Can properly preparing for joint replacement surgery affect the outcome?
Dr. Dennis Brown discusses how preparing for joint replacement surgery can affect the outcome. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.
Can properly preparing for joint replacement surgery affect the outcome?
I think once an individual's determined that they want to have surgery, there are a lot of steps that can be done to maximize the benefit of the surgical outcome. And I think most surgeons will talk about modifiable risk factors and there's well known issues with smoking, being overweight, having poor muscle development and those are things that can be easily addressed. Now they might not be readily accepted but they can make a huge impact in how a person fares during and after their surgical procedure.
Now when I talk about smoking, obesity, diabetes control those are national norms that have been established for not only good outcomes but to protect against complications and bad outcomes. So the surgeon really has a responsibility in discussion with the patient, to say these are things that can lead to a much better outcome. If you're a diabetic patient and your blood glucose is poorly controlled your risk of an infection or loosening of the components, increases exponentially because your sugar metabolism affects how your bone reacts, how your blood flows and how your skin heals.
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Being prepared before joint replacement surgery can have a positive effect on the outcome following surgery.
Premier Physician Network Premier Physician Network (PPN) physicians say you can prepare by:
- Losing some weight through a healthy diet and physical activity
- Managing diabetes
- Quitting smoking
You can also participate in pre-habilitation, which includes rehabilitation and therapy exercises that reduce your need for post-surgery inpatient rehabilitation by 73 percent, according to the Arthritis Foundation.
Talk to your doctor for more information about how preparing before joint replacement surgery can affect the outcome.
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