Total Joint Center of Excellence
The starting point for addressing degenerative conditions of the hip or knee in the North Country is the Total Joint Center of Excellence at Adirondack Health in Saranac Lake. Our highly skilled orthopedic surgeons specialize in total joint replacements of the hip, knee, shoulders as well as revisions of previous joint replacements.
As apart of our Total Joint Center of Excellence Program, Adirondack Health offers comprehensive guidance and education for our patients undergoing joint replacement. Our patients will meet and work in tandem with many members of the team, including physical and occupational therapy. This includes a pre-operative Total Joint Replacement class, post-operative rehabilitation services in the hospital and eventually transition into outpatient physical therapy, home physical therapy or short-term rehabilitation.
Pre-Operative Education Session
Individuals undergoing a total joint replacement at Adirondack Health participate in a pre-operative information session with physical and/or occupational therapy. This information session may either be in an individual or group setting. This session frequently takes place on the same day as information sessions with nursing and pharmacy and other preoperative testing such as imaging and lab work.
The therapist will provide written information about preparing for surgery, the rehabilitation plan in the hospital, discharge planning and exercises to do before and after your surgery. This will also bean opportunity for participants’ questions or concerns about their rehabilitation in the hospital following their total joint replacement, to be addressed by the therapist.
Below you will find digital copies of the information packets patients receive at the total joint class categorized by joint and surgeon.
Acute Post-operative Rehabilitation
Post-operative rehabilitation begins on the afternoon of surgery or the morning after surgery. Physical therapy is scheduled twice a day and occupational therapy is scheduled once a day during hospitalization. Early mobility following joint replacement has been shown to be safe and effective at minimizing the risk of complications, maximizing the function of the new joint and decreasing length of stay at the hospital without any adverse effects.
The physical and occupational therapists will also work with you, your surgeon, and a case manager to make sure you have all necessary equipment and recommended services at the time of discharge, based on your individual progress in therapy. Most patients are in the hospital for 1-2nights after surgery, before being discharged home with either outpatient or in-home physical therapy. However, a small percentage of individuals do have difficulties with mobility following their total joint replacement and are discharged to inpatient short-term rehabilitation centers.
