Knee Replacement Specialist

Southern Joint Replacement Institute

Fellowship Trained Orthopaedic Surgeon located in Nashville, TN

Knee replacements are safe, effective surgeries to restore pain-free movement to a damaged and painful knee. At Southern Joint Replacement Institute in Nashville, Tennessee, expert orthopedic surgeon Jeffrey T. Hodrick, MD, and his team offer advanced knee replacement procedures, including robotic knee replacement, for patients of all ages. Contact the office or book an appointment online to learn if knee replacement can help you.

Knee Replacement Q & A

What is knee replacement?

Knee replacement is a surgical procedure to remove damaged cartilage and bone from the knee joint. The damaged tissues are replaced with a metal and plastic joint that works like a natural joint.

Knee replacement helps restore pain-free movement to the knee. It is a safe and popular procedure with a high success rate. 

 

What are the types of knee replacements?

You may qualify for different types of knee replacement depending on the condition of your knee. At Southern Joint Replacement Institute, Dr. Hodrick performs several types of knee replacement, including:

  • Total knee replacement to replace all parts of the damaged knee
  • Partial knee replacement to replace just the inside or under your knee cap
  • Robot-assisted joint replacement which uses computer and robotic technology to optimize the precision of the replacement while minimizing soft tissue damage


Depending on your unique situation and the type of surgery you have, you may be able to have it performed on an outpatient basis, allowing you to go home the same day.

Dr. Hodrick can help you determine which type of knee replacement is most likely to offer you long-term pain relief.


How is knee replacement performed?

Knee replacements take approximately one hour to complete, depending on the type of procedure performed. Typically, patients receive a spinal anesthetic with light sedation. The anesthesiologist will also perform a nerve block, decreasing discomfort for the first 18-24 hours. 

Once you are asleep, Dr. Hodrick makes an incision in the front of your knee. Thanks to new technology, this incision is smaller than ever, sometimes only a couple of inches. 

Next, Dr. Hodrick uses tools, and robotic technology to remove damaged parts of the knee. He leaves as much healthy knee tissue in place as possible.

Dr. Hodrick then programs the robotic arm which he controls to cut the bones in the exact position to restore pain-free functional movement. The new joint is placed into these cuts and cemented into place.

After the joint is in place, Dr. Hodrick sews up the incision. 

 

Am I a candidate for knee replacement?

You may be a candidate for knee replacement if you experience knee pain or dysfunction that hasn’t improved with medicine or physical therapy. You’re most likely to need knee replacement if you have:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • A severe knee injury


Regain pain-free function in your knee. Contact Southern Joint Replacement Institute by phone or book an appointment online to learn about your knee replacement options.


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