Reimagining Hip and Knee Replacements

Traveling, staying active, keeping up with daily life — all these things can be easily disrupted by joint pain. Joint problems usually begin in mid- to late-life, often as the result of arthritis, and while many conservative treatments exist, sometimes a joint replacement is the best option.

Innovative Methods Bring Outpatient Options to Patients in Pain

“As an orthopedic surgeon, my goal is to improve my patient’s pain and mobility, and subsequently, improve their quality of life,” says Kevin Quigley, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital and Progress West Hospital. “We like to get our patients pain relief in the least invasive way possible. If we can do that through medication, physical therapy or injections, that’s preferable. But when arthritis is too bad or too debilitating, we look to joint replacement." Traditionally, patients undergoing a joint replacement could expect an average hospital stay of three to four days. However, innovative approaches in use by the orthopedic teams at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital and Progress West Hospital are making outpatient knee and hip replacement a reality for some patients. “Prompted out of necessity during the pandemic, we really honed our ability to utilize techniques that would give patients the option to have joint replacement on an outpatient basis, without a hospital stay,” says Dr. Quigley.

Controlling Pain After a Joint Replacement

Several different approaches facilitated this — one of which includes the use of a new, long-acting anesthetic. This anesthetic, injected during surgery, slowly diffuses in and around the tissues of the replaced joint over the course of three to five days following surgery, providing longer lasting pain relief than the more traditional medications. Coupled with early rehabilitation and physical therapy, as well as a multimodal oral pain medication regimen, this has vastly improved patients’ postoperative pain — the primary reason for hospitalization after a joint replacement.

While some patients still prefer the inpatient route, many welcome the ability to recover in the comfort of their home. They can expect the same excellent follow-up care, with in-home visits by both nurses and physical therapists focused on monitoring their recovery and helping them with early mobilization of their new joints.

“We want to give patients a choice when it comes to postoperative care after joint replacement whenever possible,” says Dr. Quigley. “Whether it’s in the hospital or in their home, we’re committed to facilitating an easy recovery for our patients and making it as pain-free for them as possible.”

Schedule an Appointment

If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with an orthopedic physician who specializes in hip and knee replacements, you can search find a provider or call 636.928.9355.

Signature Orthopedic Locations

The doctors at Signature Orthopedics have two locations in St. Charles County. If you and your provider determine that surgery is the right choice for you, the physician will perform this at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital or Progress West Hospital.

9323 Phoenix Village Parkway
O’Fallon, MO 63368

112 Piper Hill Drive, Suite 6
Saint Peters, MO 63376