When it comes to your joints, your hips and knees are arguably some of the most hard-working, providing crucial support and mobility. When damage strikes, sometimes replacement is the best option for restoring pain-free movement. At Dr. Louis Keppler & Associates, the orthopedic team has the experience and expertise necessary to get you back on your feet again without pain. If you’re in the Independence, Ohio, area and you’d like to learn more about hip and knee replacement, call or use the online scheduler.
request an appointmentWhy would I need a hip or knee replacement?
While it’s always best to preserve what Mother Nature gave you, there are times when a part of your body can become more of a liability than an asset, which can certainly be true of your knee and hip joints.
In most cases, degenerative arthritis is the culprit behind irreversible knee and hip joint damage. As the cartilage in these joints begins to break down, you’re left with unprotected ends of your bones, loose cartilage in your joints, and bone spurs that develop and exacerbate the problem. All of which can cause you considerable pain and limit your movement as the joint stiffens over time.
While Dr. Keppler does everything in his power to help you preserve your hip and knee joints through conservative treatments, there may come a time when replacement offers the best solution. Dr. Keppler offers both total and partial knee and hip replacements, depending upon your unique situation.
What happens during a hip replacement?
Your hip is a ball-and-socket joint made up of your acetabulum (the socket) and your femoral head at the end of your femur. When Dr. Keppler replaces this joint, he uses the latest minimally invasive techniques, including robotic surgery to perform the procedure. This means that he makes only small incisions to access the area. Using tiny, specialized equipment and a camera, he:
- Removes the damaged femoral head
- Places a metal stem and ball into the top of your femur
- Removes the damaged cartilage from your socket
- Replaces the socket with a metal component
- Places a spacer between the new ball and socket for easy movement
Thanks to these minimally invasive surgical techniques, Dr. Keppler typically has you on your feet the following day. Over the following weeks, you increasingly regain mobility, especially if you actively participate in your physical therapy and follow Dr. Keppler’s instructions.
How is a knee replacement done?
Using minimally invasive techniques including robotic assistance, Dr. Keppler replaces your knee joint by:
- Removing the damaged cartilage and bone from the ends of your tibia and femur
- Replacing these areas with metal components
- Resurfacing your patella, or kneecap
- Placing a spacer in between the components for cushioning and easy movement
As with hip replacement surgery, Dr. Keppler gets you up and moving as quickly as possible after your surgery to help your body get used to your “new” knee. Thanks to the laparoscopic techniques Dr. Keppler uses, your recovery is typically much quicker since there’s little collateral tissue damage and the incisions are very small.
If you’d like to learn more about hip and knee replacements, call Dr. Louis Keppler & Associates or request an appointment by filling out the online form.