Total Joint Replacement - Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics

Q: What is the criteria for total joint replacement surgery?

What is the criteria for total joint replacement surgery? Arthritis, an injury or joint damage can leave you dealing with pain that makes it hard to move. It can also make it harder to do the things you enjoy. But you don’t have to keep living with it. A joint replacement specialist can determine what’s causing your pain and help you understand your treatment options. If other treatments haven’t brought relief, outpatient total joint replacement may help you get back to your life. The best way to make sure you qualify is to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists. In general, to qualify, patients must have: 1. An insurance plan that allows surgery to be done in an outpatient setting. 2. A qualifying health history. 3. No extreme deformity. 4. Body shape and weight within an acceptable range for safe outpatient surgery.

Don’t let joint pain keep you from the things you love.

Our bodies are meant to move. Constant hip, knee, shoulder, or ankle pain can limit your ability to live life to the fullest. Though many people accept joint pain as a natural part of getting older, relief is possible. Our total joint replacement surgery options can provide the treatment you need to stop living with pain and start living the way you want.

Even better, total joint replacement doesn’t typically require an extended hospital stay. In most cases, the surgery is an outpatient procedure. It allows you to begin recovery at home later that day.

Learn more about total joint replacement

Our team of specialists offers outpatient orthopedic surgery, so you can go home quickly and recover in comfort. We have expert surgeons who perform hip and knee replacements, foot and ankle replacements, and shoulder replacements.

To schedule an appointment or learn more about your specific injury, click the appropriate link below:

Get an in-depth look at outpatient total joint replacement

Total Joint Replacement FAQs

What is the criteria for total joint replacement surgery?
Arthritis, an injury or joint damage can leave you dealing with pain that makes it hard to move. It can also make it harder to do the things you enjoy. But you don’t have to keep living with it.

A joint replacement specialist can determine what’s causing your pain and help you understand your treatment options. If other treatments haven’t brought relief, outpatient total joint replacement may help you get back to your life.

The best way to make sure you qualify is to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists. In general, to qualify, patients must have:

An insurance plan that allows surgery to be done in an outpatient setting.
A qualifying health history.
No extreme deformity.
Body shape and weight within an acceptable range for safe outpatient surgery.

This feels like a big procedure. Shouldn’t I recover in a hospital?
We have rigorously followed up and studied the effects of our outpatient procedures for the last decade. For patients who meet outpatient criteria, outpatient total joint surgery provides equal or better safety than inpatient surgeries. In fact, certain risks, such as postoperative infection, are lower in outpatient procedures.

How do I choose the right total joint replacement surgeon?
Choosing the right knee replacement surgeon or hip replacement surgeon is a big decision. You want someone who has the right training, plenty of experience and a team you can count on throughout your recovery. Here are a few things to consider:

Look at their training and credentials.
- Choose an orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in total joint replacement.
- Make sure they are board certified.
- Ask if they have completed a fellowship or other advanced training.
Ask how much experience they have with your specific procedure — and how often they perform it.
Check patient outcomes and complication rates.
Get a recommendation from your primary care provider or physical therapist
Make sure you’ll have access to a responsive care team 24/7 if questions come up after surgery.

What do I have to do to prepare for total joint replacement surgery?
We will provide a preoperative health screening, and in some cases, a consultation with an anesthesiologist. You will also undergo “Prehab” with one of our physical therapists to learn about post-operative exercises and recovery. It’s often helpful to bring primary caregivers to these sessions so they fully understand your needs after surgery.

Do you offer robotic joint replacement?
Yes. Campbell Clinic offers both robotic knee replacement and robotic hip replacement for patients who may benefit from this approach. During surgery, robotic technology gives your surgeon real-time information about your anatomy, helping them position your implant with greater accuracy and tailor the procedure to you. Your joint replacement specialist can help you understand your options and decide if robotic-assisted surgery is right for you.

What happens the day of my surgery?
Before your total joint replacement or revision joint replacement surgery, we will perform multiple checks. This helps ensure a smooth procedure. Typically, patients undergo spinal anesthesia with sedation for the surgery, though some require general anesthesia. We have protocols for pain relief and for avoiding nausea from anesthesia.

A physical therapist will assist in your mobilization after surgery, reviewing the exercises you learned in Prehab. Before you can leave the outpatient surgery center, you must:

Be able to walk 200 feet
Get in and out of a chair
Climb any stairs necessary to be safe in your home

What does post-operative care for total joint replacement look like?
You will have a waterproof bandage in place allowing showering 1-2 days after your surgery. We will send you home with clearly written out postoperative instructions. This includes a list of telephone numbers that allow you to communicate with our on-call physicians if needed.