(214) 466-7391
Dr. Hibbits is a knee replacement & arthroplasty surgeon & sports medicine specialist in Sunnyvale, TX. Dr. Hibbitts is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who has worked with patients since 2000 to alleviate their pain, help with healthcare, and improve their quality of life. He is exceptionally experienced as a knee replacement surgeon, with expertise in knee realignment procedures and meniscus and cartilage transplants.
Dr. Hibbitts wants his patients to understand everything about the procedure and the before and after. Knee replacements often require a hospital stay, although Dr. Hibbitts offers the procedure on an outpatient basis for patients who qualify, significantly reducing the knee replacement cost for many patients. Here is what YOU need to know to ensure a successful total knee replacement procedure.
Contact Dr. Hibbits at (214) 420-7611 to learn more.
Knee replacement surgery (or “knee arthroplasty”) is an operation that can relieve a person’s knee pain and improve their joint function. During a knee replacement, worn-out or damaged knee joint surfaces are removed and replaced with prosthetic devices.
Various treatment options exist depending on the severity of your knee injury or damaged part of the knee. Some people need only a partial knee replacement, while others find their quality of life improved by a total knee replacement.
The largest joint in the leg, the knee, is crucial because it connects the upper leg, which is the thigh or femoral, to the lower leg and foot. As a “hinge” joint, the knee moves backward and forward, although it also laterally twists and rotates. The knee plays a vital role in everyday functions – such as walking, sitting in a chair, and climbing stairs – and helping people enjoy vigorous activities like swimming, running, jumping, and dancing.
Cartilage covers the end surfaces of bones, protecting them from rubbing against other bones. Articular cartilage is strong and flexible, which allows bones to slide over each other as the joint moves. As a shock absorber, cartilage also cushions bones against impact.
A total knee replacement or total knee arthroplasty affects all the joint structures. It can alleviate or eliminate pain caused by knee bones irritating each other, driven by weakened muscles and worn-out cartilage.
Commonly, chronic knee pain and disability are caused by knee arthritis. Arthritis is a condition that weakens cartilage and other soft tissues of joints.
The most common types of arthritis are:
Your primary care physician can diagnose arthritis and provide a referral to an orthopedic surgeon to discuss a full knee replacement surgery.
Chronic knee pain includes common symptoms such as:
One symptom of arthritis is the development of osteophytes (“bone spurs”). These small bone growths create friction and affect your knee’s range of motion.
A total knee replacement procedure can completely alleviate or significantly reduce chronic leg pain.
If you experience the following, you may find relief from a knee joint replacement surgery:
Most people don’t rush into surgery. Less invasive, nonsurgical procedures like over-the-counter and prescription medications, topical analgesics, and cortisone injections can alleviate pain, inflammation, and other symptoms. However, if you’ve tried these and don’t find relief, you may consider whether knee replacement surgery is right for you.
Dr. Hibbitts reviews each patient individually. Tests will include a complete medical evaluation, such as x-rays, blood tests, electrocardiograms, stress tests, and urine samples. If you both choose to pursue a total knee replacement, he works with you, your support system, and your primary care physician to ensure that your surgery produces the desired results and benefits your unique situation.
Dr. Hibbitts may recommend total knee replacement surgery to patients who experience:
Several factors contribute to your decision about whether a knee replacement surgery is suitable for a patient. When deciding a patient’s eligibility for total knee replacement, Dr. Hibbitts considers factors such as:
Some patients may be ineligible for a total knee replacement but benefit from a partial knee replacement or other treatment such as realignment procedures or cartilage grafting.
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, more than 90% of patients who undergo knee replacement surgery report decreased pain, increased mobility, and improved quality of life.
Most knee replacement devices serve patients for 15 to 20 years after surgery, which can be extended by following the instructions for post-operative care from Dr. Hibbitts and his medical team.
Dr. Hibbitts may recommend total knee replacement surgery to patients who experience:
A partial knee replacement (aka, a “unicompartmental knee replacement”) is less invasive surgery than a total knee replacement, but it still involves removing damaged tissues from the knee and replacing them with an artificial prosthesis. During a total knee replacement, the knee surgeon will replace all cartilage and some bone in three areas of the knee joint; however, in a partial replacement, only one area of the knee joint is operated on.
Typically, patients who undergo partial knee replacements experience faster recovery times. However, patients are only candidates for partial knee replacement surgery if their arthritis or other condition is restricted to one area of the knee. For patients whose entire knee is affected, a total knee replacement is preferable.
Each patient receives personalized instructions on how to prepare for knee replacement surgery. If any of the following apply to you, discuss them with Dr. Hibbitts and his team.
As the surgery date approaches, you will receive full instructions to help prepare for the operation and recovery.
There are more than 150 available designs of prosthetics, including the high-quality artificial joints produced by DePuy Synthes preferred by Dr. Hibbitts.
Follow these preparations to ensure your total knee replacement surgery is as successful as possible.
Physically prepare for surgery by following all instructions regarding prescriptions, supplements, and over-the-counter medications. Speak with Dr. Hibbitts if you take:
Your surgical team may provide specialized antibacterial soap and instructions for its use. Most patients must use the soap two days before, one day before, and the morning of surgery.
Do these things around your home to make knee surgery recovery easy and safe.
