SURGICAL-MANAGEMENT OF OSTEOARTHRITIS

The surgical management of osteoarthritis has progressed greatly in th e past 30 years and often is indicated when noninvasive measures can n o longer provide sufficient pain relief and maintenance of function. P hysicians can choose from a variety of surgical procedures, depending on patient age, the joint involved, functional expectations, patient a ctivity demands, and degree of cartilaginous loss. Surgical procedures for arthritic joints fan be classified in two broad categories: those that are cartilage-sparing, such as osteotomy, and those that are car tilage-sacrificing, such as arthroplasty. This article discusses those procedures most commonly used for the major weightbearing joints of t he lower extremities (hip, knee, ankle) as well as the large joints of the upper extremity (shoulder, elbow).