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Total Joint Replacement Program

Tri-City Regional Medical Center provides a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to care for the evaluation and treatment of persons who would benefit from total joint replacement and hip resurfacing. Our experienced, board-certified orthopaedic surgeons and knowledgeable medical staff guide patients from pre-surgery education through post-surgery rehabilitation and recovery.

Our world class team of physicians includes Fellowship trained orthopaedic surgeons highly experienced in total joint replacement surgery. Tri-City Medical Center’s orthopaedic team provides surgical, medical, physical and rehabilitative care to its patients.

How Total Joint Replacement Can Help

When the covering that allows a normal joint to move freely and painlessly is worn or damaged, the friction of bone rubbing on bone results in loss of motion and decreases a joint’s weight-bearing capacity. Joint replacement means the bone surfaces within the joint are surgically removed and replaced with synthetic materials, usually a prosthesis made of durable, wear-resistant plastic and/or metal. Different procedures and components may be used, depending on factors such as the nature of the disease or injury, the patient’s age, and condition of the bone. Most patients can look forward to resuming an active, fulfilling lifestyle following a successful procedure.

How Arthritis Affects the Joints

Arthritis affects the areas in the body where two or more bones meet, such as the knee and hip joints. The normal joint is enclosed in a capsule and lined with synovium tissue. The synovium lining releases a slippery fluid that helps the joint move smoothly and easily. The ends of the bones are covered with cartilage, a firm, rubbery material that acts as a cushion between the bones and keeps them from rubbing together.

Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage between the joints to break down, leading to symptoms such as pain, swelling, and limited motion. If the affected joint movement is limited due to pain and is not exercised, the muscles surrounding the joint will become weaker and possibly shrink. As a result, the weak muscles may not be able to support the joint and can cause an increase in joint pain.

Severe arthritis is one of the most common conditions that cause joint pain. Other causes of joint pain include trauma, such as a serious fracture or an injury that doesn’t heal properly.

Total Knee Replacement

Partial Knee Replacement Introduction

Partial Knee Replacement (also known as Uni Knee Replacement) involves resurfacing the damaged portions of the knee while leaving healthy areas intact. The cartilage covering the femur and tibia becomes worn and the underlying bone develops spurs and various irregularities which produce pain and loss of knee motion. This procedure is most commonly performed on the inside (medial) section of the knee but in some cases it may also be performed on the outside (lateral) section of the knee as well.

Bilateral Simultaneous Knee Replacements

If you have severe damage and pain in both knees or hips but are otherwise in good health, you may be able to choose between replacing both joints during a single surgery (simultaneous replacement) or scheduling two separate operations several months apart (staged replacement). The decision requires careful discussion with your doctor and physical therapist. Benefits of a simultaneous approach are a single anesthesia, shorter total hospitalization, and one prolonged rehabilitation that lets you resume normal activities sooner than two shorter ones. You should also consider having simultaneous operations if the condition of your joints is so poor that replacing only one joint would still leave you unable to function during physical therapy, thereby slowing your recovery. In addition, to do well in rehabilitation after simultaneous surgery, you need enough arm strength to cope while you can’t stand on either leg.

Total Hip Replacement Surgery

If your hip pain is severe and significantly limits your movement, your physician may recommend that the diseased bone and tissue be replaced by an artificial joint called a prosthesis. The hip prosthesis consist of a ball component, made of metal or ceramic, and a socket, which has an insert or liner made of plastic, ceramic or metal. The implants used in hip replacement are biocompatible – meaning they are designed to be accepted by your body – and they’re made to resist corrosion, degradation and wear. Hip replacement is typically used for people with hip joint damage from arthritis or an injury. Hip replacement can relieve pain and restore range of motion and function of your hip joint.

Shoulder Replacement Procedure

Shoulder replacements are less common than hip and knee replacements because there is normally less wear and tear on those joints, and patients often tolerate elbow and shoulder arthritis better than hip and knee conditions. For those who don’t, surgery can offer relief. The primary reason for doing a total shoulder replacement is pain – such as that experienced by patients with serious degenerative or rheumatoid arthritis. Another subset of candidates for the procedure includes patients with unreconstructable joint fractures. The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint that enables you to raise, twist and bend your arm. It also lets you move your arm forward, to the side and behind you. In a normal shoulder, the rounded end of the upper arm bone (head of the humerus) glides against the small disk-like socket (glenoid) in the shoulder blade (scapula).

For an appointment or to learn more about the Total Joint Replacement Program at Tri-City Regional Medical Center, please contact us at: