Not Your Grandma’s Joint Replacement

While Bay Area residents enjoy activities that help them keep mentally and physically fit, younger adults are finding their fitness regimens sometimes lead to pain from injuries, osteoarthritis, or inflammatory arthritis. As nonsurgical treatments, such as injections and bracing, fail to provide adequate relief, they are turning to Washington Health’s Institute for Joint Restoration and Research (IJRR) for joint replacement surgery to stay mobile and pain free.

Referencing recent orthopedic research, Washington Health orthopedic surgeon Bryant Bonner, MD, noted both knee and hip replacements have increased more than 200% since 2000 for patients under age 60 nationwide.

Dr. Bonner will share his experience treating younger, more active patients during a Health & Wellness seminar on Wednesday, April 23. His presentation, “Advances in Joint Replacement for Younger, More Active Patients,” will highlight minimally invasive techniques and cutting-edge technology, including robotic-assisted joint replacement surgery tailored for active lifestyles.

“Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, where the cartilage cushioning bones in a joint wears down over time, causing the bones to rub together,” Dr. Bonner explained. “This leads to pain, stiffness, and reduced movement, and decreases quality of life for people who are used to being active and mobile.”

Previous injuries, such as a torn meniscus or ACL, as well as repetitive strain on joints, can increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis. Dr. Bonner emphasizes the importance of addressing joint issues early to prevent further damage. Surprisingly, surgery is not the first option he recommends.

“When joint pain limits your activity, it’s time to consult with an orthopedic surgeon,” Dr. Bonner said. “We first try lifestyle changes and nonsurgical interventions. This includes weight loss, regular exercise and physical therapy to manage symptoms; pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications to reduce pain and inflammation; and injections, such as corticosteroids or gel injections, to provide temporary pain relief and improve mobility. If pain and lack of mobility persist despite these interventions, we recommend joint replacement surgery to bring back our patients’ quality of life.”

Joint replacement was traditionally reserved for older patients because implants didn’t last very long. However, new technologies have changed that outlook, with today’s implants lasting 25 to 30 years.

“The biggest game changer has been in the implants themselves,” Dr. Bonner said. “From improving the longevity and decreasing the wear in the plastics used to replace the meniscus in the knee or the ball and socket in the hip, to using materials allowing robust bone growth into the implant allowing for increased stability and strength over time, today’s implants are lasting 25 to 30 years. Moreover, technology such as robotic-assisted joint replacement and intraoperative AI-assisted imaging software allows us increased accuracy and precision to set our patients up for success.”

Dr. Bonner explained surgeons have been using “press-fit” hip replacement for some time, where the implant is wedged tightly into the patient’s bone without cement. This technique allows the bone to grow into the implant for greater stability. New advances in implant design are now making this same approach possible for total knee replacements.

“Press-fit implants are designed to be put in really tight so bone grows into them, allowing them to get stronger as time goes on,” he said. “In younger patients with good bones, we can use this method for joint replacement, which really gives them back their own knees.

“The importance of maintaining quality of life means a whole lot more to these younger patients because they’re active and they want to keep doing the activities they love for as long as possible,” Dr. Bonner continued. “Today’s technology allows them to do that.”

These advances also enable approximately 90% of knee and hip replacement surgeries to be performed on an outpatient basis.

“We use cutting-edge technology to get our patients in and out of surgery quickly and efficiently, which helps their overall recovery and return to normal activities,” he said. “In addition to making our surgeries easier and better, the new methods with robotic assistance allow us to place the implants in the best possible position, to give them the best setup to last longer and decrease recovery time. This makes a big difference for younger, more active patients.”

For both hip and knee replacements, typical recovery time is around three months, with significant improvement in mobility in six to eight weeks. Most patients experience immediate relief from joint pain and only minimal postoperative discomfort.

“Our joint replacement patients tend to bounce back quickly, especially our younger patients,” Dr. Bonner noted. “Our patients are anxious to get back to living the life they had before pain and lack of mobility forced them to stop doing what they love. It’s always amazing to me to see how we get them up and moving the same day of surgery and how quickly they can resume the level of activity they once enjoyed. They are grateful to have a second chance at living that life.”

For more information on joint replacement in younger adults, tune in at 5 p.m. on April 23 to, “Advances in Joint Replacement for Younger, More Active Patients.” Dr. Bonner will discuss the latest advances in joint replacement tailored for active lifestyles. To view Dr. Bonner’s presentation, visit facebook.com/WashingtonHealth1 or YouTube.com/@Washington_Health.