What sets our surgery program apart
Pain Management
We provide comprehensive pain management to minimize the amount of pain joint replacement patient experience.
Before surgery: Anti-inflammatory pain medication is given prior to surgery, so that its effectiveness peaks during the time of surgery.
During surgery: A peri-articular cocktail injection is given. This locally administered injection to the tissues surrounding the joint is proven to facilitate rehabilitation, avoid systemic drug-related side effects and reduce patient stay. Patients receiving the injection have less pain and therefore use significantly less PCA (patient controlled anesthesia) in the 24 hours following surgery.
After surgery: PCA pump and oral analgesics are provided to all joint replacement patients.
Infection Control
VVMC has one of the lowest surgical infection rates in the state.
All joint replacements are performed in an operating room that utilizes a laminar flow ventilation system. This system uses an ultra-pure horizontal air flow that does not circulate, but comes into the room at one end and exits at the other. This minimizes the presence of bacteria-carrying particles.
Surgeons wear full body suits and face masks that look similar to space suits, and wear two pair of surgical gloves.
Discharge
Patients in VVMC’s Joint Replacement program typically are discharged from the hospital two to three days earlier than patients in other joint replacement programs throughout the United States. VVMC patients are able to walk the same day as surgery because of a lack of discomfort due to the pain management system in place.
Comprehensive individual and group physical therapy services are provided on the unit, and all participants have the opportunity to continue to use the facility to continue with their exercise program at no cost.
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