Memorial Medical Center has a team of highly specialized orthopedic surgeons specializing in:
Joint replacement surgery is fairly common for people with osteoarthritis. In this most common form of arthritis, cartilage - the tissue that protects bones in a joint - breaks down and wears away.
|
Hip replacement x-ray
|
Bones rub together, causing pain and loss of motion.
What can you expect?
To get ready, you should work with your doctor to be sure you can tolerate anesthesia. If you have dental problems, have them corrected before surgery to reduce the risk for infection. Bacteria from the mouth can get into the bloodstream and cause an infection at the surgical site. Heart problems should be stabilized before surgery.
|
Knee replacement x-ray
|
Total joint replacement involves a two- or three-day hospital stay. You'll receive an anesthetic for the duration of the surgical procedure. The surgeon will reshape the ends of the bones to accept the artificial parts.
Artificial joints are usually made of metal and hard plastic. Depending on the type of replacement joint used, cement may be used to attach some of the parts. Metal parts may be anchored by inserting a rod into the bone or with cement. Typical hip and knee patients can walk the next day using a walker. You'll likely be discharged on the third or fourth day, but you'll need time to rehabilitate.
At first, you may need assistive devices, such as crutches or a walker after hip replacement, for example. Within a few months, you should resume most of your normal daily activities unaided. You may still need physical therapy.
After shoulder replacement surgery, you can start passive shoulder exercises, in which someone else moves the joint for you, soon after surgery. Three to six weeks after surgery, you'll perform exercises a therapist gives you. Eventually, you'll begin to stretch and strengthen your shoulder so you can regain normal use with far less pain than you had before the surgery.
Recovery from joint replacement surgery generally involves some pain for two to three months. However, it's usually a different type of pain and will go away as the recovery period continues.
Will a new joint last?
Experts caution against unrealistic expectations for a new joint. You shouldn't expect it to tolerate activities that involve jumping or the kind of stress that would be hard on a natural joint. Your doctor will advise you to avoid certain activities after surgery and may even recommend that certain joint positions be avoided in order to prevent dislocation of the joint. The restrictions given will depend on the joint that is replaced, as well as your individual situation.
An artificial joint will eventually develop changes from wear and tear, even under normal use and activity conditions. It may eventually need to be replaced. Artificial joints generally last 10 to 15 years; thus, a person who is younger at the time of the joint replacement surgery may eventually need to have the new joint replaced.
BACK TO TOP
Bone fracture repair is surgery to fix a broken bone using plates, nails, screws, or pins. Bone grafts may be used to
|
|
|
A splint and cast both limit movement. They keep your finger or hand in the best position for healing.
|
allow for proper healing or to speed the healing process.
What can you expect?
While the patient is pain-free, using general or local anesthesia, a surgical cut is made over the fractured bone. The bone is placed in proper position. Screws, pins, or plates are attached to or placed in the bone temporarily or permanently. Or, long bones may be fixed with nails placed in the bone cavity.
Any disrupted blood vessels are tied off or burned. If a lot of bone has been lost due to the fracture, the surgeon may decide to do a bone graft. Bone grafting may be performed using the patient's own bone, usually taken from the hip. Or, the bone may be taken from a donor.
|
|
|
A pin, screw, or plate helps keep the bone stable and in place as it heals.
|
If bone grafting is not necessary, the fracture can be repaired by the following methods:
One or more screws may be inserted across the break to hold it.
A steel plate held by screws may be drilled into the bone.
A long, thick metal pin (sometimes called a rod or nail) with holes in it may be driven down the shaft of the bone from one end. Screws are then passed through the bone and through a hole in the pin.
In some cases, blood vessels and nerves are repaired with microsurgery. The opening in the skin is then closed. If the broken bone has pierced the skin, the bone ends need to be washed with sterile fluid in the operating room to prevent infection. The washing process may need to be repeated if the wound becomes infected.
Recovery time varies depending the type and severity of the fracture.
BACK TO TOP
Knee and shoulder arthroscopy are by far the most common arthroscopic procedures performed. These joints are large enough to manipulate the instruments
around, and they are amenable to arthroscopic surgery treatments.
When an arthroscopy is performed, a camera is inserted into the joint through a small incision. The arthroscopic surgery camera is attached to a fiberoptic light source and shows a picture of the inside of the joint on a television monitor. The surgeon uses fluid pumped through the joint to aid in visibility and clear debris from the joint. One or more other incisions are made to insert instruments that can treat a variety of conditions.
BACK TO TOP
Surgery may be done if your CTS symptoms become severe. Or, you may have surgery if no other treatment brings relief. There are two types of CTS procedures. You will be told about the one you will have. You’ll also be instructed how to prepare for it.
The Goals of Surgery
Two types of surgery—open and endoscopic—are used to treat CTS.
-
With open surgery, your surgeon makes one incision in your palm. Standard surgical tools are used.
-
With endoscopic surgery, one or two small incisions may be made in your hand. A scope (with a very small camera attached) and tools are inserted under the carpal ligament. The surgeon then operates while watching images on a video screen. No matter which one you have, the goal remains the same: Your surgeon will relieve pressure on the median nerve. To do this, the transverse carpal ligament is cut (released).
After Surgery
If you’ve had carpal tunnel surgery, you will spend a few hours resting before you go home. The nerve sensation and circulation in your hand will be checked at this time. For the safest healing, keep the following in mind.
-
Keep your hand raised above heart level. This will help reduce swelling.
-
Limit hand and wrist use as instructed.
-
Take any pain medication as directed.
-
Do hand exercises as directed by your surgeon or therapist.
BACK TO TOP
Orthopedic trauma specialists treat patients who have sustained an injury to the musculoskeletal system. Common injuries include fractures, ligament tears, tendon tears, and joint dislocations.
BACK TO TOP
Fractures, or broken bones, of the foot and ankle are common injuries. Because our foot and ankle are necessary for walking, it is important to have proper treatment of any foot or ankle fracture. Memorial Medical Center has a highly trained surgeons to address foot and ankle problems.
BACK TO TOP