Joint Replacement Surgery
Compassionate, expert surgical care for routine and complex joint replacements.
Joint Replacement Surgery
Compassionate, expert surgical care for routine and complex joint replacements.
Joint replacement at UW Medicine
When your joints hurt and nonsurgical treatments haven’t helped, it’s time to talk with your doctor about other options. At UW Medicine, our expert team of orthopedic surgeons perform every type of joint replacement, from the simple to the most complex. They can explain the benefits and risks of the procedure and help you determine if surgery is right for you.
Why choose UW Medicine
Experience matters. Joint replacement surgeries are highly technical at each step, and the skill of your surgeon can make a big difference in your recovery. At UW Medicine, our surgeons perform many routine joint replacements as well as the most complex procedures. Thanks to advanced techniques and attentive care, most patients go home the same day or after just one or two nights in the hospital. This dedication to excellent care also drives our ongoing research, where we focus on finding new ways to help patients recover more quickly and achieve the best possible long-term results.
What is joint replacement?
Joint replacement (also called arthroplasty) is a surgical procedure that replaces your damaged joint with an artificial joint. Most artificial joints are made of metals, polyethylene (heavy-duty plastic) or ceramics. They are designed to mimic the function of natural joints.
A successful joint replacement can help you return to normal daily activities. Based on your symptoms, range of motion, stability, strength and diagnostic imaging, your surgeon may recommend total joint replacement (replacing the entire joint) or partial joint replacement (replacing only the damaged area).
When should you have a joint replacement?
Getting a joint replacement at the right time can help improve your overall health. Most people benefit from postponing surgery until they’ve tried all nonsurgical options. If your joint pain interferes with your sleep or prevents you from enjoying routine activities, it’s time to talk with your doctor. They will talk with you to determine when the time is right.
Most patients have joint replacement surgery to relieve pain from arthritis. Our surgeons perform these operations to treat many conditions, including:
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Arthritis caused by an injury
- Fractures
- Infections
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid or inflammatory arthritis
Types of joint replacement surgeries
Ankle replacement
Your surgeon may recommend an ankle replacement to relieve pain and swelling that doesn’t respond to other treatments. During the procedure, your surgeon removes the damaged parts of your shinbone and a small bone in your ankle called the talus. They attach pieces of a metal joint to your shinbone and talus and insert a plastic implant between them.
Our surgeons have been leaders in ankle replacement surgery for nearly two decades. Their research has contributed to advanced techniques that are helping patients regain mobility and function.
Elbow replacement
If you have arthritis or a broken bone in your elbow, your surgeon may suggest elbow replacement as a treatment option. Although elbow replacement is an infrequently performed procedure, our surgeons have extensive expertise.
The two most common procedures are:
- Total elbow replacement: With this procedure, your surgeon replaces your existing elbow joint with a prosthetic one.
- Partial elbow replacement: Your surgeon will replace only the damaged portion of your elbow with prosthetic parts.
Finger replacement
If arthritis in your finger or thumb is very severe and other treatments are not helping, your surgeon may recommend replacing or fusing the damaged joint.
Hip replacement
Whenever possible, your surgeon will use hip bone-preserving procedures to relieve your pain, restore your comfort and get you back to a more active life. But every patient is different, and you may need a more extensive procedure.
If you need a hip replacement, your surgeon will work with you to identify your best option.
- Total hip replacement: This procedure removes your hip’s natural ball-and-socket joint and replaces it with a prosthetic hip joint.
- Minimally invasive total hip replacement: This procedure is like a traditional total hip replacement, but your surgeon may not cut large muscles.
- Hip revision: Our surgeons offer this procedure to patients with artificial hip joints that must be repaired or replaced.
Knee replacement
If you have arthritis or an injury that can’t be treated any other way, your surgeon may recommend a knee replacement. Surgical options include:
- Total knee replacement: During this procedure, your surgeon removes the damaged parts of your bone and cartilage and replaces it with a prosthetic knee implant.
- Partial knee replacement: You may be a good candidate for this less invasive procedure if arthritis only affects part of your knee.
- Knee revision: Our surgeons offer this procedure to patients with artificial knee joints that must be repaired or replaced.
Shoulder replacement
Depending on your age, activity level and condition of your shoulder, your surgeon may recommend a shoulder replacement. Our surgeons are national leaders in shoulder replacement, including these procedures:
- Total shoulder replacement: This procedure treats osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It replaces your shoulder’s natural ball-and-socket joint with a prosthetic one.
- Partial shoulder replacement, including the Ream and Run procedure: This technique replaces the ball portion of the shoulder joint when only one part of your shoulder is damaged.
- Reverse total shoulder replacement: Surgeons use this procedure to treat patients who have arthritis and a torn rotator cuff that can’t be repaired. With this technique, the shoulder joint is flipped so you can use different muscles instead of your rotator cuff to lift your arm.
- Shoulder revision: Our surgeons offer this procedure to patients who have a previous shoulder replacement that failed due to infection or incorrect positioning.
Wrist replacement
While wrist replacements are not common, they can help with certain conditions, like inflammatory and post-traumatic arthritis, when other treatment options have failed. With this technique, your surgeon removes your wrist joint and replaces it with a prosthetic one.
What to expect
If your surgeon determines you’re a candidate for joint replacement, you’ll receive the most compassionate care possible from our multidisciplinary team. Our surgeons work closely with nurses, anesthesiologists and physical and occupational therapists to ensure the best outcome.
Before surgery: You will meet with your surgeon and nurse for a complete evaluation before your procedure. This visit is also your time to discuss the benefits, risks and potential complications associated with the replacement. Your team will explain the best way to prepare for your operation, what to expect on the day of surgery and how to care for your incision.
On the day of surgery: Before your procedure, your surgeon will meet with you to answer your remaining questions. You will also meet with your anesthesia care team.
After your surgery is complete, you will be transferred to the post-anesthesia care unit to be closely monitored during the beginning of your recovery.
After surgery: You will head home when it is safe to do so. Most patients go home the same day of surgery or after a one to two-night stay in the hospital. Physical therapy will often begin in the hospital and will continue after discharge, depending on your specific procedure.
What are the benefits and risks of joint replacement?
Joint replacement surgery can improve your joint pain and motion. The operation typically offers these benefits:
- Increased activity
- Improved sleep
- Less need for pain medication
- Improved wellness
As with any surgery, having a joint replacement can lead to complications. Your doctor can explain the potential risks involved in your surgery. Risks of complications are patient and joint specific.