Innovative solutions help patients get back on their feet
Like a hinge on your kitchen cabinet that becomes loose over time, your joints can tire out after years of wear and tear, especially if you are active or play certain sports. That’s because the cartilage, a tough tissue that cushions the ends of the bones whenever you bend your joints, gradually wears down — just like your kitchen hardware.
The result can be osteoarthritis, a common form of arthritis that causes joint pain, inflammation, stiffness and difficulty moving. This degenerative joint disease occurs when the cartilage that cushions the bones wears down over time. Conservative treatments such as medication, injections, physical therapy and changes in lifestyle often help, but when they no longer work, your doctor may recommend a partial or total joint replacement.
Today, surgeons have become highly skilled in providing minimally invasive total joint replacements, including robotic-assisted approaches, and are helping patients get back on their feet faster with smaller incisions, fewer infections, less need for narcotic pain medication and shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery times. Such advancements in technology have allowed Providence surgeons to customize care to each patient to treat everything from traditional joint replacements to complex cases involving multiple specialties.
“Providence orthopedic surgeons and specialists across California believe in utilizing leading-edge treatments and emerging technologies to fix injuries to joints, bones, tendons, ligaments and muscles,” said Tom Burton, PT, executive director of Providence South Division’s Orthopedics, Sports Medicine and Spine Clinical Institutes. “Our focus on research-backed procedures and minimally invasive techniques ultimately improves patient outcomes and their quality of life.”
At Providence, our physicians are committed to remaining at the forefront of care, using innovative advancements and technologies – such as the MAKO system or the ROSA robot – to provide individualized care to patients in need of orthopedic surgery.
One such advancement is robotic-assisted total joint replacement, where surgeons use robotic arms and 3D modeling to position implants more precisely based on your unique anatomy. The technology helps lessen the risk of damage to tissue around your joints and patients are more likely to go home earlier after surgery as they need less pain medication and time to recover.
“Most of our patients are able to walk within hours of having their surgery and some are actually able to go home that same day,” Burton said. “The results are life-changing for patients being able to return to an active lifestyle in a short time after surgery.”
Providence hospitals across California provide ongoing joint care and sports medicine, offer full or partial joint replacements and treat injuries ranging from arthritis, back pain and joint pain to lingering discomfort from strains and sprains.
When seeking out a care team for your joint pain or replacements, you can take comfort in knowing you are in the best hands at Providence with physicians who are passionate about patient care.
For more information about Providence’s orthopedic services, call 844-552-2734 or complete an online request form.
