This blog is devoted to BIOL 6988, a graduate level seminar in the biological sciences at Youngstown State University. While targeted towards graduate students, BIOL 6988 actively incorporates undergraduate participants in their scholastic endeavors in the biological sciences. This blog is intended as a educational tool not just for YSU students and faculty, but for anyone who wishes to contribute to an active-learning environment.
Sorry, folks, for being so late to the party with this. I have been swamped. Joe Budny is next up with his seminar entitled "Changes in bone composition and its effects on hip joint replacement prosthesis". A link to a relevant paper follows:
Joe's presentation looked at two topics. Firstly, the composition of bone and how its composition changes due to age and disease. Furthermore, he went on to point out some preventative measures for reducing bone loss. Secondly, Joe described the process of a hip joint replacement, its variations, materials, and how bone and prosthesis affect each other.
What are some other replacement surgeries or procedures that come to mind? What are their complications or benefits?
A total shoulder replacement is another for of surgery that is actually very similar to to a hip joint replacement. In shoulder replacement surgery, doctors replace damaged humerus and sometimes the scapula. Surgeons usually replace the top of the upper arm bone with a long metal piece, inserted into your upper arm bone, that has a rounded head (sound familiar?). This procedure is used to alleviate severe pain and stiffness that often result at the end stage of various forms of arthritis or degenerative joint disease. Complications from the procedure can include: Blood clots, nerve damage,lack of range of motion, and dislocation of upper arm bone.
A total shoulder replacement is another for of surgery that is actually very similar to to a hip joint replacement. In shoulder replacement surgery, doctors replace damaged humerus and sometimes the scapula. Surgeons usually replace the top of the upper arm bone with a long metal piece, inserted into your upper arm bone, that has a rounded head (sound familiar?). This procedure is used to alleviate severe pain and stiffness that often result at the end stage of various forms of arthritis or degenerative joint disease. Complications from the procedure can include: Blood clots, nerve damage,lack of range of motion, and dislocation of upper arm bone.
A replacement surgery I recently read about is disc replacement surgery in the spine. An artificial disc usually consisting of metal or biopolymer can be inserted into the spine between the vertebra and can mimic the function of a normal disc. Some complications can include infection, blood vessel or nerve injury, increasing or development of new pain, breakage or dislodgment of the device, as well as death.
Another example of replacement surgeries is the total knee replacement (TKR), also known as a total knee arthroplasty (TKA). It relies on a mechanical implant to replace the actual knee. The procedure is mostly done in the elderly but it can also be used for younger people with osteoarthritis (OA) and other degenerative knee conditions. The implant do not last forever because overtime the metal and plastic parts wear out. However, this device would last about a decade. Serious complications, such as knee joint infection, occur in fewer than 2 percent of patients. Blood clots can be a risk, as they are with all orthopedic procedures, but the risk is low.
My dad has osteoarthritis in his knee; however being in his mid 50's, he is deemed to young for a knee replacement. To manage the pain he receives Hyaluronan shots in his knee. Hyaluronan is a carbohydrate polymer already natural found in synovial fluid. This decreases the pain by lubricating the knee joint and promoting natural synovial fluid synthesis.
Aside from joint replacement, another type of replacement surgery that comes to mind is heart valve replacement. These can be (as in joint replacement) mechanical valves, but alternatives such as porcine and bovine are also popular options. These are helpful in correcting problems such as leaky valves (regurgitations), but as with any foreign tissue or material, rejection (an immune response directed at the new valve) is a risk factor that causes complications.
Total ankle replacement (arthroplasty) is another example of a replacement surgery for individuals with arthritis of the ankle. The surgery consists of removing the damaged bone and cartilage and replacing it with metal and/or high-density polyethylene (plastic). The surgery is beneficial for pain relief but complications can include immobility of the up-and-down motion of the foot that normally occurs through the ankle.
Presentation: Joe's presentation was a great look into the cutting edge of hip replacement procedures. Although it makes sense, I never gave much thought to the development of hip replacements in terms of their material composition. This is an interesting concept that I'd imagine involves people in a number of areas including physicians along with biomedical engineers of some sort.
Question Response: Elbow joint replacement is a similar type of procedure. Elbow replacement is significantly less common than knees and hips, but is still certainly possible and quite capable at helping remove similar types of pain and impairment that effect individuals who are in need of knee/hip replacements.
Joe’s presentation was very insightful and looked at the significance of constantly improving hip replacements. Damaged/broken hip joints are often a debilitating event for older individuals and the continued improvement of hip replacement technology allows for both more effective surgical procedures and longer lasting replacements that allow for less invasive procedures overall.
Wrist replacement surgery, while less common than a lot of other types of replacement surgery, is still available for people who suffer from chronic, painful arthritis. Unlike with a hip or knee, the wrist is a more complicated joint that possess a number of small carpal bones. Just like with other replacement surgeries, the damaged bones of the wrist can be replaced with prosthetics.
Many individuals find themselves in a position of needing bilateral knee replacements due to either excessive physical activity or the added stress caused by the increasing incidence of obesity from poor nutritional choices. These replacements are also very tricky like the hip replacement but with bilateral surgeries the physical therapy time and intensity is a much different ordeal for the patient. The degree of back related complications that result for the convalescent period provides me with a nice income for about a year and a half following the surgery.
