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Orthopaedic Surgeons at Monadnock Community Hospital Perform State-of-the-Art Surgery
If hip or knee pain is causing you to give up the things in life you enjoy doing and is compromising your quality of life, you should consider visiting the orthopaedic professionals at Monadnock Orthopaedic Associates (MOA). They will recommend the most appropriate treatment for your condition. They may advise a combination of methods tailored to your health and lifestyle, such as exercise, physical therapy, and medication. For patients who are in constant back, hip or knee pain and have a significant decrease in mobility, MOA provides a wide range of minimally invasive hip and knee joint replacements.
Advanced Hip and Knee Replacements Offer Fast Recovery and Better Function
Total hip and knee replacements have been one of the most successful medical treatments over the past 30 years and can significantly relieve pain and restore mobility. The orthopaedic surgeons at MOA have been performing successful replacement surgeries for ten years at Monadnock Community Hospital and perform well over one hundred hip and knee replacement surgeries every year.
Total hip and knee replacements are usually a result of progressively severe arthritis in the joint. The most common type is degenerative arthritis or osteoarthritis. Using minimally invasive joint replacement procedures and the latest pain management methods, a damaged knee or hip can be removed and replaced with an artificial implant.
The purpose of hip replacement surgery is to remove the two damaged and worn parts of the hip joint – the hip socket (acetabulum) and the ball (femoral head) and replace them with smooth, artificial implants called prostheses, which helps make the hip strong, stable and flexible again.
The hip implant is comprised of four parts that work together to restore the original function of your ball-and-socket joint:
- A metal hip stem that is inserted into the top of your thighbone
- A metal cup which holds the cup liner
- A cup liner which holds the femoral head
- The femoral head or ball which is attached to the hip stem and inserted into the liner to form the ball-and-socket joint
Hip implants are not one-size-fits-all. The surgeon at MOA will choose the right hip implant for your body and will determine which design options will work best together to restore accurate leg length, while minimizing risks of dislocation and premature implant wear.
Knee Replacement Surgery
Knee replacement surgery can help relieve pain and restore function in severely diseased knee joints. During knee replacement, the MOA surgeon will cut away damaged bone and cartilage from your thighbone, shinbone and kneecap and replaces it with an artificial joint made of metal alloys, high-grade plastics and polymers. The surgeon at MOA will choose from a wide variety of designs that take into account the patient’s age, weight, activity level and overall health. Most knee replacement joints attempt to replicate your knee’s natural ability to roll and glide as it bends.
A Coordinated Team Approach
A thorough understanding of both the procedure and anticipated outcome is an important part of these elective procedures. Fully educating patients and their caregivers about their upcoming surgery is critical to a patient’s emotional and physical well-being. The orthopaedic team works closely with the nursing team, physical and occupational therapists, and social services to educate patients about pre-surgery, the surgical procedure, and post-surgery to make sure the patient heals quickly and recovers successfully.
“The primary purpose of the education program is to decrease anxiety and give patients the facts. It’s the fear of the unknown that makes people anxious and prevents them from having surgery. The feedback that we’ve received from post-surgery patients who have gone through the program is that they were more relaxed, receptive to the surgery, and prepared to go home.”
—Amanda Murray, RN
Patients who have been recommended for joint replacement surgery, or are trying to make up their mind about surgery, are encouraged to attend a pre-surgery education program that is given twice a month at MCH. Individuals attending the two-hour session learn about all aspects of joint replacement surgery, including pre-operative issues, details about the surgery, medication, aftercare plans, and post-operative treatment and care. The class is given by an Registered Nurse, physical therapist and social worker.
Why Monadnock Orthopaedic Associates?
If you have been recommended for or are thinking about joint replacement surgery, you would probably prefer to have the surgery close to home. At Monadnock Community Hospital, you will not only be close to home, but will have one of the best orthopaedic teams in the state. The care is highly personalized from pre-surgery through post-surgery through rehabilitation. The MOA team has been providing orthopaedic care in the Monadnock region for more than ten years. They are board-certified specialists who have trained at some of the most respected hospitals in the country, including the Mayo Clinic, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, and New England Medical Center. They understand how important it is for patients to return to pain-free living as soon as possible.
"I was in terrible back pain and after a couple of wrong diagnoses and at the advice of a friend, I finally ended-up in Dr. Brad White’s office. He told me that I needed a hip replacement in late December ’09 and the surgery was scheduled for early January. I started walking the first day after surgery and just two months later, I’m pain free. I tell everybody about Dr. White and MOA.”
—Susan Elliott-Davis, Peterborough
Day of Surgery
On the day of surgery, the anesthesiologist meets with the patient to assess their surgery and will discuss medication options. In addition to anesthesia, he will also inject a pain medication, an antibiotic, and an anti-inflamatory. The length of surgery varies depending on the patient and the procedure, but averages between two to three hours. Directly after surgery, the patient goes to the recovery room and then is taken to the Adult/Pediatric Unit.