Total Joint Surgery| | Experience Fairfield Medical Center

A Positive Approach

Smiling active senior man and woman riding bicycles in spring A positive approach when preparing for your surgery is a key step in your recovery. The goal of joint replacement is to relieve your existing pain and improve your mobility, thus improving your quality of life. A large part of your recovery process will involve using your new joint by walking and performing exercises ordered by your surgeon. We ask that you make a commitment to follow your doctor’s instructions and work on your exercises.

Your stay with us at Fairfield Medical Center will be brief, and you will continue to recover after your discharge. Therefore, we ask your surgeon and family about the best place for you to recover. This may be at home or at a rehabilitation facility. Since each patient recovers differently, your recovery and exercise plan will be tailored to you. Please talk with the staff if you need support, either emotionally or physically, in coping with your surgery and recovery.

Outpatient vs. Traditional Total Joint Replacement

Our team of orthopedic experts can help determine if you are a good candidate for outpatient total joint surgery. Traditional total joint surgery typically consists of a 3 to 4 day stay in our orthopedic unit. Outpatient total joint surgery means you would be discharged and sent home for recovery the same day as your procedure. Our team will work closely with you to ensure you have the right support at home and are in good health to produce the best possible recovery at your home. A positive and motivated attitude can increase the chance of a good outcome.

The benefits of outpatient joint surgery are endless:

Improve outcomes. In general, shorter duration spent at a hospital will reduce the risk of postsurgical infection and additional potential complications.
Increased patient satisfaction. You will have the ability to recover in the comfort of your own home. For example, you may sleep better in your own bed and be happier eating familiar foods.
Decrease medical costs. Hospital care is costly and increasing. Outpatient total joint surgery provides a decreased amount of time spent at the hospital and incurring costs.
Physical Therapy. A physical therapist will begin working with you the day of your surgery or upon your return home. They will help you regain full joint function through a number of exercises.

young male doctor going through medical records with his senior male patient

How to Prepare and What to Expect

Preparing for your surgery is such an important factor of your success. Click here to understand what to bring to the hospital, risks associated with surgery and details on how you can get your home ready for your return after surgery.

Our team is here to make the day of your surgery seamless and stress free. Click here to read more about what you can expect the day of your surgery.

How to Prepare for Recovery

Recovery will be different if you have outpatient total joint replacement and you will be sent home to recover. Typically with traditional surgery, you will have 3-day hospital stay and depending on progress you could be independent within a week.

Physical therapy begins 24 hours after surgery with isometric exercises in bed. The physical therapist will teach you how to safely get in and out of bed without damaging your new joint during recovery. Progressive daily exercises will help to increase your range-of-motion, making it possible to achieve a 90° bend in your knee by the end of your hospital stay.

Follow your surgeon’s directions throughout rehabilitation and attend all follow-up appointments with your surgeon and physical therapist. It is still common to have pain, as recovery time can last three to six months.