Do You Need a Joint Replacement? Advanced Technology and Techniques Promote Optimal Outcomes

Over time, joint wear and tear is inevitable. Some individuals experience joint issues early in life due to injury. The good news is, medical technology has allowed for joint replacement procedures that provide people with a pain relief option.

Dr. Korboi Evans and Dr. Zohair Alam, both of Holy Cross Health, share important information for anyone considering a joint replacement surgery.

Technology Is the Key to Improved Function

The two most common joint replacement surgeries involve the knees and hips. Per Dr. Evans, technology is a key essential component to a successful hip or knee replacement. “We have a lot of patients come requesting the latest and greatest, and we're able to provide those services here at Holy Cross Hospital. I think it allows the surgeon to have peace of mind and make sure that when they're done with the operation, the patient has a well-placed, well-functioning hip or knee replacement,” he states.

Dr. Alam notes that joint replacement procedures can be done without the advanced technology, but reinforces that it leads to better outcomes when compared to approaches of years’ past. “It validates what we already know and what we see. We know we're leaving the operating room with a great result so the patient will do well going forward.”

Tailored Treatments Ensure Success

Before making the decision to undergo a joint replacement surgery, Dr. Evans urges individuals to really get to know their orthopedic doctors. One important question is to inquire about a doctor’s experience with advanced technology; if they are considered “specialized” in that area. Another point to think about is how much hip or knee pain is affecting one’s quality of life.

“Once I get a sense of the patient and how their joint pain and their pathology is affecting their quality of life, then we can offer them specific tailored treatments based on the patient, their age, their activity, and their level of function. We have lots of options and capabilities at Holy Cross Hospital that we can offer these patients to improve their function of life,” assures Dr. Evans.

Holy Cross Health’s Esteemed Distinction

The joint replacement division at Holy Cross Health has received recognition as being certified by the Joint Commission for Hip and Knee Replacement. This distinction reflects the hospital's high-quality, functional patient outcomes. Dr. Alam explains that surgical success depends on a thorough process that starts long before patients enter the operating room.

The orthopedic team ensures patients have all the information they need, both pre-operative and post-operative, to achieve the least stressful experience possible. For example, patients attend a pre-operative joint “class” so they know exactly what to expect.

“That also allays some of the apprehension we usually see when people are having surgery. The way the process is set up is to have your surgery, begin physical therapy that day, and continue to work on all the functional goals we require in order for a patient to be safely discharged to home. Our program

encompasses all that,” shares Dr. Alam. “With that, we end up sending most of our patients directly home. It's rare now that we have to send patients to a skilled nursing facility upon discharge.”