What to Know About Hip and Knee Replacements

Why new isn't necessarily better

You may have heard about robots being used for joint replacement surgery. New robotic surgical systems use CT scans to create a 3-D model of a patient's anatomy and help doctors identify the proper alignment of an implant and create personalized surgical plans.

But robots don't necessarily improve surgery. “Everyone wants what's new and modern, and robotic sounds great,” Cobelli says. “But there is no strong evidence at this point that robotic surgery makes a positive difference across all joint replacements. The long-term efficacy is still unproven.” Surgeons’ skills are more important than the tools they use, he says.

Robotic systems may be of greater benefit to surgeons performing partial knee replacements, in which only one component of the knee joint is replaced. “Since you're only doing part of the knee, the prostheses are smaller and you can fit them through smaller incisions,” Cobelli notes. But that makes them harder to see. Robotics help make up for the limited visibility.

A similar caution applies to new approaches to hip replacement surgery. Traditionally, the surgeon accessed the hip joint through an incision close to the buttocks and went in behind the major walking muscles. The newer anterior approach — in which the surgeon makes the incision on the front of the hip area to access the joint — was thought to be easier on the patient, as less muscle is cut.

Yet studies show there are no differences in outcomes and the anterior approach may even be less safe. “Our literature shows a much higher chance of infection and a much higher chance of breaking the bone when the piece is put in,” Lajam says.

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When you need surgery — or not

You're ready to go under the knife if X-rays show significant arthritis or other joint problems and your symptoms are out of control. “A lot of people have bad X-rays but they're functioning fine,” says Mathias Bostrom, M.D., chief of Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement Service at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. If that's the case, it's generally safe to hold off on surgery.

As Bostrom puts it: “If your X-ray looks horrible and you're functioning fine, let's leave well enough alone. On the other hand, if your X-ray looks bad and you are waking up at night, walking less and less, and not doing the things you want to do, then it's probably time to fix it."

What if you have pain, but there's nothing on the X-ray? “Sometimes the pain is coming from another part of the body,” says Lajam, “like the spine or muscle problem.” In that case, you need a doctor who can think about the problem and try to solve it.

What to expect during surgery and recovery

Hospital stays are shrinking. A small percentage of patients — typically very healthy people with a good support system at home — even get discharged on the same day as the surgery. That's particularly true for patients getting a hip replacement, which involves an easier recovery than a knee surgery.

A much larger percentage of people are discharged within 24 hours, which gives them the chance to have several physical therapy sessions in the hospital. “Most joint replacement centers are able to get people up and walking within a few hours of the surgery,” Cobelli says. “If you have it on a Monday morning, you can get two sessions of physical therapy on Monday and another session on Tuesday morning, and then you can go home."

Yet most people facing joint replacement are older, and their age can present challenges. “Many have other illnesses that the stress of surgery can exacerbate, so we need to be vigilant,” Cobelli says. “In most cases, people are able to go home from the surgery within two days, and at worst three days.” In general, hip replacement patients are discharged between a half-day to a day earlier than knee patients.

Patients usually get a prescription for a low-dose narcotic to manage pain while they heal. “But we've found that a lot of patients don't need it or they use very little of it,” Courtney says. Muscle relaxers, nerve pain medications and over-the-counter pain drugs often do the trick.

How long before you get back to your life

We won't lie: The first two weeks after surgery are the roughest, and you'll need someone standing by to help you. “I tell patients you are going to be cranky and sore and you're not going to like me very much,” Lajam says. “But then after that, most people start gradually returning to their lives.”

If your left leg is affected, you can drive again after two or three weeks. But it might be six weeks if your right limb was operated on. And you'll likely be off from work for two to up to six weeks if your job is active. “Our patients return to work in about 30 to 40 days,” Bostrom says.

"You're not going to have much energy right away. But as time goes by, you get more and more,” Lajam says. Don't expect to get your full energy back for three months — longer if you are older, combating other health conditions or were more sedentary before surgery.

Although not everyone has a good outcome, the majority of joint replacement patients are very happy with their results. “We get accustomed to hearing, ‘This just changed my life. I'm sorry I waited so long to do it ,’ ” Cobelli observes.

Hip patients, who generally have a faster, less painful return to regular activities, are particularly grateful. “The majority of them forget they had their hip replaced after a while,” Bostrom says.

Beverly Keel isn't quite there. Her hip feels different since she had it operated on a year ago, but it doesn't bother her. “If you need the surgery, get it sooner rather than later,” she advises others in her shoes. “Your pain will go away immediately."