Arthroplasty is the medical term for joint replacement surgery — a procedure in which a damaged or arthritic joint is removed and replaced with artificial components designed to restore movement and reduce pain. Knee replacement and hip replacement are the two most common types of arthroplasty.
The word arthroplasty comes from the Greek for joint (arthro) and shaping (plasty). In practice, it refers to any procedure that reconstructs or replaces a damaged joint surface. For most patients, the relevant question is not what the term means but whether their joint damage has reached the point where replacement is the appropriate next step. That assessment depends on a full clinical evaluation — symptoms, examination, imaging, and the patient's lifestyle and expectations — not on the X-ray alone.
