Same Day Total Joint Replacement: What You Need to Know
For active adults with arthritis, joint pain can become bad enough to require replacement surgery. There are many options in joint replacement and with increased emphasis in getting back to our lives sooner, better technology and better care at home, more and more adults are choosing to return directly home after joint replacement surgery. For almost all our patients, recovering at home is a better, safer alternative than spending time in the hospital or a nursing facility.
As surgical and anesthesia treatments have improved, the number of patients who choose the one-day joint replacement pathway is increasing. We work with those patients who want to be active participants in their recovery so that they can return to work and activities with less disruption in their lives.
Common reasons for joint replacement include:
- Joint pain or stiffness which limits your daily activities, including recreation and exercise
- Joint pain that is present even at rest, especially if it affects your sleep
- Limping, difficulty with stairs or decreased motion of the joint
- Simpler treatments like medication and rest are no longer effective, and your X-rays show severe joint degeneration
The decision as to whether to have joint replacement, the method used, and recovery options are always determined between a patient and his or her doctor. Factors you will need to consider include your medical history, ability of friends and family to help you recover, and timing. It is important that you understand and allow yourself the time needed to recover and return to work or activities you enjoy.
Joint Replacement Services at Waterbury Hospital
Services available at the Waterbury Hospital Joint Replacement Center include:
- Total hip replacement
- Hip revision surgery
- Partial knee replacement
- Total knee replacement
- Knee revision surgery
- Shoulder arthroplasty (total and reverse)
Some of these surgeries can be done as outpatient procedures. So once the decision for joint replacement surgery has been made, depending on your physical condition, lifestyle and your support at home, you may consider going home the same day.
One-Day Joint Replacement Program
For patients considering joint replacement and the option of recovering in the convenience and comfort of home, Waterbury Hospital introduced earlier this year the One Day Total Joint Replacement Program.
The program begins with a series of steps taken even before surgery to ensure the best outcome and transition home. This process includes a pre-operative visit by a physical therapist to assess the patient’s home for a safe return and to ensure the patient receives the necessary medical equipment needed after surgery. The patient attends a pre-operative Total Joint Replacement Class which is taught by an orthopedic-specialized nurse. This class essentially walks the patient through the entire process. A concierge service includes a pre-operative consultation with the Department of Anesthesia, a tour of the surgical care unit and a personalized patient guide.
Patients and their family members enjoy a private room on Pomeroy 7 in a dedicated area. As soon as possible after surgery, the patient participates in a physical therapy session prior to discharge in the afternoon. Both a nurse and a physical therapist visit the patient at their home on day of discharge to continue their customized physical therapy plan and ensure the patient’s comfort and safety.
Our team’s goal is not just a successful surgery but also a more relaxed and comfortable experience for both you and your family.
For more information on this program view our Orthopedice Services page here.
Dr. William Flynn, MD is an Orthopedic Surgeon at Neurosurgery Orthopaedics & Spine Specialists, PC and Cheif of Medical Staff at Waterbury Hospital.
