Is hip replacement surgery on the horizon for you or a family member? If so, the Illinois Bone & Joint Institute (IBJI) wants to help ensure you understand the options available for your hip replacement surgery and recovery. IBJI is now offering programs designed to make the recovery process not only better, but faster.
Surgeons at IBJI perform more than 2,000 hip replacements every year, helping to refine surgical techniques and recovery protocols. IBJI’s team has also created an innovative care coordination program called OrthoSync. This innovative program creates a customized care plan individually tailored for each patient.
Dr. William Robb is an orthopaedic surgeon and orthopaedic director for the OrthoSync program. “The OrthoSync program improves communication for all members of every patient’s entire care team. It has helped reduce the risk of falls, infections and hospital re-admission during surgical recovery,” explains Dr. Robb.
The OrthoSync program improves the individual patient experience, no matter which type of hip surgical procedure is chosen. Most patients choose the most common approach to total hip replacement. Done as a hospital inpatient procedure, total hip replacement is performed through a posterior approach (through an incision in the buttock muscles). More recently, some patients have requested total hip replacement as a hospital inpatient surgery using the anterior approach (thought an incision between the muscles of the front of the thigh). For some healthy younger patients meeting eligibility requirements, IBJI surgeons now also offer outpatient surgicenter-based hip replacement surgery.
“The OrthoSync program can improve overall outcomes for all hip replacement patients,” according to Dr. Robb. “OrthoSync is allowing surgical care to evolve to the next level by improving the patient experience across the continuum of care.”
Hip replacement surgery has grown in popularity in recent years. More than 427,000 total hip replacements were performed in the United States in 2012 (Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality). As the overall number has grown, the age demographics have changed as well. There has been a significant increase in the number of younger patients electing to undergo hip replacement. According to a study published in 2014 by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, patients aged 45-64 accounted for 31 percent of the total hip replacements completed in 2001. By 2011, that percentage had risen to 42 percent. Osteoarthritis and fracture are the primary reasons that patients elect to undergo hip replacement surgery.
“Many of our hip replacement patients are well under 65,” explains Dr. Robb. “These younger adults are not willing to exchange an active lifestyle for a sedentary existence. Hip replacement surgery can eliminate pain and help our patients return to the activities they love, like golf, skiing, tennis or whatever that may be.” Patients who are considering hip replacement can learn more about procedures and eligibility requirements at Hip Replacement.
About Illinois Bone & Joint Institute
Illinois Bone & Joint Institute is one of the largest independent physician-owned orthopedic practices in the U.S. More than 90 board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians and surgeons treat children and adults, with expertise in every orthopaedic specialty. IBJI offers patients collaborative, integrated care including advanced MRI and bone density diagnostics, sports training and medicine, rheumatology, podiatry, pain management, wellness, rehabilitation, and surgical and non-surgical treatments and therapies. IBJI has more than 20 locations throughout Chicago and the north suburbs. IBJI’s OrthoAccess® walk-in clinics offer same day immediate orthopedic care. IBJI was founded in 1990 and incorporates decades of experience from highly-skilled and respected provider teams. For more information, please visit www.IBJI.com.
