The purpose of the surgery is to remove the damaged cartilage, tissue, and bone, and insert an artificial replacement joint in the remaining healthy bone.

The replacement joint, which was known as the Low Friction Arthroplasty, was lubricated with synovial fluid.

On average, replacement joints have a limited life span (10 to 20 years).

A replacement joint is being built, he said.

Doctors may attach replacement joints to the bones with or without cement.

Oxinium is the brand name of a material used for replacement joints manufactured by the reconstructive orthopedic surgery division of medical devices company Smith & Nephew.

Are severely overweight (replacement joints may be more likely to fail in people who are very overweight).

Doctors can use cement to attach replacement joints to the bone.

Aware of cost, recuperation time, and the 15- to 20-year life span for replacement joints, Glenn opted for the extreme choice of having both done at once.

Pyrolytic carbon is also in medical use to coat anatomically correct orthopaedic implants, a.k.a. replacement joints.