ORTHOPEDICS AND SPINE
JOINT REPLACEMENT
St. Louise Regional Hospital offers joint reconstruction surgery conveniently located in your local community. Our board-certified orthopedic surgeons provide expert treatment for conditions resulting from arthritis, musculoskeletal disease or trauma.
As a patient, you may have concerns and questions about joint replacement surgery. Our compassionate team of orthopedists, physical therapists and nurses is here to support you at every step.
Joint reconstruction services available at St. Louise include:
- Total shoulder replacement
- Reverse total shoulder replacement
- Shoulder hemiarthroplasty, to replace the end of a damaged humeral head (end of arm bone)
- Total knee replacement
- Partial knee replacement
- Anterior hip replacement
Custom Joint Replacement
Prior to surgery, St. Louise orthopedists use MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT (computerized tomography) scans to create a custom model of your joint. This model allows surgeons to determine the exact size and placement of implant needed. The result is a quicker, more precise surgery that gives you better range of motion and stability.
Anterior Hip Replacement
St. Louise is one of the only hospitals in the area where patients can undergo anterior hip replacement. Our orthopedic surgeons have years of experience with this advanced technique, which is a minimally invasive alternative to traditional hip replacement.
Benefits of anterior hip replacement include:
- Less invasive: Traditional hip replacement requires opening up the whole hip, while anterior hip replacement involves just one small incision.
- Faster recovery: Anterior hip replacement leaves more muscle tissue intact, resulting in less pain and allowing you to heal faster. The procedure does not require the post-surgical precautions of a standard hip replacement like the inability to bend over. Patients can usually walk without assistance within 7 to 10 days.
- Better results: Compared to traditional hip replacement, patients have less recurring dislocation and instability after anterior hip replacement.
Robotic-Assisted Surgery for Knee Replacement
St. Louise offers robotic-assisted surgery for knee replacement, an emerging field where our orthopedic surgeons have special expertise.
Advantages of this kind of replacement compared to traditional knee replacement:
- Provides a higher degree of accuracy
- Is more likely to improve joint function
- Allows surgeons to leave more muscle tissue intact so you can heal faster
Specialty Joint Imaging
Our orthopedics department offers specialty imaging including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) arthrogram and computerized tomography (CT) arthrogram. Doctors inject a contrast dye into the joint prior to taking close-up images, improving the accuracy of your diagnosis and treatment.
Joint Replacement Surgery: What to Expect
When you undergo joint replacement surgery at St. Louise, you have an entire team supporting you throughout the process. We treat you with the care, compassion and respect that you deserve.
What is the process like?
- Before your surgery: Your orthopedic surgeon will consult with you and answer questions about your treatment. The orthopedist will take detailed images and create a customized model to determine the precise size and placement of your implant.
- The day of your surgery: Our orthopedic team will prepare you and answer any questions you have. We have the full resources of the hospital available should any issues arise during surgery.
- After your surgery: Our team swings into action to get you back on your feet. The nurses who attend your surgery will likely be the same ones caring for you afterward. Physical therapists focus on getting you up and walking, often the same day. You will then transfer to a high-quality rehab facility that we partner with to finish your recovery.
Contact Us
For more information or to find a physician, contact our physician referral service at (408) 782-1501.