What exactly is joint replacement surgery? By definition, it is a procedure in which a surgeon removes a damaged joint and replaces it with a new, artificial part.
Both hip and knee arthritis are major causes of disability worldwide. Studies show there are more than 790,000 knee replacement and 450,000 hip replacement surgeries each year.
Arthritis Symptoms of the Hip
- Limp
- Stiffness
- Groin Pain
- Buttock Pain
- Knee Pain
- Leg Length Discrepancy
Arthritis Symptoms of the Knee
- Joint Pain
- Difficulty Walking
- Swelling
- Pain with Weather Changes
- Warmth
- Redness
- Stiffness
- Giving Way and/or Locking
“Think of arthritis like Pandora’s Box; you are living with arthritis, your body is compensating for it on a subconscious level, but it’s getting worse,” Dr. Stephen Fern said. “There’s often a triggering event: an injury, fall, simply overdoing it, then you check and X-ray and realize that your arthritis had not manifested until that event triggered, and essentially opened Pandora’s Box.”
There are several different treatment options for knee and hip arthritis. The key principle is to match the best possible treatment option to the amount of disability the patient has. Conservative (non-surgical) treatment options are:
- Activity Modification
- Weight Loss
- Bracing
- Ambulatory aids
- Low-impact exercises
- Medications
- Physical Therapy
- Steroid injections
- Gel injections
- Medications
“Cartilage is strong, flexible tissue that protects your joints and bones. Think of it as the thread on your tires,” Dr. Fern explained. “The more cartilage you have, the more tread you have and the further you can go. The less tread and the tires eventually get bald and worn out.
With any surgery, there are risks of complications. The surgical treatment of hip and knee arthritis comes with a one to five percent complication rate with possible symptoms including:
- Blood Clots
- Infection
- Fracture
- Limp
- Nerve Injury
- Leg Length Discrepancy
- Death
“One little invention revolutionized the way surgeries are conducted and has been instrumental in how incredibly safe and successful they are - the pulse oximeter,” Dr. Fern said. “We can measure how much oxygen is in your blood in real-time. That ultimately means less anesthesia needed during surgery and a quicker recovery for our patients.”
Hip and knee replacement surgeries have a success rate of 90-95% with a 99% patient satisfaction rating at Union Health, based on recent survey data.
“Hip replacement surgery is considered one of the best elective surgeries on planet Earth,” Dr. Fern said. “It is an unbelievably effective remedy. It really works and is incredibly safe. It is an opportunity to have a potentially life-changing procedure and an hour later, be on the road to a better, pain-free you.”
Union Health Orthopedics and Indiana Joint Replacement Institute have created a one-of-a-kind program putting the patient first to ensure the safety, satisfaction and success of each surgery.
“The unique thing about our particular system is that if you are going to have surgery, the week before – our entire team sits down with the anesthesiologist, pharmacist, therapist, joint coordinator, floor nurse, orthopedic surgeon – and we talk about you,” Dr. Fern said. “We go through all of those parameters, all of those deciding factors that brought you to us in the first place and discuss any concerns. So, when you show up for your surgery, everyone is on the same page in order to provide you with the most optimized care possible.”
Call 812.242.3005 to make an appointment to discuss your hip or knee concerns today.
Dr. Fern is a native of West Terre Haute, having completed training in Virginia and Massachusetts in orthopedic surgery with fellowship training in Orthopedic Oncology through the Harvard Combined Program. He returned to the Wabash Valley and has served patients since 2010 at the Bone and Joint Center.