Learn More About Joint Replacement

• Hip Replacement

  Total Hip Replacement surgery has been termed the “operation of the century” because of the consistent ability to provide pain relief and improve the quality of life of millions of patients around the world.  When your hip is injured, or a disease such as arthritis develops, the surface cartilage of your hip joint deteriorates. Without this cartilage, the bony surfaces of your joint come into contact, causing pain and difficulty walking. During your total hip replacement surgery, the orthopaedic surgeon replaces the ball and socket of your hip with metal and plastic components. 

  CMC’s Joint Replacement Center offers several types of hip replacement options for patients. Our joint replacement center team will work closely with you to determine the best course of treatment for your specific condition. Some of the hip replacement procedures we offer include:

  • Total Hip Replacement
    • Anterior Hip Replacement
    • Posterior Hip Replacement
  • Revision Total Hip Replacement

  Total Hip Replacement

  

  Patients frequently ask, “What exactly is a total hip replacement?” The simplest answer is that it is a replacement of the worn and arthritic surfaces of the hip joint. A total hip replacement replaces the worn parts of the joint by affixing an artificial surface to all parts that connect each other as the hip bends and pivots.

  The hip is a ball-and-socket joint, consisting of the femoral head (the “ball”), the acetabulum (the “socket”) and the hip capsule, or tissue that surrounds the joint. A hip replacement removes the ball and resurfaces the socket side. The ball is attached to the rest of the bone by a stem that fits down into the femoral canal.

  Usually, these parts are fixed to the bone without cement, depending on friction for initial fit and bony in-growth for long-term biological fixation. The implant, which is made of some combination of metal, plastic, and/or ceramic, comes in a variety of sizes and is fitted to the bone to provide an artificial surface that causes no pain when the hip is used.

  Anterior Hip Replacement

  Anterior Hip Replacement can offer a faster recovery time in select patients with few, if any, mobility restrictions immediately after surgery.  This is done using a specially-designed surgical table that helps the surgeon reach and replace the hip joint from the front of the hip.  Dislocation risks can be reduced with this approach and leg length can be more accurately controlled with intraoperative radiographs and computerized navigation.

  Posterior Hip Replacement

  Posterior Hip Replacement is another excellent option for many patients.  The incision is made on the side of the hip and the total hip components are placed from the back.  Historically this has been deemed the “gold-standard” and safest approach to the hip.  Talk to your surgeon about which approach is best for you.    

  Revision Total Hip Replacement

  Another type of hip replacement is referred to as a revision total hip. Since it is repeat surgery, a revision is more complex and often requires a special type of implant used for those patients who have had a hip replacement that has failed. The bone is not as strong when an implant is removed and the ligaments and capsule surrounding the hip may be damaged.

• Knee Replacement

  Arthritis of the knee is a common condition causing pain and impaired lifestyle for thousands of people. Fortunately, modern surgical procedures can alleviate this condition. During your total knee surgery, the orthopaedic surgeon will replace the damaged knee with metal and plastic components. Knee replacement surgery can help you feel better and move better after your surgery.

  CMC’s Joint Replacement Center offers several types of knee replacement options for patients. Our joint replacement center team will work closely with you to determine the best course of treatment for your specific knee condition. Some of the knee replacement procedures we offer include:

  • Total Knee Replacement
  • Partial Knee Replacement
  • Revision Total Knee Replacement

  Total Knee Replacement

  Patients frequently ask, “What exactly is a total knee replacement?” The simplest answer is that it is a replacement of the worn and arthritic surfaces of the knee joint. A total knee replacement resurfaces the worn parts of the joint. Unlike a hip replacement, that removes the ball of the hip joint, a total knee replacement takes away very little of the bone within the knee joint. It is better to think of a knee replacement as a refinishing of the knee surfaces. With arthritis, the cartilage covering the ends of the bone within the knee joint is badly worn. In a knee replacement this damaged cartilage, along with a very small amount of bone, is removed with very precise guides and instruments. The implants, which are made of metal and plastic in a variety of sizes, are then fitted to the bone to provide an artificial surface that causes no pain when the knee is in motion.

  Partial Knee Replacement

  Partial knee replacement (usually called a “unicompartmental”  replacement) is done if only part of the knee joint is damaged by arthritis. Think of the knee as having three compartments or sides: an inside compartment, an outside compartment, and a front compartment for the kneecap. Most frequently, it is the inside compartment that becomes arthritic. The decision to perform a partial replacement that resurfaces just one compartment or side is made only if the opposite side and the kneecap have healthy normal cartilage at surgery.

