Some broken bones do not heal even when they get the best surgical or nonsurgical treatment. In some cases, certain risk factors make it more likely that a bone will fail to heal. When a broken bone fails to heal it is called a "nonunion." A "delayed union" is when a fracture takes longer than usual to heal.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Total joint replacement is a surgical procedure in which parts of an arthritic or damaged joint are removed and replaced with a metal, plastic or ceramic device called a prosthesis. The prosthesis is designed to replicate the movement of a normal, healthy joint.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
During arthroscopy, your surgeon inserts a small camera called an "arthroscope" into your damaged joint. The camera displays pictures on a video monitor, and your surgeon uses these images to guide miniature surgical instruments.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Arthritis can cause pain and stiffness in any joint in the body, and is common in the small joints of the foot and ankle. There is no cure for arthritis, but there are a number of treatments that may help relieve the pain and disability it can cause.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
