Nationally Ranked Hip and Knee Replacement Excellence in Cleveland, Ohio

Chronic hip or knee joint pain can make everyday life a challenge. It can be caused by arthritis, excess body weight, injury or trauma from a fall or other even minor accidents. If you are living with chronic hip or knee joint pain and have not found relief through conservative measures, it may be time to consider total joint replacement for one or more of your knee or hip joints.

UH surgeons were among the first in the world to perform total hip replacement surgery in 1970 and our team has continued this history of innovative excellence. Our team of orthopedic care specialists at University Hospitals performs thousands of hip and knee replacements each year and is consistently recognized as one of the best programs in the nation.

With expert training in the entire musculoskeletal system, our team understands how damaged or diseased joints affect every aspect of your mobility. It is important to see an orthopedic specialist if you are experiencing persistent hip or knee pain that affects your mobility and quality of life.

Comprehensive Care for Any Type of Hip or Knee Replacement Surgery

With patient care standardization across our entire health system, a patient-centered approach and exceptional outcomes, you can count on our team for any hip or knee replacement surgery needs. As the most commonly performed joint replacement surgeries, our board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons have specialized training in joint reconstruction and are experts in performing:

• Anterior approach for hip replacement
• Hip arthroplasty
• Hip revision surgery
• Knee arthroplasty
• Partial hip replacement
• Partial knee replacement
• Total hip replacement
• Total knee replacement

We may recommend total hip or knee replacement surgery if your joint pain:

• Cannot be relieved with medications, assistive devices or physical therapy
• Affects your ability to get a good night’s sleep
• Restricts your ability to work, exercise or perform day-to-day activities
• Affects your quality of life in other ways

Safety, Quality and Standardization of Care

Orthopedic doctors at UH are committed to providing you with a safe hospital experience and high-quality result at all of our locations. To accomplish this, we’ve implemented our High Reliability Medicine Program (HRM) that focuses on standardization of care and continuous process improvement. Our team meets monthly to analyze our patient care, and develop plans to incorporate the latest innovations and improvements in care at all locations, based on evolving best practices. By standardizing our approach, we are able to provide consistent high-quality orthopedic care, that provides high value to our patients. This continuous improvement of our care standards gives our patients consistent and excellent patient care, regardless of where they go within our healthcare system.

Joint-Preserving Procedures Delay or Eliminate Hip or Knee Replacement Surgery

If your hip or knee joint pain is minor, joint-preserving procedures may be a first step in delaying joint replacement or even as an alternative to total joint replacement. These treatments are particularly beneficial for those with mild arthritis or young or adolescent patients who are living with joint problems. We offer several joint-preserving procedures that can correct issues and delay or even eliminate the need for future total replacement surgery. These include:

• Joint debridement: This treatment removes bone spurs and damaged tissues around the hip or knee joints that can cause pain.
• Realignment osteotomy: This treatment corrects hip or knee deformities, realigns the abnormal joint and shifts weight to a normal part of the joint.

What to Expect from Hip or Knee Replacement Surgery

First, our team will evaluate your hip or knee joint issues or concerns, discuss medical and surgical treatment options and develop a plan that is best for you. If a total joint replacement is right for you, one of our skilled orthopedic surgeons will meet with you and a family member to explain your specific joint replacement surgery to you, tell you what you need to do to prepare for the procedure and what you can expect during your hospital stay and the recovery process.

All of our patients will work with a patient navigator who will guide you through the preparation, surgery and recovery process to make sure everything happens smoothly and that you stay connected to your care providers. We want all of our patients and their families to be fully informed about the entire surgical process and have an extensive educational program for our patients, called Joint Camp.

During the hip or knee replacement procedure, your surgeon will remove the damaged parts of your joint and replace them with artificial components, called implants. Since there are various types of artificial joints available, your surgeon will select the one that is ideal for you and your needs.

Following your replacement surgery, a multidisciplinary team comprising your surgeon, nursing care team, physical therapist, home care team and others will design a personalized care and rehabilitation plan – fit just for you and your recovery. You will likely receive physical therapy at home for a short period after a 1-2 day stay in the hospital, followed by outpatient therapy for several weeks. Most patients have a very rapid recovery, but complete recovery from hip or knee total replacement may take three to six months or longer.

Scientific Research and Clinical Trials

Our joint specialists are involved in scientific research and clinical trials to provide patients with the latest advances and innovations in total replacement and joint preserving surgery. Our implant retrieval laboratory is internationally known for analysis of why joint replacement implants fail. This scientific knowledge is incorporated into design improvements to produce longer joint replacement devices. Some of our other current research efforts focus on investigating new materials for joint replacement surgery and application of 3-D printing for revision joint replacements.

Benefits of Total Joint Replacement

Our team of hip and knee specialists at University Hospitals are able to carefully review your medical history and consider all aspects of your joint, muscle and bone health – to understand exactly why you are experiencing pain. Especially with joint pain due to arthritis, those suffering may alter their gait or walking patterns to compensate for the discomfort. Over time, these adjustments to your stride can also cause cartilage damage or increased joint stiffness.

After a joint replacement, you’ll experience a variety of short- and long-term benefits including:

• Reduced joint pain or joint pain relief
• Increased ability to stand, walk and return to low impact activities like golf, biking, hiking and many other types of exercise
• Improved and more restful sleep
• Improved quality of life
• Increased mobility
• Increased movement and range of motion
• Improved overall joint strength and functionality
• Improved overall health

Contact Our Hip and Knee Specialists Today

To learn more about hip or knee replacement services provided by our board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons at University Hospitals, please contact our team at 216-844-7200 or use our Online Request Form. We’ll help you find a convenient location near you.