At Mercy Health Partners, you’ll find the clinical experience and technology you’d expect from a leading-edge healthcare provider. But you’ll also experience something else: compassionate and individualized attention. We call it the Mercy Circle of Caring and you’ll experience it at every point of interaction from registration to rehabilitation.
Watch the videos to the right to learn more about the advancements in total joint replacement from our experienced, board-certified orthopaedic surgeons. Mercy is also providing free information sessions this month on various orthopaedic conditions, see details below.
The Mercy Total Joint Replacement Program
From prevention to rehabilitation to surgery, the Mercy Circle of Caring provides a full range of orthopaedic care. We are affiliated with the leading orthopaedic groups and physicians in Greater Cincinnati and provide comprehensive rehabilitation programs at all of our hospitals. In addition, we provide the resources you need to continue your rehabilitation plan at any of our three area HealthPlexes. Whether it's a small fracture or total joint replacement, our experienced surgeons, nurses and therapists will get you back on your feet doing the things you love. For more information, visit us online.
What is total joint replacement? An arthritic or damaged joint is removed and replaced with an artificial joint. It can be performed on any joint in the body including hip, knee, ankle, foot, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and finger. Arthritis is responsible for most joint replacements, but infection and injury can also play a role. Who is a good candidate for total joint replacement? Most procedures are performed on otherwise healthy people, who have exhausted all other avenues for treatment, such as physical therapy, injections, aquatic therapy, or others. Younger people and baby boomers may be candidates, as well as older adults.
How bad do I have to get before I consider joint replacement? If you have pain that is ongoing and often keeps you from doing activities you used to enjoy, you may be a candidate.
Even if I do need it, shouldn’t I wait? I’ve heard a knee replacement only lasts 15 years. Many patients who have joint replacement wish they’d done it sooner. Advances in techniques and materials offer more options for patients and the replaced joint may now last indefinitely.
If I do need joint replacement, what can I expect? You should get a full explanation from your primary care physician beforehand. Typically you’ll spend two to three days in the hospital, but may be on your feet the first day. You will receive pain medications to keep you comfortable and a schedule for physical therapy before you leave the hospital. Attention to the prescribed exercises is very important for recovery. Most patients (80-90 percent) return to a very active lifestyle where they are able to enjoy golf, tennis, gardening, walking on the beach, or other activities.
What are the advantages of the Total Joint Replacement program at Mercy? Through our affiliation with the leading orthopaedic groups in the area and our dedication to providing a completely satisfying experience for you, we deliver the expertise and individual attention that will help you recover quicker and get back to your life.
All Mercy hospitals regularly host pre-operative education classes for total joint patients as part of our program. These classes usually last about two hours and provide insight from a variety of specialists, including:
What should I do if I want to find out more? First, contact your primary care physician. You may be given treatment or referred to an orthopaedic specialist. Talk to anyone you know who has had this procedure to get their perspective. Whether or not you need surgery, proper diagnosis is key, and the decision to have surgery or not is up to you. Visit us online for more information.
You may still have many questions about Joint Replacement or other orthopaedic related surgeries. If so, join us for one of Mercy’s seminars to learn more and ask questions.
