Patient Care Process
At PAMF, the first step in the joint replacement process is an office consultation with one of our orthopedic surgeons. Call the Center for Total Joint Replacement to make an appointment with one of the surgeons. At the consultation, the surgeon will discuss your individual clinical needs, conduct an examination, make a recommendation if surgery is indicated and provide you with more information about surgery.
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Preoperative Care
Joint replacement is a major surgical procedure, and the decision to have the operation is an important one. After your consultation, you and your family should take time to evaluate whether the choice is right for you. When you are ready, call us and one of our nurses will schedule a date for your operation.
Prior to the operation, you will need to have a check-up from a primary care physician to get medical clearance for surgery. You may see either your own physician, or we can recommend a primary care doctor at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. The check-up will generally include a physical examination, heart tests and X-rays, blood tests and urine analysis. We may also ask you to see a dentist to check for tooth or gum problems, as germs in your mouth can migrate and infect the replacement joint.
Prior to surgery, you may also wish to donate one or two units of blood, in case it is needed during the operation.
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Surgery
Our surgeons will perform your joint replacement procedure at Stanford University Medical Center, across the street from PAMF's Palo Alto Clinic. Surgery lasts about 60 to 90 minutes. You will receive either general (total) anesthesia or a spinal (regional) block, to be decided after you consult with the anesthesiologist who will attend your surgery.
Because infection of the joint replacement site can cause serious complications, special precautions are taken to ensure sterility of the operating room. You will receive antibiotics to kill bacteria on your body, and surgeons will wear special suits to prevent the spread of bacteria from their bodies. An air current is also blown through the room to keep bacteria out of the surgical field.
For more information about specific joint replacement procedures, please visit the Procedures page. For more information about Stanford's surgical facilities, please visit the About Our Facilities page.
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Recovery and Follow-Up
Most hip and knee replacement patients stay in the hospital after surgery for approximately three days. Hospital stay is followed by discharge either to home or a skilled nursing facility (SNF), depending on your individual needs.
Physical therapy is vital for a successful recovery from joint replacement surgery. Your physical therapy will begin in the hospital on the day after surgery and will continue intensively for several more weeks. If necessary, the hospital or SNF staff can help you find a physical therapy provider close to where you live. Recovery time depends on the complexity of surgery, with most patients attaining some recovery within 12 weeks.
Our doctors will visit you regularly while you are in the hospital or SNF to check your postoperative progress. Later, you will have follow-up visits with your surgeon at one, three and six months post-surgery, and every one to two years thereafter.
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Potential Complications
Joint replacement operations are successful and long-lasting for more than 90 percent of patients. Nevertheless, joint replacement is major surgery, and like any such operation carries risks and potential complications. Your surgeon will discuss these factors with you at your initial consultation.
Complications from joint replacement surgery are extremely rare, but can include the following:
- Blood clots
- Infection
- Leg length discrepancy
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Your Individual Surgery
Each patient has different needs when it comes to joint replacement, and your preoperative consultation will include a detailed discussion about your individual surgery and recovery. Our physicians, nurses and staff members are here to assist you throughout your treatment and follow-up. Please do not hesitate to call us with any questions or concerns you may have.
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