Joint Surgery Program Now Offers Anterior Approach to Total Hip Replacement
SOMERVILLE, NJ, May 16, 2018 – Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset has received recertification by The Joint Commission, the nation’s largest health accreditation agency, for total hip and total knee replacement surgery, earning its Gold Seal of Approval. The recertification came after a rigorous onsite review of the hospital’s compliance with disease-specific care standards and total hip and total knee replacement requirements, including orthopedic consultation and pre-operative, intraoperative and post-surgical orthopedic surgeon follow-up care.
The hospital’s Joint Surgery Program also recently began offering the anterior approach to total hip replacement surgery, a tissue-sparing alternative to traditional hip replacement surgery that provides the potential for less pain, faster recovery and improved mobility.
“This is great news for all those in Central New Jersey who suffer from joint pain,” said Tony Cava, president, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset. “They can be assured that they have access to the highest quality care and the latest, most innovative surgical techniques close to home.”
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset’s Joint Surgery Program offers a comprehensive approach to care, including pre-operative education, rehabilitation that begins on the day of surgery, an opioid-free pain relief system and a joint care coordinator, a registered nurse who facilitates all aspects of a patient’s care from pre-operative education through discharge. The program’s nurses and therapists are specially trained in caring for patients who have undergone total knee or hip surgery.
With the anterior approach to hip replacement surgery, the surgeon uses one small incision on the front (anterior) of the hip instead of the side or back. This technique that allows the surgeon to work between the muscles and tissues without detaching them from either the hip or thighbones, minimizing muscle damage and allowing most patients to freely bend their hip and bear their full weight soon after surgery.
For more information about Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset’s Joint Surgery Program, visit www.rwjbh.org/somerset. For a referral to an orthopedic surgeon, call 888-MD-RWJUH.