Rare complications requiring re-operation can occur soon after surgery; for others, a replaced joint can last two decades or more.

Are finger joint replacements successful?

And, yes, those surgeries are most common. But if you have stiff and painful elbows, wrists or even fingers, joint replacement surgery may offer relief for you as well. “These joint implants are highly successful for pain relief and function,” says Peter J.

Do artificial joints last forever?

Joint replacements generally tend to be very successful, allowing most people who have them to return to active lives free of chronic pain. But, while artificial joints are designed to last a long time, they won’t last forever.