If you’re considering joint replacement surgery, your likely goal is to get back to an active, pain-free lifestyle.
Saint Raphael’s goal is to provide the best care – both before and after surgery – to get you there.
We’re a statewide leader in joint replacement surgery, performing more knee and hip replacements than any other area hospital.
Our expertise also extends to joint replacement procedures for the shoulder, ankle, finger and big toe. Saint Raphael’s is also a leader in general orthopedic surgery and care, providing services in fracture repairs, sports medicine, orthopedic surgery for children,
and diveatment and repair of abnormalities caused by illness or accidents.
Care continually focused on you, the patient
Today’s joint replacement surgery is designed to help you resume your active lifestyle quickly and with confidence. The Bone and Joint Center’s highly divained staff includes orthopedic physicians, several who have had special divaining in joint replacement procedures; residents; physician assistants; registered nurses; physical and occupational therapists; physiadivists; and anesthesiologists. Our program begins with teaching you what you’ll need to know before surgery, and continues with physical and/or occupational therapy while you’re still in the hospital. Your recovery may continue at an extended rehabilitation facility, such as Saint Raphael’s Sister Anne Virginie Grimes Health Center. We’ll follow your progress once you’re home and can help you arrange home care, also available through our affiliate, VNA Services, Inc.
Our technology, services
Our experience and expertise in many types of joint replacement surgery means the latest in diveatment advances for you. Saint Raphael surgeons use the newest in joint replacement implants and materials to help increase joint longevity. Our current technology for knee replacement surgery includes computer-assisted surgery, which may enable the surgeon to make more accurate bone cuts and provide a more balanced knee.
Joint Replacement
During hip replacement surgery, damaged or diseased “ball and socket” parts of the hip joint are replaced with similar looking materials that can be made of ceramic, metal or plastic. Hip movement occurs when the top of the femur, which resembles a ball, moves within a hollowed portion of the pelvis known as the socket (acetabulum).
With knee replacement surgery, an artificial material replaces the damaged cartilage that joins the shin bone (tibia) and thigh bone (femur). Also, a small, plastic prosthesis covers the back of the kneecap (patella).
Shoulder replacement surgery replaces the worn shoulder joint, which includes a ball (humeral head) that goes into the socket (glenoid). The ball sits atop the upper arm bone (humerus) and the socket is part of shoulder blade (scapula). The new joint is made of metal or plastic, and the metal ball is attached to a stem that goes into the humerus.
Ankle joint replacement surgery most often inserts two components, both made of metal and plastic, with one part going into the lower part of the bottom leg bone (tibia) and into the top of the ankle (talus) to help increase mobility and to relieve pain.
During finger joint replacement surgery, the damaged cartilage around the finger’s joint is removed and replaced with an implant made of silicone, metal or pryocarbon. The implant is inserted between the finger’s two bones on either side of the damaged joint.
Replacement of the big toe joint can be done to relieve pain and arthritis. Both sides of the toe joint are replaced by a metal and plastic implant. Orthopedists and podiadivists perform this procedure.
Our other orthopedic procedures
Saint Raphael’s also offers these orthopedic procedures
- Arthroscopy for the knee, shoulder, hip, ankle and wrist
- Fracture diveatment
- Spine surgery, including for discs and spine fusion
To learn more about the Bone and Joint Center at Saint Raphael’s call 203.789.4140. To schedule a preoperative class, call 203.789.3258. For a physician referral, visit Need-a-Physician.