Replacement arthroplasty (from Greek
arthron, joint, limb, articulate, +
plassein, to form, mould, forge, feign, make an image of), or
joint replacement surgery, is a procedure of
orthopedic surgery in which an arthritic or dysfunctional
joint surface is replaced with an orthopedic prosthesis. Joint replacement is considered as a treatment when severe joint pain or dysfunction is not alleviated by less-invasive therapies. During the latter half of the 20th century,
rheumasurgery developed as a subspecialty focused on these and a few other procedures in patients with
rheumatic diseases.