For each patient, Einstein total joint specialists develop the most appropriate treatment plans, which may include surgical,
minimally invasive surgical and non-surgical options. Click a link below to learn more about hip and knee treatment options
at Einstein.
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Surgical Treatments
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Non-surgical Treatments
Surgical Treatments
If your hip or knee problem can't be solved by non-surgical treatment, our joint surgeons can put you right. With years of
training and vast expertise in the latest and most complex surgical techniques, our joint surgeons can ease pain, restore
function and get your back to your life. Click a link below to learn about some of the surgical options offered at Einstein.
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Arthroscopy is a less invasive operation. Using pencil-sized instruments inserted through small incisions, your surgeon can see inside
your knee to diagnose and fix problems. Arthroscopy can help doctors diagnose and treat many problems including torn cartilage,
torn ligaments and unstable kneecaps. It can also help doctors decide if joint replacement is a good option for you. Arthroscopy
is not typically used on hips.
Joint replacement surgery removes damaged cartilage and bone and replaces them with new metal and plastic parts. You may have the whole joint replaced
or only a part. Your surgeon may use special cement to keep your new joint in place.
When you need joint surgery, our doctors explain the procedure to you completely. They make sure you understand what joint
replacement surgery can and cannot do to improve your quality of life. Einstein offers some of the latest techniques, such
as cementless implants for a customized fit, which prolong the life of the replacement.
Some people require a second replacement surgery, especially for hip joints. This replacement, or revision, can be more difficult
than the initial surgery due to the difficulty in removing the adhesive material used to hold the artificial joint in place.
Einstein uses the latest technology, an ultrasonic cement removal system, to quickly and effectively remove all adhesive matter
without damaging the surrounding tissue. Joint replacement surgery at Einstein is followed up with intensive, customized rehabilitation
therapy at MossRehab.
Microfracture is a surgical procedure in which a surgeon clears damaged tissue from a knee. The surgeon then creates tiny holes (microfractures)
in the bone areas where cartilage is defective. Bone marrow containing stem cells seeps through the holes. The stem cells
can then form new cartilage between the bone surfaces of the knee. Post-surgery rehabilitation involving aggressive physical
therapy is key to this procedure’s success.
Non-surgical Treatments
Einstein’s hip and knee experts will create a personal treatment plan for you that may combine several non-surgical approaches.
Click a link below to learn more about non-surgical treatment options offered at Einstein.
Exercise helps strengthen muscles and improves blood flow, which can speed healing.
Injections of medication can relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
Medication such as aspirin or ibuprofen can help reduce pain and inflammation. If these don’t relieve your pain, your doctor may try
other more powerful medicines. For instance, corticosteroids are very powerful anti-inflammatory drugs usually given by injection.
Physical therapy consists of special exercises to help stretch and strengthen the muscles and to restore movement. It also helps improve flexibility.
Einstein’s partnership with MossRehab gives our patients access to some of the world’s best diagnostic and rehabilitation
resources.
Reduction is a procedure where doctors put dislocated joints back into their sockets. It is usually followed by immobilization (placing
the injured body part in a splint, sling or cast until it has healed).
R.I.C.E. stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. This is the best, immediate treatment for almost all sudden athletic injuries.
Resting helps reduce swelling and bleeding. Ice helps reduce pain and inflammation by causing blood vessels to contract. Compression
(wrapping an injury with a bandage) and elevation (keeping an injured limb above heart level) both help reduce swelling.
Splinting means immobilizing a joint or injured part of the body. Splints are used to support a joint or fractured bone, relieve pain
and prevent muscles from contracting too much. Some splints help stretch muscles while patients rest. These devices are used
to treat broken bones, dislocations, arthritis, tendon and ligament problems and other disorders.
Ultrasound uses sound waves to apply deep heat to your body. The sound waves penetrate deep into tissues, raising the temperature. This
rise increases blood flow, relaxes muscle spasms and speeds healing. Ultrasound is used to treat tendon, ligament and muscle
injuries, contracture, and joint problems such as arthritis.
Reviewed for clinical accuracy by Anthony S. Puglisi, MD, and John T. Williams Jr., .
