Your Journey Begins Here
If you have decided to pursue improved mobility and pain relief through
joint replacement surgery, we invite you to begin your journey with us.
The Southeast Georgia Health System Joint Replacement Centers have the
technology, expertise and experience to successfully guide you through
this life-changing surgery.
Our Joint Replacement Centers team performs hundreds of total joint replacement
surgeries each year—employing innovative technologies like Mako,
a robotic-arm assisted technology, that increases surgical accuracy for
better outcomes and a higher quality of patient care. And, because we
utilize minimally invasive techniques, you are likely to have a shorter
hospital stay and a more enjoyable recovery.
Our goal is to provide a totally integrated team approach for quality
orthopedic care. We also offer extensive patient education and a comprehensive continuum
of care designed to ensure you receive the information, care and support
you need throughout every step of your journey.
Learn more about joint replacement from one of our board-certified orthopedic
surgeons,
Beau Sasser, M.D., by watching the below Golden Isles TV feature on rotator cuff tears and
shoulder replacement surgery.
Joint Replacement: The Journey of a Lifetime
Whether you are receiving a total hip or knee replacement, or a partial
knee replacement, you are embarking upon a life changing journey. You
can generally expect relief from pain that has not responded to other
treatment options, greater mobility, and a return to activities you enjoyed
before the need for surgery. Today’s artificial joints can last
up to 20 years depending on your age, weight and activity level.
Common Causes of Hip and Knee Problems
Hip and knee problems can occur as the result of wear and tear over a lifetime
of activity, or from injury or disease. The most common causes are osteoarthritis
and rheumatoid arthritis — both of which can cause pain, decrease
mobility and significantly threaten independent living.
Deciding Factors for Joint Replacement Surgery
An orthopaedic surgeon can best determine if you are a candidate for joint
replacement surgery. Joint replacement surgery is considered only after
other treatments have failed to restore mobility or provide adequate pain
relief. Factors that largely influence a patient’s decision on whether
to have joint replacement surgery include:
- Physical examination and X-rays showing evidence of significant joint damage
- Disruption of the ability to work or enjoy hobbies
- Joint pain that persists even when at rest, making sleep difficult
- Avoiding use of the affected joint because of pain
- Failure of non-surgical treatments to manage your pain
- Difficulty with activities of daily living
- Avoiding social interaction because of pain
Common Misconceptions About Joint Replacement Surgery
Some people believe they are “too young” and should postpone
joint replacement surgery. They believe that by waiting until they are
older, they can make their implants last for the rest of their lives.
The fact is that today’s improved implant materials result in replacements
that last as long as 20 years, which can greatly enhance the quality of
life for a patient during their prime years. Also, while a period of conservative
treatment is advisable, waiting too long for surgery actually gives bone
and cartilage more time to deteriorate, which may cause difficulties with
the procedure and make rehabilitation more difficult.
On the other hand, patients may mistakenly believe that seniors in their
70s and 80s are "too old" for joint replacement surgery. Again,
the facts say otherwise. Advancements in medical technology have made
surgery an option for patients of any age.
Hip Replacement
Total hip replacement surgery involves replacing the arthritic joint with
a new hip socket and stem that fits inside the femur (long thigh bone).
The stem supports a ball that fits into the socket and helps restore motion.
Knee Replacement
Total knee replacement surgery involves resurfacing the knee joint with
an artificial joint made of extremely durable metal and/or plastic. A
partial knee replacement is performed when cartilage damage is limited
to only one side of the knee joint. The procedure is similar to a total
knee replacement, except that it is limited to the affected side of the joint.
ROSA KNEE Robotic Technology
On our Camden Campus, our orthopaedic surgeons perform total knee replacement using
ROSA KNEE Robotic Technology. ROSA, which stands for RObotic Surgical Assistant, is an innovative knee
replacement technology that our orthopedic surgeons in St. Marys use to
tailor the placement of your knee implant—just for you.
Getting a precise knee implant fit is essential to your comfort and overall
experience following knee replacement surgery.
ROSA Knee technology collects data before and during the procedure to inform your surgeon of
the many details related to your unique anatomy. By using this data to
make more informed decisions, your surgeon can plan for and carry out
a personalized surgery based upon your individual needs.
During your procedure,
ROSA Knee utilizes a camera and optical trackers attached to your leg to know exactly
where your knee is in space. Think of it like a very detailed global positioning
system (GPS) that you might use in your car. If your leg moves even a
fraction of an inch, the robot can tell and adjusts accordingly. This
information, combined with your surgeon’s skill, helps them know
how to position your implant based on your unique anatomy.
Mako™ Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery
Mako robotic-arm assisted surgery is an innovative procedure for
partial and total knee replacements and
total hip replacements. This method allows surgeons to achieve unmatched levels of personalization
and reproducible precision in knee and hip implant position and alignment.
From a pre-operative CT scan, a 3-D virtual model of the patient’s
unique knee or hip anatomy is generated and a personalized surgical plan
for bone removal and implant size, position and alignment is developed.
During surgery, the highly advanced, physician-controlled robotic arm
provides real-time visualization and measurements, enabling surgeons to
make adjustments as needed and to control implant placement, optimizing
its fit. The Mako procedure only targets damaged areas of the knee and
hip, preserving the surrounding healthy bone and tissue.
Mako robotic-arm assisted surgical procedures for the knees and hips can
deliver reduced pain, a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery and increased
mobility.
Healthy Partners Articles
A New Lease on Life
Healthy Partners, Winter 2021
Persistent knee pain can limit your ability to enjoy recreational and everyday
activities, like golfing or gardening. As a result, you may also lose
the ability to enjoy life to its fullest. If you’re considering
joint replacement surgery, here’s some good news: Robotic knee surgery
is now available at the Southeast Georgia Health System Camden Campus.
Read More
A New Lease on Life
Healthy Partners, Fall 2018
Summit Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Surgery is changing the way joint
replacement is done. Want to learn more about joint replacement and the
benefits of Mako? Read our featured article in the Fall 2018 issue of
Healthy Partners!
Read More