In your body, you have many joints, which are where two or more bones meet. A joint can be a hinge joint (ex: your knee), which is classified by its ability to bend and straighten, or a ball-and-socket joint (ex: your shoulder), which is a type of joint where the rounded end of one bone fits into another bone. For many people, the articular cartilage, or the cartilage that lines the ends of bones, can be damaged and weakened over time.
Joint replacement surgery is a treatment used to relieve pain and restore a more normal function and mobility to the damaged joint. The surgery consists of the removal of the damaged joint and tissues, which may then be replaced with an artificial prosthesis. Joint replacement surgery is most often done on the hip, knee, and shoulders, but can also be performed on the fingers, ankles and elbows.
