Have there been any advances in the treatment of arthritis?

As far as recent advances in the treatment of arthritis, surgically, one of the most helpful ones that we have employed recently as joint replacement surgeons is the use of computer navigation in knee, hip, and shoulder replacement.  What this involves is the use of small sensors that are attached to the thigh bone and shinbone during a knee replacement that allow us to make a very accurate and reproducible bony resection when replacing the knee joint.

Another advance in the surgical treatment of arthritis is the team approach.  And whereas in the past, the treatment approach was typically between the surgeon and the patient with other people helping, the trend now and what we have here at Premier Health, is a very deep integrated program with many, many people involved from start to finish along your journey of joint replacement.  Starting with your preoperative evaluation, preoperative testing, preoperative therapy, preoperative medical management, and then following through afterwards with extensive therapy, early rehab, and innovative rehab that gets our patients moving quicker.  And again, this is done as an integrated team approach rather than a one doctor, one patient approach.

One of the other advances in the surgical treatment of arthritis is the multidisciplinary team approach to the arthritic joint replacement.  In the past, traditionally it was one surgeon, one patient with other people helping out along the way.  Now the approach is a multidisciplinary team involving therapists, nutritionists, medical physicians, family care physicians, all the people involved in your journey from start to finish are involved the entire way is an integrated part of your treatment during your joint replacement.  That’s the treatment approach that tends to lead to lower hospital stays, lower infection rates, and better outcomes as far as range of motion, and ultimate outcome and pain relief.