Alternatives to hip, knee, and ankle total joint arthroplasty

Although total joint arthroplasty is the most commonly performed procedure for the treatment of advanced stages of degenerative joint diseases, alternatives to joint replacement remain essential to the armamentarium of the clinician. For the hip, knee, and ankle, alternatives such as synovectomy, osteotomy, and fusion should be considered when contraindications to joint replacement exist. The indications and results of these procedures are discussed as reflected by a review of the recent literature.