  Revision Total Knee Replacement

  A third type of knee replacement is referred to as a revision total knee. Since it is repeat surgery, a revision is more complex and often requires a special type of implant used for those patients who have had a knee replacement that has failed. Approximately 1 in 10 implants will fail over a 10-year period and will require a revision of the prosthesis. The bone is not as strong when an implant is removed and the ligaments supporting the knee may be damaged. A revision prosthesis helps address these problems because the surgeon can fit a stem inside the canal of the bone to provide better support for the prosthesis.

• Shoulder Replacement

  Shoulder pain can be very debilitating.  Your shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint that allows you to move your arm in multiple directions and allows  you to raise, twist and bend your arm.  If you are experiencing pain due to arthritis or injury in your shoulder, your range of motion can be greatly effected leaving you unable to complete your day to day activities.

  CMC’s Joint Replacement Center offers several types of shoulder replacement options for patients. Our joint replacement center team will work closely with you to determine the best course of treatment for your specific shoulder condition. Some of the shoulder replacement procedures we offer include:

  • Total Shoulder Replacement
  • Partial Shoulder Replacement
  • Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement

  Total Shoulder Replacement

  

  Patients frequently ask, “What exactly is a total shoulder replacement?” The simplest answer is that it is a replacement of the worn and arthritic surfaces of the shoulder joint or as a solution for certain fractures very close to the joint. A total shoulder replacement replaces the worn or damaged parts of the joint by fixing an artificial surface to all parts that contact each other as the shoulder moves and lifts the arm. The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint, consisting of the humeral head (the “ball”), the glenoid fossa (the “socket”) and the shoulder capsule, or tissue that surrounds the joint. A shoulder replacement removes the damaged parts of the shoulder, replacing them with artificial components. The implants, which are made of some combination of metal and plastic come in a variety of sizes and are fitted to the bone to provide an artificial surface that causes no pain when the shoulder is used. These parts may be fixed to the bone with or without cement.

  Partial Shoulder Replacement

  Depending on the condition of your shoulder, only the ball may need to be replaced. This procedure is called a hemiarthroplasty, or partial replacement. This option is used when arthritis or a fracture only involves this part of the joint and the socket is normal.

  Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement

  This procedure is primarily used for people who have had a previous shoulder replacement that failed or who have a completely torn rotator cuff with severe arm weakness in addition to the arthritis. The rotator cuff is made of four small muscles that keep the shoulder blade and upper arm aligned so that larger muscles like the deltoid can life the arm.

  In this procedure, the socket and the metal ball are switched. That means a metal ball is attached to the shoulder blade socket and a plastic socket is attached to the upper arm bone. This allows you to life your arm following surgery without the rotator cuff.

• Surgical Outcomes

  We appreciate the trust our patients place in our Joint Replacement Team. Our goal is to provide you with an excellent outcome and patient experience by partnering with you before surgery, during your hospitalization and rehabilitation, and long after you go home. We measure our clinical and quality outcomes against national benchmarks to assure we are providing the highest quality care to our patients.

  Our Continuum of Care Makes the Process Seamless by Providing:

  • A Program Director serving as a single point of contact
  • Pre-op process with all appointments, teaching and testing scheduled on same day
  • Discharge planning completed prior to surgery
  • Equipment needs, and arrangements made prior to discharge
  • Coordination of post-discharge services
  • Continuum of rehabilitation services
  • The only Post Rehab Joint Replacement Exercise Program in the region

  Unique Features Create Better Outcomes

  • We host monthly seminars on arthritis and joint replacement taught by our surgeons. We focus on the basics of osteoarthritis, operative and nonoperative solutions for treating joint pain and new innovations in joint replacement surgery that are making recovery easier than ever before. We finish with an extended question-and-answer period to address any specific concerns that participants may have. 
  • Patients are encouraged to choose a coach to accompany them beginning with orientation all the way through discharge form the hospital. Research has shown that an effective coach contributes to shorter hospital stay, increased patient satisfaction, and greater likelihood of being discharged directly home.
  • We set up pre-op visits scheduled all in the same day with surgical nursing, physical therapy, case management, anesthesia combined with an orientation class that prepares our patients and coaches, alleviates anxiety and allows for individualized care planning in advance of surgery.
  • Our dedicated teams in the operating room, on the dedicated joint replacement unit and in rehab therapies assure a high degree of expertise and continuity.
  • Our outcomes are measured against national benchmarks.

  Partnership Continues After Discharge

  • Discharge summaries to referring/primary care physician to enhance continuity of care
  • Post-discharge phone calls to answer any remaining questions
• Our Program

  Our program offers:

  • Free informational seminars presented by our physicians
  • Priority physician appointments for seminar attendees
  • Same day pre-admission testing/pre-surgery education program
  • Dedicated joint replacement team
  • Spacious rooms with family zones in our state-of-the-art patient tower
  • Post-surgical pain management options
  • Inpatient rehabilitation facilities on unit