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With the government’s recent decision on elective surgery, many patients are relieved to know that they can finally receive their joint replacement operation (3). It is important to know though, that not all joint replacements procedures yield the same results.

There are different techniques an orthopaedic surgeon and their team can use, which may affect their patient’s length of recovery time in hospital. My preference is the minimally invasive, anterior hip replacement method as it has helped my patients get up and start moving quickly, which is important for both their psychological and physical wellbeing(1,2). Some of my patients have even been discharged from hospital the same day they were admitted.

Rehabilitation at home is ideal for most patients as it allows them to recover comfortably and in familiar surroundings. It also helps patients get back quickly to the physical activities they enjoy.

Long stays in hospital are generally not necessary or desired.  Talk to your orthopaedic surgeon today to see if rapid recovery joint replacement is right for you.

Dr Daevyd Rodda
Orthopaedic Surgeon

(1)What‘s new in hip arthroplasty; MH Huo et al; JBJS Am; 2005 Sep, 87(9):2133-46

(2)Single-incision anterior approach for total hip arthroplasty on an orthopaedic table; JM Matta et al; Clin Orthop Relat Res, 2005 Dec, (441): 115-24

(3)The Hon Greg Hunt MP, Commonwealth of Australia | Department of Health, 22 April 2020 (https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/elective-surgery-restrictions-eased)

I perform hundreds of knee replacement surgeries every year so I see first-hand just how important it is for people to take the right steps to recover.

The first tip to rehab after a knee replacement surgery is to use an ice compress. This method is crucial in reducing swelling and pain, which will ultimately increase movement of the knee. In my practice, we provide patients with an Ice Machine to loan following their surgery to encourage this.

Secondly, let your body recover and don’t overdo physiotherapy. All prescribed exercises should be done in short duration with more repetitions. Most people want to get back to normality as quickly as possible but sometimes when they push themselves too hard, it can have the opposite effect.

In saying that, exercise is still paramount so regular, short walks is one of the best ways to help your body return to normal function.

At Victorian Orthopaedic Group, we also put a huge emphasis on prehab, which involves getting our patients to practice using crutches and start their exercises before the surgery.

If you would like to discuss the knee condition you are managing and treatment options available, please contact us.

DR DAEVYD RODDA
VICTORIAN ORTHOPAEDIC GROUP

If you’re living with Osteoarthritis it can be debilitating and have a major impact on your quality of life. Being informed about your condition and using a range of strategies to help you maintain your health can help reduce pain, increase movement and go a long way to getting back to doing the things you love to do.

Six tips for managing Osteoarthritis

Education:Be thoroughly educated on your chronic condition, and this will assist you in your best choice of treatment. There is a lot of information available on osteoarthritis, but make sure you are researching what is relevant to you.

Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is one effective treatment method for joint pain. Ask your GP to check your BMI, and suggest effective methods of weight loss and maintenance in necessary.

Medication Management: The best medication for joint pain is Panadol Osteo (or equivalent). It is a relatively safe medication, but always check with your GP before commencing, particularly if you have liver disease.

Physiotherapy: Visit your physiotherapist and request some strengthening and range of motion exercises which are useful tools for managing the symptoms of joint pain.

Lifestyle Modification: Modify the activities that you perform if you suffer from joint pain. Choose low impact activities such as walking, swimming and cycling, rather than high impact activities such as running which can exacerbate your pain.

Injections:There are a number of injections available to help treat joint osteoarthritis. Discuss the most suitable options for you with your GP or a joint Specialist.

Victorian Orthopaedic Group specialise in hip and knee replacement to help you get back to doing the things you love. Please consult your GP for further advice on any of these tips and if you would like to discuss your options for lower limb joint replacement please contact us.

If you are experiencing debilitating osteoarthritis pain in your hip and you’ve tried everything, a total hip replacement can restore function and decrease pain.

The contemporary approaches for hip replacement surgery are posterior, anterolateral and the anterior minimally invasive approach (1,2,4). When performed well, all of these approaches are likely to have an excellent result.

My preference is to perform the anterior, minimally invasive approach for nearly all hip replacements. This is a technique that I teach to other surgeons and am quite passionate about.

My preference is due to the potential benefits of quick recovery, lower dislocation risk and a smaller scar(3,4). Obviously, all approaches have potential complications as well.

In conjunction with your GP, choose a surgeon who is highly skilled in their preferred approach, not based on which approach they perform.

Your surgeon should make you feel comfortable with their recommended approach.

Always ask your surgeon the number of these procedures they perform and their outcomes. Never be afraid to ask for a second opinion if you are not comfortable.

DR DAEVYD RODDA

(1) What‘s new in hip arthroplasty; MH Huo et al; JBJS Am; 2005 Sep, 87(9):2133-46

(2) Single-incision anterior approach for total hip arthroplasty on an orthopaedic table; JM Matta et al; Clin Orthop Relat Res, 2005 Dec, (441): 115-24

(3) Minimally Invasive total hip arthroplasty: anterior approach; F. Rachbauer; Orthopäde, 2006 Jul;35(7):723-4, 726-9

(4) Mini-incision anterior approach does not increase dislocation rate: a study of 1037 total hip Replacement; T Siguier et al; Clin Orthop Relat Res,2004 Sep, (426): 164-73