Anaesthesia for joint replacement surgery

Joint arthroplasty is now a routine, elective, surgical procedure. The age group and associated co-morbid conditions of the patients who most commonly undergo these major surgical procedures provide a number of anaesthetic challenges to manage. Hip, knee, shoulder and elbow replacements each have specific requirements, but there is considerable scope for developing a common patient care pathway, from preoperative assessment clinic through to postoperative pain management for all patients undergoing joint replacement surgery.