Many total knee replacement patients recover from surgery in the hospital. Pack a bag with essential items to make your stay comfortable:
On your knee replacement surgery day, follow all instructions from Dr. Hibbitts and his surgical team. After midnight, do not eat or drink before your surgery. Unless otherwise instructed, you may take your usual medications with a small sip of water.
After initial incisions and the surgeon accesses the patient’s knee, the surgeon removes damaged cartilage on the femur and tibia and prepares the bone surface using specialized tools.
The metal components of the artificial knee implants are put into place, then “press-fit,” cemented with specialized cement, or screwed into the femur and tibia.
The doctor prepares the underside of the kneecap (the patella).
The surgeon inserts medical-grade plastic spacers (“articular surfaces”) between the implants to ensure the artificial knee replacement glides smoothly. The spacers help the new knee joint support weight and move naturally.
After all, components are in place, the surgeon removes excess cement and cleans the knee joint with a sterile saline solution. In the final step, the knee surgeon closes the incision, and the surgical team inserts drains and dresses the site with sterilized bandages.
Total knee replacement surgery is a surgical procedure that requires proper aftercare, whether it's performed as an inpatient or outpatient procedure. Follow-up check-ups are necessary to check the progress of wound healing and recovery.
Total knee replacement surgery is a surgical procedure that requires proper aftercare, whether it's performed as an inpatient or outpatient procedure.
Recovery from knee replacement surgery operation begins the same day as the surgery.
Immediately after the procedure, patients can expect pain, swelling, and stiffness in the knee, around the surgical site, and surrounding muscles. To assist with these symptoms, surgeons often prescribe medications to ease pain and reduce swelling.
In the first 24 hours after a knee replacement surgery, the patient is encouraged to stand and walk – under supervision and proper assistance.
Keeping the incision site clean and dry in the first week of your knee replacement recovery is crucial to prevent infection.
Although pain and swelling should decrease overall, they may fluctuate with movement and excessive activity, and patients continue to take medication for pain and inflammation.
Most patients find their mobility increases in the days following their knee surgery but may also use a walker or a cane, especially when walking longer distances.
Patients can expect to begin physical therapy treatments immediately after knee replacement surgery.
The physical therapist will actively and passively move the knee joint to ensure early mobility of the new joint. Patients should expect to attend physical therapy sessions for 3 to 6 months to recover from knee replacement.
The goal for most patients is to reduce dependence on a walker within 3 weeks of the surgery and eliminate the need for any use of a cane within 6 weeks. Most patients fully recover, returning to normal activities within 3 months of their total knee replacement.
Generally, the complication rate is low during the post-knee replacement recovery period
Serious complications occur for less than 2% of patients, including major medical issues such as heart attack and stroke.
Typical complications from knee replacement surgery include:
Rare complications that can occur after total knee replacement surgery include:
Neurovascular injury happens with injury or trauma in the leg veins surrounding the implant and knee joint.
The average total cost of a total knee replacement surgery in the United States ranges greatly, with many factors determining the final amount. However, whatever the price, most patients find that they can’t measure the value of the benefits added to their life.
Patient out-of-pocket expenses can vary, depending on the limits and coverage of your insurance. Many insurances, including Medicare, cover knee replacement costs when a primary care doctor recommends the operation. Expenses vary if the patient needs a double knee replacement.
Knee replacements often require a hospital stay, although Dr. Hibbitts offers the procedure on an outpatient basis for patients who qualify, significantly reducing the knee replacement cost for many patients.
Typical costs for total knee replacement include:
Additional post-operative and recovery costs can include:
While knee replacement costs can vary, the value is immeasurable. To many people, the benefits of living without pain to enjoy day-to-day activities are well worth the price of a total knee replacement.
Dr. John M. Hibbitts is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who has worked with patients since 2000 to alleviate pain and improve their quality of life. His specialties are orthopedic surgery and sports medicine.
After his B.S. in exercise physiology at the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Hibbitts completed his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Texas. He completed residency training at the University of South Carolina Department of Orthopedic Surgery. He was honored with the esteemed Frank R. Noyes Sportsmedicine Fellowship to finish his residency at the Cincinnati Sportsmedicine and Orthopedic Center in 2000.
Since then, he has gained invaluable expertise with patients in South Carolina and Texas as a medical director and team physician at private treatment centers and large hospitals. As a knee replacement surgeon, his expertise is in knee realignment procedures and meniscus and cartilage transplants.
Dr. Hibbitts maintains memberships in the following professional medical organizations:
Dr. Hibbitts is an arthroplasty/knee surgeon, an athlete, and a father of three. During his free time, he enjoys rugby, Jiu-Jitsu, karate, and bodybuilding. He also engages in competitive rifle and handgun marksmanship.
An orthopedic surgeon specializes in diagnosing, treating, and restoring musculoskeletal ailments. These professionals focus on the function of a patient’s extremities, including the joints of the arms, legs, hands, and feet.
A sports medicine specialist is a physician who focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of injuries and conditions caused by athletics and sports activities.
Dr. Hibbitts is proud to have assisted hundreds of patients in their journey to a pain-free life after their total knee replacement. He understands that every patient is different, and he requires personal care to ensure a successful operation. His goal is to make the journey from pain to comfort just a bit easier for every one of his patients.
