General
Do I need a knee/hip replacement?
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Whether you need a knee/hip replacement is entirely up to you. It is an elective procedure with the goal of improving your quality of life. Dr. Lee's objectives are to 1). help you understand the benefits (and risks) of joint replacement, 2). evaluate if you are a candidate for joint replacement, and 3). perform the technical aspects of the surgery.
I have knee pain or hip pain. Will I do irreversible damage to my hip or knee if I continue on?
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If you have knee pain or hip pain due to knee arthritis or hip arthritis, by definition, you already have irreversible damage to your joint. Arthritis generally continues to progress with step-wise deterioration with worsening symptoms as time goes on. This may cause further joint damage; however, your symptoms are the most important determinant of whether hip replacement or knee replacement is right for you. While the degree of joint destruction may affect the technical difficulty of the surgery, particularly if the alignment of your leg begins to be affected, the physical state of your joint is by far a less important deciding factor for surgery than your symptoms.
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If you have knee pain not due to arthritis, it is important to determine the underlying diagnosis for your pain.
Who is a candidate for hip/knee replacement?
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In general, a patient with severe disabling joint pain from arthritis, in a reasonable state of health, is a potential candidate for joint replacement. Several modifiable conditions make patients unsafe candidates for joint replacement, most commonly uncontrolled diabetes, smoking, and pre-operative narcotic consumption.
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Will I be asleep for my surgery?
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Most cases are performed under spinal anesthesia. With this method of anesthesia, most patients are relaxed enough to fall asleep and remember very little. General anesthesia is used for some patients, if there is a bleeding risk, difficult spinal placement, or a strong preference.
Will my knee replacement or hip replacement set off airport security?
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The metal in the implants generally will not set off airport security sensors. The sensors at various airports have different levels of sensitivity, though most are not set to detect the implants in your body. In addition, TSA is accustomed to screening the millions of travelers who also have hip or knee replacements.
Will I need antibiotics when I have dental work performed after a hip replacement or knee replacement?
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Yes. Infection of a hip replacement or a knee replacement remains one of the most dreaded outcomes after surgery. Whenever dental work is performed, there is transient seeding of the bloodstream with oral bacteria, which could place your replacement at risk for colonization. It is preferred that you receive 2 grams of amoxicillin 1 hour prior to any dental work. Almost all dental offices will provide this for you. If not, please call our office and we will provide you with a prescription.
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Can I have both knees or both hips replaced at the same time?
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Bilateral hip replacement or knee replacement is not recommended because of higher documented rates of complications, including blood clots traveling to the lungs and heart complications. Blood loss can double and the risk for blood transfusion requirement is elevated.
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What other joint replacements are performed?
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Knee and hip arthritis are by far the most common joints being replaced, and Dr. Lee focuses exclusively on these two joints. Other joints that are being replaced by other surgeons include the shoulder, ankle, MCP and MTP joints (knuckles of the hands and feet), and less commonly the elbow and the wrist.
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Appointment
When should I arrive for my appointment?
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Your scheduled appointment time is for your consultation with Dr. Lee. Please arrive 15-30 minutes earlier than that for X-rays if you are a new patient or x-rays are planned for your return visit.
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Should I bring a family member/friend?
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It is not required, but it is often helpful for retention of advice and counseling to bring a loved one, who can help you remember information. It is most helpful when this person is the one who will serve as your designated "coach" during your immediate post-operative recovery period.
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A family member and I would each like a consultation. Can we be seen together?
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Yes. When arranging/confirming your appointment, please let our scheduler know you would like to be booked for back-to-back appointment times.
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I already have had X-rays performed. Can those be used?
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If you have already had a joint replacement and are presenting for a second opinion, please obtain a copy of all your existing pre-operative and post-operative x-rays from the medical records department of your operating surgeon.
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If you have not had a joint replacement, and the necessary x-rays have been performed within 3 months and include all necessary views, they may be used. Dr. Lee obtains specific x-ray views of the lower extremities as part of routine evaluation, which in many cases, have not been obtained at outside institutions.
DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is not intended to provide medical advice. For treatment of any medical conditions, consultation with a medical provider is required.
