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We are a company dedicated to service
and quality and have achieved significant growth since 1984
due entirely to Surgeons choosing Corin products for the
treatment of their patients. Corin's first and foremost
commitment is to the patients who receive these Corin
manufactured implants.
The following seek to address some
of the most frequently asked questions from patients, both
about their surgery and about the implants they might
receive.
What is orthopaedic surgery?
Orthopaedics (although literally
meaning to straighten the child) now refers to any surgery
of the musculo skeletal system. It includes:
-
implanting artificial joints
for the treatment of degenerative arthritis (osteo or
rheumatoid), congenital abnormalities of joints, and
other disorders which affect specific joint function
-
fixation of broken bones
-
repair of ligament and tendon
damage resulting from sporting and similar injuries
-
treatment of deformity and
trauma to the spine
What is the right implant for
me?
There are very many different
designs of implant and normally the choice of implant to be
used is at the discretion of the Surgeon. Some design
differences are based on Surgeon preferences, others relate
to the age and lifestyle of the patient. The important thing
is to understand what implant or treatment your Surgeon
recommends and why.
How successful is joint
replacement and other orthopaedic surgery?
Generally speaking, and for the
vast majority of patients, joint replacement is extremely
successful in providing relief from pain and improved
mobility for many years. Hip replacement in particular has
become one of the most successful surgical procedures of the
20th century and more than 60,000 hip replacements are
carried out in the UK every year. 1
The success of other orthopaedic
surgery arising from injuries, deformities and skeletal
degeneration will vary, depending on the degree and severity
of the condition. Again, in the vast majority of cases, a
successful outcome can be reasonably expected.
What should I do if I think I
need a joint replacement?
In the first instance, you will
have seen your local GP or doctor, who will refer you to a
specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon. Your clinical need will be
assessed, X-rays will normally be taken, and in some cases
CT or MRI scans or other investigations will be needed. The
Surgeon will then advise you if joint replacement is
appropriate and will discuss suitable options with you.
How long will I have to wait
for a joint replacement?
This can vary from one
country to another, and from area to area within a given
country. Please discuss this with your
surgeon.
How long will I be in
hospital for a joint replacement operation?
Again, this varies from hospital to
hospital and Surgeon to Surgeon. It will also depend on your
speed of recovery and your own level of pre-operative
fitness and your determination to get back to “normal”.
Generally speaking, you should
expect to be in hospital for several days. You will
have your operation at the beginning of your stay and the
rest of the time will be for your recovery, with
physiotherapy and rehabilitation being an important part of
this process.
How quickly you get out of bed
will, again, depend on your Surgeon, your own physical
condition and the type of prosthesis that has been
implanted. As you would expect, your activity levels in
hospital will be gradually increased, leading to walking
short distances and climbing stairs with the
assistance of a walking aid
immediately before you are discharged.
This should be discussed with your surgeon prior to your
operation.
To what extent will my
activities be restricted after joint replacement surgery?
You may need help and
support when you return to your home, the amount of support
being dependent on your general physical condition and the
type of surgery you have had. You may be required to walk
with a walking aid for some time after your operation, in order to
relieve the amount of load on your operated joint.
Whilst you are in hospital, you
should listen carefully to the advice from your Surgeon,
Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist. It is very
important that you adhere to their instructions and ensure
that you comply with any exercise regime that they
recommend.
Whilst joint replacement surgery
can provide for relief of chronic
and debilitating pain, you must remember that it will take
some time for your muscles and other joints to recover to a
more normal range of movement. This
should be discussed with your surgeon prior to your
operation.
How long will the implant
last?
This will depend on a number of
factors, including most importantly the type of implant you
receive, and your post-operative activity levels.
Joint replacements, until
recently, have typically been carried out on older, less active
patients. In older patients,
hip replacements are expected to last
at least ten years without any
need for it to be replaced or “revised”.
2
Implant wear,
especially if exposed to high demand from a patient's very
active life style, is a concern with joint replacement.
New types of devices, such as
metal-on-metal Hip Resurfacing (visit
www.keepmeactive.com for more information on this
type of device) and mobile-bearing knees
*, are specifically
intended for younger, more active patients, and are designed
for higher activity levels. This means that
younger patients can now be treated in such a way that they
can return to more normal levels of activity.
The performance of joint replacement depends on age, weight,
activity level and other factors. You should discuss
this with your surgeon.
What are the risks involved
in joint replacement surgery?
There are risks
associated with any surgical procedure and joint
replacement. Joint replacement is a relatively common
procedure today - eg more than 60,000 hip replacements are
carried out in the UK every year. 1
Principal complications include:
Immediate:
Infection -
possibility of infection.
Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary
embolus - this can be safeguarded against
there is the possibility that some patients will experience a problem of this type.
Long-term:
Loosening of the implant -
possibility of loosening of the implant.
Your Surgeon will advise you of any
risks involved in the specific procedure you are having.
Can I select my prosthesis
and have a Corin product?
You can, of course, ask your
Surgeon if he uses Corin products. He will advise the
specific joint he intends using for you, typically using
operative techniques and products he is familiar with.
In the era of Internet access and
increasing patient awareness, it is becoming more common for
patients to want to know what kind of implant they are
receiving, and to discuss the options available with their
Surgeon. The Internet is a good source of information,
but remember that your Surgeon is a specialist and expert in
this area.
Click here for
Product Overview.
How can I find out which
Surgeons use Corin products?
Use the Contact Us form, and we
will advise you of Surgeons in your area using specific
Corin devices.
For more information about Hip Resurfacing visit
http://www.keepmeactive.com |
