Joint replacement surgery: an individualized decision

As a general internist who does primary care for adult and elderly patients, I talk to patients a lot about arthritis and joint replacement surgery. This type of surgery, also known as arthroplasty, is one of the most common types of elective surgery done in the United States. Knees, hips and shoulders are the most frequently done arthroplasties, and most of those surgeries are done for severe osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, is due to wear-and-tear of the joint, and becomes very common as we age. It often can cause debilitating pain and difficulty with functi...