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Hip and knee pain is often the result of an injury or arthritis. Osteoarthritis -- the most common form of arthritis -- is a chronic, degenerative joint disease that affects mostly middle-aged and older adults. It is characterized by the breakdown of joint cartilage and adjacent bone, which allows the bones to rub together and can cause pain and stiffness, particularly in the hip or knee.
UVa's Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 50 centers in the nation. Orthopaedic surgeons at UVa provide treatment for a wide range of hip and knee problems. Treatments include joint replacement, partial knee replacements, arthroscopic surgery and revision of previously replaced joints that have worn down from normal usage.
Joint Repair and Reconstruction
UVa offers leading-edge treatment for joint repair, including minimally invasive hip replacement and knee surgery. Incisions for hip surgery, which used to be as long as 14 inches, have been reduced to 4 inches now that computers and digital cameras provide our orthopaedic surgeons real-time images of the patient's position.
The ideal patient for this surgery is a younger patient who has not responded to medicine, exercise or weight management programs. The minimally invasive procedure takes 1½ to 2 hours -- half the time of conventional hip replacement surgery. Innovative options for knee repair include minimally invasive surgery, partial knee replacement and advanced rehabilitation and physical retraining.
Treatment Options for Sports Injuries
As a regional center for the treatment of sports-related injuries, UVa offers specialized approaches to the knee, shoulder, hand, elbow and ankle. For meniscal tears in the knee, arthroscopic surgery is very effective treatment. Small incisions enable orthopaedic surgeons to view the meniscus, as well as the joint surface and ligaments. Tiny instruments are used to remove or repair the torn fragments, so that they are no longer pinched between the bones.
Most arthroscopic knee procedures average only 30 minutes, and are conducted on an outpatient basis. Recovery time ranges from a few days for light activity to a few weeks for more strenuous exertion.
Meet the team of orthopaedic surgeons at UVa.
-Joint, hip and knee replacement
-Sports injuries
Read more about joint replacement surgery.
Read more about arthroscopy.
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