve life quality. Conservative methods include, in particular, regular physiotherapy exercises such as the GLA:D programme to strengthen the muscles and improve joint function, infiltration therapies, drug therapies, weight reduction and orthopaedic aids such as insoles or splints to relieve joint pressure.

How old and how active are you?

Your age and activity level also play an important role in the decision for or against an artificial joint. Artificial joints normally last between 15 and 20 years. In the event of infection or loosening, it may be necessary to replace the prosthesis earlier or undergo revision surgery. Very active people may experience increased wear of the implant.

Artificial joint replacement must therefore be carefully considered for younger and very active people. For older patients, on the other hand, the improvement in quality of life can be considerable with a prosthesis. Realistically assess your own expectations and goals and ask yourself whether you are ready for rehabilitation after the operation and how important it is to you to regain your full mobility and freedom from pain.

Where should I undergo surgery?

If you decide to have an operation, you should ask your attending doctor about the prosthetics programme at the clinic in question. Ideally, the clinic should be highly specialised in prosthetics. The prosthetics programme should also be based on a fast-track procedure, provide good patient information and focus on movement before, during and after the clinic stay.

One clinic that has taken on a pioneering role in prosthetics is the highly specialised Rosenklinik in Rapperswil. In 2022, it was the first clinic in Switzerland to introduce the standardised treatment procedure agile+®. Surgical and anaesthetic procedures were adapted accordingly, a care management team looks after patients and acts as a link between all the specialists involved. The programme has been a great success: patients appreciate the transparent information and close support. They are also often surprised at how quickly they can walk again after the procedure. Such successes strengthen confidence in their own bodies and prove that a prosthesis is not the end of the world: A prosthesis is not the end of the world. On the contrary: it brings you back into everyday life.