Expert joint replacement

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The most common cause of chronic hip and pain and disability is arthritis. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and posttraumatic arthritis are the most common forms of this disease.

• Osteoarthritis. This is an age-related wear-and-tear type of arthritis. It usually occurs in people 50 years of age and older and often in individuals with a family history of arthritis. The cartilage cushioning of the bones wears away. The bones then rub against each other, causing pain and stiffness. Osteoarthritis may also be caused or accelerated by subtle irregularities in how the joint developed in childhood.
• Rheumatoid arthritis. This is an autoimmune disease in which the synovial membrane becomes inflamed and thickened. This chronic inflammation can damage the cartilage, leading to pain and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common type of a group of disorders termed inflammatory arthritis.
• Posttraumatic arthritis. This can follow a serious injury or fracture. The cartilage may become damaged and lead to pain and stiffness over time.
• Osteonecrosis. An injury to the joint, such as a dislocation or fracture, may limit the blood supply to the femoral head. This is called osteonecrosis (also sometimes referred to as avascular necrosis). The lack of blood may cause the surface of the bone to collapse, and arthritis will result. Some diseases can also cause osteonecrosis.
• Childhood hip disease. Some infants and children have hip problems. Even though the problems are successfully treated during childhood, they may still cause arthritis later in life. This happens because the hip may not grow normally, and the joint surfaces are affected

Dr. Wiemann treats joint destruction in all ages of patients, whether it be from typical osteoarthritis or other causes.  Dr. Wiemann is specifically trained in joint replacement in younger patients that would not be cared for by many joint replacement surgeons.