[title subtitle=”WORDS and IMAGES Words and images courtesy Alicia Agent, Director Marketing Communications, Baptist Health – Fort Smith”][/title]
The number of joint replacement surgeries performed in the United States is on the rise as baby boomers choose to stay active and the next generation continues to work later in life. More than one million total joint arthroplasty surgeries, or joint replacement surgeries, are performed each year, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
In our area, total hip or total knee replacement surgeries are performed at Baptist Health Orthopedic and Spine Center inside Baptist Health-Fort Smith each month, giving residents of the River Valley access to quality orthopedic care closer to home.
Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are the most common causes of chronic joint pain, according to Stephen Heim, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon with Baptist Health. Injuries from sports or a trauma, and obesity can also cause pain for patients as they age.
According to Dr. Heim, joint replacement patients usually reach a point in their lives where hip, knee or back pain reduces their quality of life. They might miss out on grandkids’ football games and everyday activities and hobbies such as walking, shopping, housework or golf. Measures like diet, exercise and medications no longer provide pain relief.
“There’s not a certain age to get a joint replaced; when your pain has reached a point that conservative treatment options aren’t working and you are not able to live a fulfilled life, then it’s time to consider joint replacement surgery,” Dr. Heim said.
Dr. Heim says that conversation often begins with your primary care physician, who can refer you to an orthopedic surgeon. At Baptist Health, a team of experienced and skilled surgeons, specially trained nurses and therapists provide a cohesive treatment plan to simplify joint replacement surgery.
“Our program takes a ‘concierge’ approach to total joint replacement surgery,” said Natalie Bohannan, Orthopedic & Spine Center Care Coordinator. “From pre-surgery education classes to making sure the patient has what they need to make their home safe for when they’re discharged, everything we do is personalized for each patient and gets them one step closer to a successful outcome.”
Natalie says she takes pride in her role in each patient’s success, much like the rest of the nurses and therapists who work in the Baptist Health Orthopedic and Spine Center.
One of the things that makes Natalie proudest is that the center’s complication and infection rates are well below the national average, which Dr. Heim says is due to investments in technology and a commitment to patient safety.
“Our operating room suites are state-of-the-art with laminar airflow ventilation and during procedures our team wears surgical helmets and body exhaust suits to reduce chances of surgical site infections,” Dr. Heim said. “These are just a few of the ways we improve quality and patient safety.”
In addition to performing traditional orthopedic procedures, Baptist Health-Fort Smith orthopedic surgeons use minimally invasive techniques, which often allow for smaller incisions and minimal disruption to surrounding tissue.
For patients, this means less pain and scarring, more flexibility and mobility immediately following surgery, and a smoother, faster recovery.
Outside of the operating room, Baptist Health Orthopedic and Spine Center features a spacious nine-bed unit with private rooms and bathrooms dedicated to joint replacement and spine surgery patients.
Natalie works with each patient to identify a friend or loved one to be a “coach” during the process. Patients can also lean on each other for emotional support and motivation during group therapy sessions.
“The advantage of group therapy is that it makes it more social, patients find themselves wanting to encourage other people, root for them or even compete with them,” Natalie said. “You’ll be recovering alongside others who are going through the same thing and want the best possible outcome, just like you.”
Walking begins the day of surgery, and group therapy begins the next morning withBaptist Health’s physical therapy team. Patients are encouraged to get out of bed, walk, and use the restroom after surgery to increase mobility in the joint.
“Walking is among the best forms of physical therapy,” Natalie said. “Once the anesthesia has worn off and if a patient feels ready, we help them take a few steps. In most cases, patients are walking down the hall, with assistance, just hours after surgery.”
One of the most difficult transitions for a joint replacement patient is learning how to get into a car again after surgery. To help the process, the physical therapy staff uses an actual model car that can be raised and lowered to match the height of the patient’s vehicle. Natalie says most patients stay one to two nights in the hospital and follow up with physical therapy either in a clinic or in their homes.
5 Exercises to Help Relieve Knee or Hip Joint Pain
Natalie Bohannan, Orthopedic & Spine Center Care Coordinator,suggests the following workouts to relieve your joint pain at home.
Quad Sets: Lie on your back, press knees into bed or mat by tightening muscles on the front of the thigh (quadriceps). Hold for a 5 count. DO NOT hold breath. Perform 10 times.
Heel Slides: Lie on your back and slide heel up a flat surface bending knee. After surgery, your therapist may have you use a strap around foot to assist in gaining more knee bend. Perform 10 times.
Straight Leg Raise: Lie on your back with unaffected knee bent and foot flat, tighten quad on affected leg and lift leg 6-12 inches from surface. Keep knee straight and toes pointed toward your head. Perform 2 sets of 5.
Hip Abduction/Adduction: Lie on your back with toes pointed to ceiling and knees straight. Tighten quad muscles and slide leg out to side and back to starting position. Perform 10 times.
Knee Extension: Sit with back against chair and thighs fully supported. Lift foot up, straightening knee. DO NOT raise thigh off chair. Hold for a 5 count. Perform 2 sets of 5.
If you’re interested in learning more about total joint replacement surgery, attend one of the Baptist Health Orthopedic and Spine Center’s joint replacement seminars held at 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday on the second floor of the Baptist Health Medical Plaza on Dodson Avenue. For more information,call 479.441.5095 or visit baptist-health.com.
