Where to read more: an annotated guide

Using the reading guide

The entries point to information pages rather than to a named clinician or a treatment provider. An annotation describes the topic and scope of a source. It does not turn a general explanation into a recommendation for a person’s care. For orientation within Arthroplasty Patient, the treatment overview outlines the main categories and Talking it through focuses on medical appointments and decisions. The glossary explains terms used across those subjects.

United States government agencies

• NIAMS: back pain. Introduces back structures, symptoms and possible causes of pain. It distinguishes disc-related problems from other sources of back pain.

• NIAMS: osteoarthritis. Explains changes in cartilage, bone and other joint tissues. It describes symptoms and risk factors while noting that the condition affects people differently.

• NIAMS: hip replacement. Describes the hip joint, artificial components and preparation for surgery. It includes possible complications and the place of recovery in the overall process.

• NIAMS: learning about joints. A classroom-style introduction to joints and the tissues around them. Its explanations separate bone, cartilage, ligaments, tendons and the synovial lining.

• NINDS: pain. Explains pain as a sensory and emotional experience. Its discussion covers different patterns of pain and the way pain can affect daily life.

• MedlinePlus: joint disorders. Introduces the tissues that make up joints and the diseases or injuries affecting them. The page also organizes links to tests and care information.

Orthopedic and spine information

• OrthoInfo: total hip replacement. Describes normal hip anatomy, causes of hip pain and the operation. It also discusses the benefits and limitations of replacement and the surrounding recovery process.

• OrthoInfo: total knee replacement. Explains knee anatomy and why damaged joint surfaces may be replaced. The page describes the operation and the structures that support knee movement.

• OrthoInfo: partial knee replacement. Explains the meaning of unicompartmental, or partial, replacement. It distinguishes replacing a limited damaged area from replacement involving the knee more broadly.

• OrthoInfo: a herniated disc in the lower back. Describes disc structure and how disc material can push through the outer ring. It explains possible relationships between a herniation and leg symptoms.

• OrthoInfo: low back pain. Introduces the bones, discs, muscles, ligaments and nerves of the back. It explains that pain patterns and possible causes differ between people.

• OrthoInfo: cervical spondylosis. Describes age-related changes in the neck’s discs and joints. It explains that these changes may occur with pain or stiffness, or without noticeable symptoms.

Joint replacement

• MedlinePlus: hip replacement. A topic introduction to severe hip damage and the purpose of replacement. It explains the removal of damaged bone and cartilage and provides further reading.

• MedlinePlus: hip joint replacement. An encyclopedia description of the artificial socket, liner, ball and stem. It includes why the operation is performed and the risks surrounding surgery.

• MedlinePlus: knee replacement. Explains what total and partial replacement mean. It describes the conditions involved, artificial surfaces, recovery topics and possible risks without being limited to the operation itself.

• MedlinePlus: knee joint replacement. Describes how artificial parts replace damaged cartilage and bone. Its account identifies the parts attached to the thighbone, shinbone and kneecap.

• MedlinePlus: knee osteotomy. Explains an operation that changes the alignment of a leg bone. It distinguishes cutting and realigning bone from replacing the knee’s joint surfaces.

• OrthoInfo: osteoarthritis of the hip. Connects hip anatomy with cartilage loss and changes in the surrounding joint. It describes pain, stiffness and effects on ordinary activities.

Spine conditions and operations

• MedlinePlus: neck injuries and disorders. Introduces the range of structures that can contribute to neck problems. It separates possible muscle, bone, joint and nerve sources rather than assigning every symptom to a disc.

• MedlinePlus: herniated disc. An encyclopedia explanation of disc herniation and its relationship to spinal nerves. It covers symptoms, assessment and categories of care.

• MedlinePlus: spinal stenosis. Defines narrowing in the spine and possible pressure on nerves or the spinal cord. It introduces symptoms, examination and imaging in a brief topic summary.

• MedlinePlus: spinal fusion. Explains joining spinal bones so that movement between the joined bones stops. It describes graft material, supporting components and the broader surgical and recovery process.

• MedlinePlus: laminectomy. Describes removal of the lamina, part of a vertebra. It explains how that can provide more space around spinal nerves and the spinal cord.

• OrthoInfo: cervical radiculopathy. Explains irritation or compression of a nerve root in the neck. It describes possible pain spreading into the shoulder or arm and associated weakness or numbness.

Implants, approvals and registries

• FDA: implants and prosthetics. Explains what medical implants are and the range of materials used. It also describes risks and questions about permanence, removal and implant failure.

• FDA: metal-on-metal hip implants. Describes hip bearings whose moving surfaces are metal. It explains the regulatory category used for these implants and the evidence required in that process.

• FDA: lumbar artificial disc approval record. Shows an original approval decision, an indication and related supplements. The record warns that later supplements may change a device’s description or use.

• FDA: cervical artificial disc approval record. An example of a regulatory record for a cervical disc implant. It distinguishes the original labeling from information that may appear in later supplements.

