New Advances In Joint

Replacement Surgery

DANBURY –– As most surgeries have gotten less invasive over the years, so, too, has joint replacement surgery.

The procedure has become so minimally invasive that it is possible to replace a hip with one incision that is just three- to four-inches long, according to Dr Robert Deveney, an orthopedic surgeon with Danbury Orthopedic Associates. Dr Deveney discussed the advances in hip replacement surgery at a recent Medical Town Meeting sponsored by Danbury Hospital, “Innovations in Treating Arthritis of the Hip.”

 Because the surgery has gotten so advanced, recovery time and the pain once associated with it are also greatly reduced. Speaking with Dr Deveney was Lisa Sohonyay, a registered nurse and orthopedic case coordinator for the Total Joint Program at Danbury Hospital.

Joint replacement surgery, once considered a last resource, has become so advanced that its almost commonplace, said Dr Deveney. Recovery time is dramatically reduced, rehabilitation is much quicker, pain is greatly reduced, blood loss is limited, and the joint is mobilized very quickly. “The procedure is becoming the gold standard,” said Dr Deveney.

More and more people are considering hip replacement as a solution to pain and limited activities from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, and a bad injury that did not heal properly.              

People should consider surgery when their pain is severe and constant and their activities of daily living are being compromised. Between 90 and 95 percent of people can have hip replacement surgery, said Dr Deveney.

The materials used in the prosthesis, the artificial joint –– polyethylene, ceramics, or metal –– are also much lighter and stronger than they were years ago, according to Dr Deveney.

For more information about hip replacement surgery, visit the Danbury Hospital website at www.danburyhospitalorg and click on “Surgical Services.”