Cochlear implants can be a pretty life-altering prosthetic for those hard at hearing and experiencing deafness. There is an external portion that sits behind the ear and a portion which is surgically implanted into the middle ear. A transmitter converts sounds into electrical impulses which are sent to different parts of the auditory nerve. These implants can cause permanent loss of functional hearing and increased risk of infections. Also it can quite difficult for some to understand speech so researchers are working on improving the implants and allowing a better recognition of
Joe's presentation looked at two topics. Firstly, the composition of bone and how its composition changes due to age and disease. Furthermore, he went on to point out some preventative measures for reducing bone loss. Secondly, Joe described the process of a hip joint replacement, its variations, materials, and how bone and prosthesis affect each other.
ReplyDeleteWhat are some other replacement surgeries or procedures that come to mind? What are their complications or benefits?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteA total shoulder replacement is another for of surgery that is actually very similar to to a hip joint replacement. In shoulder replacement surgery, doctors replace damaged humerus and sometimes the scapula. Surgeons usually replace the top of the upper arm bone with a long metal piece, inserted into your upper arm bone, that has a rounded head (sound familiar?). This procedure is used to alleviate severe pain and stiffness that often result at the end stage of various forms of arthritis or degenerative joint disease. Complications from the procedure can include: Blood clots, nerve damage,lack of range of motion, and dislocation of upper arm bone.
DeleteA total shoulder replacement is another for of surgery that is actually very similar to to a hip joint replacement. In shoulder replacement surgery, doctors replace damaged humerus and sometimes the scapula. Surgeons usually replace the top of the upper arm bone with a long metal piece, inserted into your upper arm bone, that has a rounded head (sound familiar?). This procedure is used to alleviate severe pain and stiffness that often result at the end stage of various forms of arthritis or degenerative joint disease. Complications from the procedure can include: Blood clots, nerve damage,lack of range of motion, and dislocation of upper arm bone.
DeleteA replacement surgery I recently read about is disc replacement surgery in the spine. An artificial disc usually consisting of metal or biopolymer can be inserted into the spine between the vertebra and can mimic the function of a normal disc. Some complications can include infection, blood vessel or nerve injury, increasing or development of new pain, breakage or dislodgment of the device, as well as death.
ReplyDeleteAnother example of replacement surgeries is the total knee replacement (TKR), also known as a total knee arthroplasty (TKA). It relies on a mechanical implant to replace the actual knee. The procedure is mostly done in the elderly but it can also be used for younger people with osteoarthritis (OA) and other degenerative knee conditions. The implant do not last forever because overtime the metal and plastic parts wear out. However, this device would last about a decade. Serious complications, such as knee joint infection, occur in fewer than 2 percent of patients. Blood clots can be a risk, as they are with all orthopedic procedures, but the risk is low.
ReplyDeleteMy dad has osteoarthritis in his knee; however being in his mid 50's, he is deemed to young for a knee replacement. To manage the pain he receives Hyaluronan shots in his knee. Hyaluronan is a carbohydrate polymer already natural found in synovial fluid. This decreases the pain by lubricating the knee joint and promoting natural synovial fluid synthesis.
DeleteAside from joint replacement, another type of replacement surgery that comes to mind is heart valve replacement. These can be (as in joint replacement) mechanical valves, but alternatives such as porcine and bovine are also popular options. These are helpful in correcting problems such as leaky valves (regurgitations), but as with any foreign tissue or material, rejection (an immune response directed at the new valve) is a risk factor that causes complications.
ReplyDeleteTotal ankle replacement (arthroplasty) is another example of a replacement surgery for individuals with arthritis of the ankle. The surgery consists of removing the damaged bone and cartilage and replacing it with metal and/or high-density polyethylene (plastic). The surgery is beneficial for pain relief but complications can include immobility of the up-and-down motion of the foot that normally occurs through the ankle.
ReplyDeletePresentation: Joe's presentation was a great look into the cutting edge of hip replacement procedures. Although it makes sense, I never gave much thought to the development of hip replacements in terms of their material composition. This is an interesting concept that I'd imagine involves people in a number of areas including physicians along with biomedical engineers of some sort.
ReplyDeleteQuestion Response: Elbow joint replacement is a similar type of procedure. Elbow replacement is significantly less common than knees and hips, but is still certainly possible and quite capable at helping remove similar types of pain and impairment that effect individuals who are in need of knee/hip replacements.
Joe’s presentation was very insightful and looked at the significance of constantly improving hip replacements. Damaged/broken hip joints are often a debilitating event for older individuals and the continued improvement of hip replacement technology allows for both more effective surgical procedures and longer lasting replacements that allow for less invasive procedures overall.
ReplyDeleteWrist replacement surgery, while less common than a lot of other types of replacement surgery, is still available for people who suffer from chronic, painful arthritis. Unlike with a hip or knee, the wrist is a more complicated joint that possess a number of small carpal bones. Just like with other replacement surgeries, the damaged bones of the wrist can be replaced with prosthetics.
Many individuals find themselves in a position of needing bilateral knee replacements due to either excessive physical activity or the added stress caused by the increasing incidence of obesity from poor nutritional choices. These replacements are also very tricky like the hip replacement but with bilateral surgeries the physical therapy time and intensity is a much different ordeal for the patient. The degree of back related complications that result for the convalescent period provides me with a nice income for about a year and a half following the surgery.
ReplyDeleteCochlear implants can be a pretty life-altering prosthetic for those hard at hearing and experiencing deafness. There is an external portion that sits behind the ear and a portion which is surgically implanted into the middle ear. A transmitter converts sounds into electrical impulses which are sent to different parts of the auditory nerve. These implants can cause permanent loss of functional hearing and increased risk of infections. Also it can quite difficult for some to understand speech so researchers are working on improving the implants and allowing a better recognition of
ReplyDelete