JOINT REPLACEMENT SURGERY (HIP AND KNEE)

What is Joint Replacement Surgery?

Joint replacement is a surgical procedure used to treat joints that cause severe pain because they have been damaged by arthritis or trauma.  Orthopedic surgeons remove the damaged joint and replace it with a prosthesis, an artificial joint made of synthetic materials.  Because it is considered major surgery, joint replacement is recommended only after other treatment options have failed to provide adequate relief from pain and/or disability.  

In most people artificial joints are designed to provide a decade or more of pain-free use.  In the United States, there are more than 435,000 joint replacement procedures performed each year.  The most common joints replaced are the hip and knee.  Total joint replacement of the ankle, elbow, shoulder, and fingers is performed less frequently.

Joint Replacement at Huntington Hospital

Huntington Hospital’s Center for Orthopedics and Joint Replacement Surgery offers world class care close to home.  It is staffed by 18 orthopedic surgeons and includes alumni of some of the nation’s most prestigious medical schools, including Harvard, Yale, and New York University, among others.  Many trained at leading academic centers such as Yale New Haven Medical Center, Boston University Medical Center, St. Luke’s Hospital, the Hospital for Joint Diseases, and the Cleveland Clinic.

Through attendance at national conferences and symposia, these highly skilled surgeons remain on the leading edge of othopaedic care, and are able to offer their patients access to the latest surgical and non-surgical treatment options.  Many participate in clinical research trials of newly emerging techniques and therapies.

Before Joint Replacement Surgery

Huntington Hospital provides patients with a comprehensive program that includes a preoperative Joint Replacement Class taught by the Nurse Manager of the Orthopedic Unit.  She is assisted by physical therapy staff and a trained and certified holistic nurse who conducts a “Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster” workshop.  All joint replacement patients along with a friend or relative are encouraged to attend this educational session which familiarizes patients with their upcoming procedure, including what to expect before, during and after surgery.

As with any surgery, there are some pre-operative considerations to keep in mind, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Exercise – Our bodies tend to heal and regain function faster when they are in good physical and cardiovascular condition.
• Medication – Before the surgery, discuss with your physician the medications you are currently taking.  Some may need to be temporarily discontinued until after the surgery.  Only this determination can be most appropriately made by your physician or orthopedist.
• Discharge Planning – As with any surgery, be sure to discuss discharge planning with your physician beforehand.  Your discharge plan may include instructions on care of the incision, pain medication, activities, special exercises, and other home care instructions.

After Joint Replacement Surgery

• Rehabilitation - People who have received a total joint replacement can still lead functional, active lifestyles.  One major component of many rehabilitation programs is exercise - to restore function, mobility, and strength to the affected joint and surrounding muscles.  After surgery, a physical therapist from Huntington Hospital’s Aboff Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Center visits patients to help them mobilize the affected joint and begin basic exercises.  Often patients are able to get out of bed on the same day as their surgery, which reduces muscle stiffness and promotes healing.  While many joint replacement patients go directly to an inpatient rehabilitation facility upon discharge from the hospital, some are able to return directly home.  These patients usually receive physical therapy at home initially, followed by outpatient physical therapy.  Huntington Hospital’s Aboff Center remains a resource for outpatient rehabilitation as the final step toward recovery.
  
  
• Pain Management – Huntington Hospital’s expert pain management physicians provide effective post-surgical pain relief.  They are among the first in the region to use special techniques that deliver pain medication directly to the surgical site, which greatly reduces the overall grogginess that can accompany traditional oral or intravenous pain medication.  Patient controlled analgesia, or PCA, in which the patient self-administers pain medication by pushing a button on a pump, is also provided during the post-operative period.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about Huntington Hospital's Center for Orthopedics and Joint Replacement Surgery or for a referral to a Huntington Hospital Orthopedic surgeon for evaluation, please call Orthopedic Patient Care Coordinator Wendy Gentile, RN, BSN, CNOR, at (631) 760-2896.

Center for Orthopedics and Joint Replacement Surgery