How is total joint replacement changing in Richmond? Same day joint replacement surgery continues to grow

Happy New Year to all of our patients both here in Richmond and around the state of Virginia!  We hope that 2023 have gotten off to a great start for you and your families.  Many of you often ask what “new” is going on in the field of joint replacement.  Our team would like to give you some updates about the most discussed topic here in Richmond which is rapid recovery and same day discharge to home after total joint replacement.  To begin, 2022 saw the continued growth of joint replacement surgery performed in the outpatient setting with patients able to safely go home several hours after surgery.  Dr Wind has now performed more than 500 joint replacement surgeries at the HCA Boulders Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC).  The results have been outstanding with excellent clinical results, high patient satisfaction, and a more personalized level of care.  Patients are now routinely coming to office from the Richmond metro area and also from around Virginia to inquire about this outpatient surgery option.  Many patients have asked how is this possible?  How does a patient undergo a total hip or total knee replacement and then actually begin walking within an hour after surgery?  The answer is multifaceted and really depends on a team approach to delivering care.  It all starts in the office when the patient is first seen.  We have begun to call the outpatient surgery option the “Rapid Recovery Pathway”.  The possibility of same day surgery is discussed with everyone who is a candidate.  The vast majority of patients are quite excited at the prospect of being able to recover at home and avoid inpatient hospitalization.  The anesthesia team at Boulders ASC plays a critical role in this success.  Our anesthesiologists have developed cutting edge approaches to pain control both during and after surgery.  Extensive preoperative “blocks” are given before the patient ever reaches the operating room.  These pain control blocks consist of local anesthetic injected around the surgery site while the patient is under mild sedation in the preoperative area.  This yields excellent pain control for the patient after surgery.  The anesthesia team also have perfected a “rapid recovery” anesthesia protocol to minimize nausea and vomiting after surgery and allow the patient to begin physical therapy immediately post surgery.  The physical therapy team at Boulders ASC is second to none with regard to mobilizing patients quickly and safely after surgery.  Patients can expect to have a therapist at bedside within 60 minutes after surgery to begin one-on-one PT.  Physical therapy goes on for however long is needed to make sure the patient is safe and comfortable walking independently and using stairs.  These therapists have high expectations for patients and allow patients to mobilize quickly and safely.  Finally, having patients up and walking 60-90 mins after surgery would be impossible without a highly skilled and experienced surgeon.  Dr Wind has for many years been the leader in joint replacement surgery both in Richmond and across the entire state of Virginia.  He performs more joint replacement surgery than any other surgeon in Central Virginia and is in the top 1% of orthopedic surgeons with regard to surgical cases performed as well as patient outcomes.  Dr Wind has worked closely with global orthopedic implant companies assisting with joint replacement design/production and has authored multiple research papers on the topic of joint replacement surgery that have been published in national peer-reviewed journals.  This level of expertise allows Dr Wind to offer the minimally invasive surgical techniques that result in high patient satisfaction, rapid recovery, and safe same day discharge to home.