Exploring the past, present, and future of joint replacement surgery with Preet Gurusamy, M.D., uncovering advancements that improve lives and mobility

In the beloved holiday classic, A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future and taken on a reflective journey throughout his life.

Cold-hearted and greedy, Scrooge is given a chance to change his ways, ultimately transforming into a kind and generous person. However, Scrooge isn’t the only one learning from the past this Christmas. Healthcare professionals constantly use advancements in technology to revolutionize procedures and create better outcomes for patients.

This year, Dr. Preet Gurusamy, orthopaedic surgeon at Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee, takes us on a journey of the evolution of total joint replacement with glimpses of its past, present and future.

Past

“We’ve come a long way since the introduction of total joint replacements in the 1930s,” said Dr. Gurusamy. “It was a complex and unpredictable procedure.”

In those days, patients might be bedridden for weeks and walking with crutches for months following joint replacement. These procedures were also incredibly risky, with the risk of complications such as infection, the need for blood transfusions and, in some cases, death.

Significant changes in the field from the more recent past include the way anesthesia is administered, the type of technology used to perform the surgery, the type of implant material and even recovery time.

Present

“Total joint replacement is a much less complicated and safer procedure today,” said Dr. Gurusamy. “Many patients now go home the same day and are walking on their hip or knee replacement just a few hours after surgery.”

Average total recovery time is now only about 4-6 weeks for a hip replacement and 2-3 months for a knee replacement due to various technological innovations.

 “We typically do not administer general anesthesia to our patients undergoing uncomplicated total joint replacement,” said Dr. Gurusamy. “Instead, we use spinal anesthesia which provides much better patient outcomes.”

General anesthesia is a powerful type of sedation that can increase the risk of urine retention, constipation, nausea, blood loss, excess pain and increased recovery time. Spinal anesthesia works just as effectively for total joint replacement while decreasing the risk of negative side effects.

The addition of robotic technology has also positively influenced the world of total joint replacement. According to the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, more than half of surgeons now utilize robotic-assisted surgery in some capacity.

“Robotic-assisted surgery allows us to plan and execute surgery better,” said Dr. Gurusamy. “We can now perform a safer, more precise surgery which we believe will help patients achieve better outcomes.”

In addition to an improved method, orthopaedic surgeons are now using improved materials for implants.

“The plastic we are using is much more durable than materials used in the past, making it less likely to wear over time,” said Dr. Gurusamy. “The highly cross-linked design creates longer-lasting implants that are less prone to wear and can last years longer.”

Combined, all these medical advancements play a significant role in making total joint replacement the low-risk, outpatient procedure it is today. Surgeons can plan and execute surgery more precisely allowing for a faster recovery and faster return to the activities patients love.

Future

The future of total joint replacement is also exciting in the ever-changing field of medicine. Surgeons are constantly looking for new ways to increase the functionality and natural feel of a joint replacement by testing new implant designs and methods.

“We are always improving, and it’s amazing to the look back at the evolution of the procedure.  Who knows how AI and newly-engineered implants will affect joint replacement ten years from now.” said Dr. Gurusamy. “But the joint is just one part of the musculoskeletal system that is critical for movement. Patients must stay active to create better muscle tone, maintain flexibility and ultimately have healthy function in their knees and hips.”

If you’re saying BAH-HUMBUG to the holidays because of joint pain, let the providers at Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee deliver the high-quality medical care you need to lift your spirits this year.

To learn more or schedule an appointment, click here.