| Many people, either due to birth defect, accidental | | | | good golf. |
| injury, or simply old age, have joint conditions that | | | | You may also be interested to know how those |
| cause loss of mobility. In advanced cases this can | | | | implants are made. The technology that allows |
| cause considerable pain and anguish. When doctors | | | | doctors to perform the miracle of joint replacement |
| determine that the problem can only be remedied | | | | is a testament to modern manufacturing ingenuity. |
| with orthopedic surgery, to augment or replace the | | | | Orthopedic manufacturing has gone from science |
| affected joint, orthopedic manufacturing comes to | | | | fiction to practical reality in the span of a few short |
| the rescue. | | | | years. Each year the techniques, tools, and products |
| Orthopedic manufacturers produce the supports and | | | | developed in orthopedics improve, by leaps and |
| replacement joints that allow patients to return to | | | | bounds. Orthopedic manufacturing has a important |
| normal life again. This procedure often is highly | | | | role in helping us to live healthier and happier lives. |
| successful, but, of course, there are risks associated | | | | Continuous research and development in the design |
| with any type of surgery. | | | | and manufacture of orthopedic implants and |
| The story of Jack Nicklaus, (a hip replacement | | | | instruments is needed. As the costs and risks of |
| patient) is a classic orthopedic case history. He lived | | | | orthopedic procedures are reduced, the miracle of |
| with considerable pain for years, until he finally | | | | modern orthopedic medicine can be extended to |
| underwent hip surgery in 1999. Following his hip | | | | more and more people who need this type of care, |
| replacement he still managed to play some pretty | | | | to dramatically improve their quality of life. |