Joint Replacement in Children and Other Special Cases

There is a gut-joint axis theory: poor absorption of micronutrients, from conditions like coeliac disease, gluten allergy, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis or chronic acid-peptic disease, is linked to an increased chance of arthritis, whether autoimmune or degenerative. Post-operatively, any surgery causes a drop in general immunity for 12 to 20 weeks, since the patient is in a hyper-catabolic state, so we need to give a good protein diet (milk and milk products, protein powder, vegetarian protein) and increase total calories so the patient regains immunity as soon as possible.

There are two types of surgery: arthroscopic and open. For most patients without too many dislocations, arthroscopic Bankart repair plus a Remplissage procedure is the gold standard. For patients with more than 10 dislocations, open surgery is usually better. Bone defects on the socket side get bony augmentation; larger defects on the humeral head side may need grafting, or the tissue can be managed by moving the teres minor muscle into the defect - the traditionally open Latarjet procedure for this is now increasingly done arthroscopically.

There is no strict age criterion. Implant durability was initially only around 10 years; we are now in the third generation of implants with a longevity of almost 30 years. Hip replacement can be done from age 18 once bone growth is complete, with no upper limit based on physiological rather than chronological age - we have done hip replacement at age 104. Younger patients, even under 20, may need replacement for traumatic arthritis, sickle cell disease or haemophilic arthropathy.

Club foot treatment should start as early as possible, even from day one of life, since it can now be diagnosed prenatally via a level-2 ultrasound. On day one or two the skin is very fragile, so casting is difficult immediately; manipulation and serial casting typically start after 2-3 days. Age is not a barrier - treatment can be started even in a one-day-old child.

If there is a complete spinal cord transection, nothing currently works to regenerate it, including stem cells - the future is not good in these cases. If there is partial injury with some viable nerve roots, the patient can have some movement with a wheelchair or braces; assistive devices and specialised training exist for bladder and bowel management in patients who remain paralysed, but overall progress is not good once there is a spinal cord injury.

Yes - for conditions like SCFE, Perthes disease, traumatic hip fracture, septic arthritis, haemophilia or sickle cell disease, since a badly damaged joint has no further growth potential.

As early as possible, ideally from day one of life, since it can be diagnosed prenatally; age is never a barrier to starting treatment.