• American Joint Replacement Registry. Explains the collection and use of hip and knee replacement data. The page describes quality, safety, benchmarking and research uses of registry information.

• National Joint Registry. Describes recording and monitoring joint replacement performance. Its patient, research and data-quality sections explain the registry’s purposes and outputs.

Regenerative medicine and clinical trials

• MedlinePlus: stem cells. Introduces stem cells as cells with the potential to develop into specialized types. The page organizes further reading about basic biology, research and clinical trials.

• MedlinePlus: clinical trials. Explains research studies in people, their protocols and eligibility rules. It also describes review intended to protect participants’ rights and welfare.

• FDA: consumer alert on regenerative products. Explains regulatory oversight and the risk of misleading marketing. The alert addresses products promoted without evidence establishing their safety and effectiveness.

• FDA: patient information on regenerative therapies. Addresses marketing of unapproved products and the role of FDA oversight before approval. It includes information on reported safety problems.

• OrthoInfo: platelet-rich plasma. Defines platelet-rich plasma as a blood preparation and identifies questions about its use. The page distinguishes publicity from the evidence questions being discussed.

• About Stem Cells. Provides patient information on the distinction between approved and unproven uses. It also introduces clinical trials and subjects for conversations with a doctor.

Complementary approaches

• NCCIH: complementary approaches and low back pain. Summarizes research on approaches studied for low back pain. It discusses the quality of evidence and notes that safety depends on health and circumstances.

• NCCIH: complementary approaches and chronic pain. Organizes evidence and safety information across painful conditions. Its summary distinguishes the study of an approach from the assumption that it is risk-free.

• NCCIH: naturopathy. Explains the meaning of naturopathic medicine and the range of practitioner backgrounds. It provides context for understanding what the term covers.

• NCCIH: spinal manipulation. Defines the technique and distinguishes it from spinal mobilization. Its evidence discussion separates conditions and types of findings rather than treating manipulation as a single answer.

• NCCIH: acupuncture. Explains the technique and describes scientific questions about its effects. The page discusses both condition-specific evidence and uncertainty about mechanisms.

• NCCIH: massage therapy. Defines massage and explains that the term includes different techniques. Its discussion of pain distinguishes findings for different conditions and the strength of the evidence.

Recovery and activity

• MedlinePlus: rehabilitation. Defines rehabilitation in relation to abilities needed in daily life. It explains that the goals and components of care vary with the individual’s needs.

• MedlinePlus: exercise and physical fitness. Introduces categories of activity, including aerobic and resistance exercise. It provides general fitness context rather than an individualized plan after an operation.

• OrthoInfo: activities after knee replacement. Describes discharge preparation and returning to daily activities. It includes mobility, home support and understanding the precautions supplied by the treating team.

• NHS: physiotherapy. Explains physiotherapy as care involving movement and other techniques. It describes its use for musculoskeletal conditions and after surgery, alongside how services are accessed.

• NHS: recovering from hip replacement. Describes recovery in hospital and at home, including help with mobility and daily activities. It emphasizes the instructions supplied for an individual’s hip care.

• NHS: recovering from knee replacement. Describes the stages of care after a knee operation. It includes support from therapists, managing activities at home and follow-up with the treating team.

Decisions and questions

• MedlinePlus: surgery. Introduces different reasons operations are performed and possible complications. It gives general context for understanding surgery rather than describing a single orthopedic procedure.

• MedlinePlus: health insurance. Explains health insurance as a contract that helps pay medical expenses. The page describes different routes to coverage and provides further information on costs and plans.

• AHRQ: the SHARE Approach. Describes shared decision-making as a clinician-led conversation about benefits, harms, risks and what matters to the patient. Its main materials are intended for clinical teams.

• AHRQ: Questions Are the Answer. Provides appointment-preparation materials and question-focused resources. The page introduces information for before, during and after a medical visit.

Outside the United States

• NICE: low back pain and sciatica. Introduces guidance on assessment and categories of care. The overview explains its scope and identifies the audiences for the guideline.

• NICE: osteoarthritis. An overview of guidance covering diagnosis, assessment and non-surgical management. It also identifies referral for joint replacement among the guideline’s subjects.

• NHS: slipped disc. Defines slipped, prolapsed and herniated disc terminology. It describes symptoms and notes that a disc change can be present without symptoms.

• NHS: back pain. Explains common patterns and possible causes of back pain. It also distinguishes situations for different kinds of medical assessment.

• NHS: cervical spondylosis. Introduces age-related neck changes and possible symptoms. It notes that these changes can occur without symptoms as well as with neck or shoulder discomfort.

• NHS: osteoarthritis. Explains joint pain, stiffness and changes in movement. Its account emphasizes variation in symptom severity between people and between affected joints.

• Arthritis UK: hip replacement. Explains the hip’s ball-and-socket structure and the subjects surrounding replacement. It includes benefits, risks and the discussion that takes place with a surgeon.

• Arthritis UK: knee replacement. Describes total, partial, kneecap and revision replacement categories. It also explains component attachment and the distinctions among forms of knee surgery.