Hip and knee joints, and to a much lesser extent shoulder-joint replacement, are the most commonly opted-for joint replacement surgeries. There are several centers of excellence in orthopaedic surgery outside western Europe and North America. They are equipped with



Hip replacement, or arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure in which the diseased parts of the hip joint are removed and replaced with new, artificial parts. These artificial parts are called the prosthesis. The goals of hip replacement surgery are to improve mobility by relieving pain and improve function of the hip joint.

In India, a few doctors have pioneered hip resurfacing surgery, an alternative to hip replacement.

More information on hip replacement can be found on the following websites:

1. National Institutes of Health http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/hip/hiprepqa.htm
2. Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hip-replacement/AR00028
3. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/

Knee replacement is generally considered for patients with severe knee osteoarthritis, after all other treatment options have failed. As the cartilage surface at the ends of the knee joints is worn away, a person experiences moderate to severe discomfort in carrying out a normal range of activities.

More information on knee replacement can be found on the following websites:

1. National Institutes of Health http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/kneereplacement.html
2. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/