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Center for Hip & Knee Reconstruction
Hip Replacement, Knee Replacement, & Other Joint Replacements
Total joint replacement, or joint arthroplasty, is most often a hip replacement or knee replacement, but it can also be done on ankles, elbows, and shoulders. Surgeons remove damaged cartilage (the smooth caps on the end of bones that lets bones glide smoothly) and replace an injured joint with an artificial one.
An artificial joint can improve your body’s movement and your overall quality of life. If you have these symptoms, you may want to choose a joint replacement:
- Moderate to severe arthritis
- Significant limits on normal daily activity from your joints, for example grocery shopping causes severe pain
- Severe pain in your joints that you can't manage with anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS)
A total joint replacement will help you return to your normal activities and relieve your pain (95 percent success rate). Replacement joints are prostheses made of titanium, chrome cobalt, and polyethylene.
Specialties
Knee Specialties
- Knee Preservation
- Knee Replacement (Total)
- Knee Revision
- Patellofemoral Arthroplasty (PFA)
- Peripheral Nerve Blocks (PNB)
- Uni-Compartmental Knee Arthroplasty
High Quality, Cost-Effective Care
Our providers are committed to helping you maintain a higher quality of life. We do this by using state-of-the-art, proven treatment and surgical methods in to diagnose and treat our patients.
We use a collaborative approach from beginning to the end using all the resources available at the University Orthopaedic Center and University of Utah Health system. Our hip and knee specialists are the most experienced specialists in the Mountain West.
Virtual Rehab Visits
Patient Resources for Joint Replacement
Patient Guide to Total Joint Replacement
We have created a patient guide to help you understand the process of your total joint replacement. It includes information about surgery prep, your hospital stay, and recovery.
New Patient Questionnaire
If you're a new patient considering joint replacement, be sure to fill out our new patient questionnaire so our doctors can provide the highest-quality care for you.
Joint Academy
Joint Academy is an extensive pre-operative education program for joint replacement patients and their friends, family, and care coaches.
AAHKS Resources
Find helpful articles, videos, and answers to frequently asked questions about joint replacement surgery from the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.
From Our Specialists
7 Questions for a Knee & Hip Replacement Specialist
If you're having your hip or knee joints replaced, it's normal to have anxiety and not know what to expect. Here are some answers to common joint replacement questions.
When Should You Get a Knee Replacement?
Do your knees ache when you walk upstairs, hike, or even when you sit or lie down? If they do, you may be thinking about treatment options and wondering if you should get your knees replaced.
When Should You Get a Hip Replacement?
Hip pain can be hard to deal with. Not only can it cause soreness, stiffness, and inflammation, but it can interfere with critical day-to-day activities like walking and moving. How do you know if hip replacement surgery is a good choice for you?
How to Reduce Pain Medication After Knee Replacement Surgery
People who undergo knee replacement surgery (and other surgical procedures) experience pain during recovery and need effective options to minimize the pain while healing. Surgeons and nurses at University of Utah Health are looking for ways to reduce pain medication usage after knee replacement.