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Joint Replacement Center
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Joint Replacement?
Joint replacement surgery replaces damaged surfaces (cartilage) in the knee, hip or shoulder that have worn away over the years. It involves placing a metal and plastic implant that serves as a covering for raw, arthritic bone ends. Joint replacement can eliminate stiffness and pain and allow you to move easily with less discomfort.
Who should have a Joint Replacement?
When arthritis or degenerative joint disease of the knee, hip or shoulder makes your movements stiff and painful and severely limits your ability to work, move your arms or legs, walk, or perform even simple activities, joint replacement should be considered.
In particular, joint replacement may be recommended in severe fractures of the shoulder.
Is there an alternative to Joint Replacement?
Joint replacement is only recommended after careful diagnosis of your joint problem. Arthroscopic or microscopic surgery is not helpful once arthritis is advanced. It is not likely that anti-inflammatory drugs or cortisone injections will give you the same long term relief that joint replacement will.
Should my Joint Replacement be cemented?
Joint replacements are successfully performed with all cemented components or with a combination of un-cemented and cemented components. Your surgeon will discuss which technique is best for you.
How long is the hospital stay?
The average hospital stay for a patient undergoing a knee, hip, or shoulder joint replacement is about 3-5 days. However, each individual case is different. For instance, if you are having both knees replaced, your hospital stay may be 5-7 days.
How long is recuperation?
Recovery varies with each person. A careful, well-planned rehabilitation program is critical to the success of joint replacement. If the surgery is scheduled for the morning, therapy can begin that afternoon, and no later than the first postoperative day. A physical therapist will initiate gentle, assisted range-of-motion exercises. Before you leave the hospital, your therapist will provide you with a program of home exercises specially prescribed for you.
After your surgery, you can usually drive a car in 2-4 weeks. Most people gradually increase their activities and play golf, doubles tennis, shuffleboard, or bowl in 12 weeks. More active sports, such as singles tennis and jogging, are not recommended.
If have a knee or hip replacement, you will use a walker for approximately 4 weeks after your operation.
Following discharge from the hospital, there is usually no need for nursing home care. Some patients who live alone may require a short stay at a rehab center for a few days after they leave the hospital. This will depend on how you progress in the hospital, and keep in mind that healing and recovery times vary with each person.
What about pain?
Thanks to advances in medication technology, we are able to keep you very comfortable after surgery. Following surgery, any temporary discomfort does not compare to the pain of arthritis endured by most people in months and years before surgery.
Will I need a blood transfusion?
The need for blood transfusions depends greatly on very individualized factors. While the majority of patients do not require a transfusion after surgery, some patients may want to donate their own blood prior to joint replacement surgery in case there is a need. Your surgeon will be happy to discuss these issues with you.
What is the success rate?
Joint replacement surgery is recognized as a miracle of modern surgery. Most orthopedic experts consider joint replacement to be the best method of handling arthritis. In the knees, hip, and shoulder, joint replacements have allowed hundreds of thousands of Americans to enjoy their golden years, with more ease and range in movement and less discomfort.
Are there complications?
As with any surgery, there is a risk of complications after surgery. However, they are quite rare... driving on an Interstate highway is probably more dangerous. To reduce the risk of infection, we take special precautionary measures in the operating room, and use powerful antibiotics. Our personnel are limited to fully trained and experienced nurses and technicians.
What is the cost?
As Medicare participating physicians, our doctors accept the amount Medicare approves for joint replacement. We will file your Medicare and will also bill your supplementary insurance for the 20% portion of the surgeon's fee that is approved by Medicare but paid by your supplementary insurance. The hospital also accepts Medicare assignment.
