Joint Preservation
Hip & Knee (Hip and Knee)
Joint preservation is the use of non-surgical or surgical means to preserve a deteriorating joint to delay or avoid joint replacement surgery.
Joint preservation procedures reduce the risk of complications from implant surgery and infection.
When cartilage deteriorates due to osteoarthritis, it causes persistent joint pain that interferes with daily life. Our consultants will aim to restore normal movement and alleviate pain to the joint whether it’s a shoulder, hip, knee or ankle.
Optim Orthopedics Joint Preservation
Joint Preservation vs. Replacement: What’s Your Best Option?
If you’re dealing with persistent or chronic discomfort in your joints, you might believe that joint replacement surgery is your only path towards relief. However, it could be worthwhile to consider a range of less invasive alternatives that can assist in maintaining your mobility as you get older. Given the growing number of individuals keen on staying active into their 60s, 70s, and beyond, a significant amount of recent research has been dedicated to improving joint health and replacement technologies.
Enduring joint pain does not necessarily equate to needing a joint replacement surgery. This procedure is typically reserved for advanced stages of degenerative arthritis, also known as osteoarthritis, when other treatments have proven unsuccessful. The majority of joint pain causes, such as those affecting the knee, hip, shoulder, and ankle, can often be managed through methods that are far less invasive.Optim Orthopedics Joint Preservation
Our People Make The Difference
David Sedory, MD
Sports Medicine (Knee, Hip and Shoulder)
- Board Certification - American Board of Orthopedic Surgery
- Society Memberships - Orthopaedic Trauma Association Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons Fellow of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
- Medical School - Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (Cleveland, OH)
- Residency -Brooke Army Medical Center (San Antonio, TX)
- Internship - Brooke Army Medical Center (San Antonio, TX)
Amir Shahien, MD
Sports Medicine (Knee, Hip and Shoulder)
- Board Certification - American Board of Orthopedic Surgery Eligable
- Medical School - Louisiana State University School of Medicine (New Orleans, LA)
- Residency - Boston University School of Medicine/ Boston Medical Center (Boston, MA)
- Fellowship - American Sports Medicine Institute - Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center (Birmingham, AL)
Wesley Stroud Jr, MD
Sports Medicine (Knee, Hip and Shoulder)
- Medical School - Mercer University (Svannah, Georgia)
- Board Eligible - American Board of Orthopedic Surgery
- Society Memberships - Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA)American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM)
- Residency - Orthopedic Surgery at UAB Hospital (Birmingham, Alabama)
- Fellowship - Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center (Birmingham, Alabama)
Chad Zehms, MD
Sports Medicine (Knee, Hip and Shoulder)
- Medical School - Medical College of Wisconsin (Milwaukee, WI)
- Board Certification - American Board of Orthopedic Surgery
- Professional Affiliations - Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
- Residency - Naval Medical Center (Portsmouth, VA)
- Fellowship - Steadman Philippon Sports Medicine Clinic (Vail, CO)
Root Causes Behind Joint Discomfort
- Tendonitis or tendon degeneration
- Bursitis
- Osteonecrosis
- Cartilage loss from trauma, or wear and tear
- Muscle strain
- Meniscus or labrum cartilage
- Arthritis
- Injury from a fall or accident with bone or soft tissue trauma
- Inherited abnormalities in the joint
The majority of joint pain causes do not necessitate surgery. Indeed, even with osteoarthritis, surgical intervention is not always the initial preference. Regardless of the origin of the discomfort, it’s advisable to maintain the health of your joints for as long as possible, especially if you’re an active individual at a younger age.
Joint replacement procedures have become significantly safer and the recovery period quicker. It’s possible to be discharged from the hospital on the same day or a day post-surgery. However, it’s essential to note that these are major surgeries and should not be decided upon lightly.
The longevity of joint replacement techniques and associated components has improved over time. Nonetheless, as mechanical entities, they are prone to loosening, stiffness, complications, and infection. Such issues may necessitate subsequent surgeries in the future, which are typically more complex and not as successful as the initial operation.
Dr. Sedory points out, “Currently, the average life expectancy extends into the 80s, with future generations likely to reach their 90s. An active individual in their 50s who undergoes a knee or hip joint replacement may need one or two more surgeries throughout their lifetime. Therefore, we aim to delay this procedure until later in life, if possible.”What is joint preservation — and when is it the best option?
- Age: Younger individuals often experience more successful outcomes from preservation techniques.
- Weight: Carrying excess weight places additional stress and demand on your joints. Each pound shed alleviates three to five pounds of pressure on the hip, knee, or ankle. For arthritic joints, weight loss is the most beneficial action one can take.
- Muscle Strength and Conditioning: Muscles power movement and also act as shock absorbers, safeguarding your joints. Maintaining or improving muscle strength and flexibility lessens joint stress and pain.
- Severity: Small areas of cartilage thinning or erosion can sometimes be managed by your doctor through minimally invasive procedures. However, if the cartilage is nearly entirely eroded—leaving bone to rub against bone—or if the bone underneath the cartilage is deteriorating, surgery can sometimes be the best solution, although injections may still provide relief in such circumstances.
- Location: While many joint preservation techniques are focused on the knees, there are also an increasing number of alternatives for hip and shoulder replacement.
Hip Conditions
- Avascular Necrosis
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis) of the Hip
- Bursitis of the Hip (Trochanteric Bursitis)
- Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)
- Femur Fractures
- Hip Dislocation
- Hip Fracture
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS)
- Inflammatory Arthritis
- Inflammatory Arthritis of the Hip
- Labral Tear of the Hip (Acetabular Labrum Tear)
- Loose Bodies in the Hip
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoarthritis of the Hip
- Osteonecrosis
- Sacroiliac Joint Pain
Knee Conditions
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear (ACL Tear)
- Arthritis of the Knee
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
- Care of Aging Knee
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Fractures of the Tibial Spine
- Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injury
- Meniscal Tears
- Meniscus Tear
- Minimally Invasive TKA
- Osteoarthritis of the Knee
- Patellar Fracture
- Patellar Tendinitis
- Patellar Tendon Tear
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
- Prepatellar Bursitis (Kneecap Bursitis)
- Quadriceps Tendon Tear
- Septic Arthritis (of the Knee)
- Supracondylar Femoral Fracture