Advanced Knee Care

Knee Surgeon and Specialist Stefan D. Tarlow, M.D.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Knee Replacement Surgeon

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confident knee replacement surgeon

When it comes to finding the right knee replacement surgeon, the decision is of utmost importance. Knee replacement surgery is a complex procedure that requires expertise, precision, and skill. The outcome of the surgery can have a significant impact on an individual’s quality of life, mobility, and overall well-being. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully evaluate and consider various factors before making a well-informed decision. In this article, we will discuss the key factors individuals should consider when selecting a knee replacement surgeon. By understanding these factors, you can make a confident choice and ensure the best possible outcome for your knee surgery.

Surgeon’s Qualifications, Specialization, and Robotics

a person holding a pen to a model of a knee

The first and foremost factor to consider is the surgeon’s qualifications and specialization. Look for a surgeon who is board-certified in orthopedic surgery and has received advanced training in knee replacement procedures. A qualified surgeon has undergone rigorous education, residency, and fellowship programs to gain the necessary skills and knowledge. The top surgeons remain committed to lifelong learning and adapting technologies that improve patient success. Surgical Robotics has modernized knee replacement surgery techniques and greatly improved patient function and satisfaction from knee replacement surgery.

Furthermore, it is essential to ensure that the surgeon specializes in knee replacement surgery. Knee replacement is a specialized area within orthopedics, and surgeons who focus on this field are more likely to have extensive experience and expertise. By choosing a surgeon with a specific focus on knee replacement, you can benefit from their in-depth knowledge and refined surgical techniques.

Years of Experience

a group of surgeons performing knee surgery

Experience plays a vital role in the success of knee replacement surgery. While the qualifications are essential, the number of years a surgeon has been performing knee replacements can provide valuable insight into their expertise. A seasoned knee replacement surgeon has likely encountered a wide range of cases and complications, allowing them to refine their skills and improve patient outcomes over time.

When researching potential surgeons, inquire about their experience in performing knee replacement surgeries. Ask about the number of procedures they have completed and their success rates. A surgeon with a substantial amount of experience will instill confidence in their ability to handle your case effectively.

Track Record of Successful Outcomes

Jeff Van Raaphorst Testimonial for Dr. Tarlow

The track record of successful outcomes is a crucial factor to consider when choosing a knee replacement surgeon. Look for surgeons who have a proven history of positive results and patient satisfaction. This information can be obtained through patient testimonials, reviews, and references from previous patients.

In addition, consider researching the surgeon’s complication rates and revision surgery rates. A low rate of complications and revision surgeries indicates the surgeon’s ability to perform the procedure with precision and minimize potential risks. A successful track record demonstrates not only the surgeon’s technical skills but also their commitment to delivering the best possible outcomes for their patients.

Communication Style and Patient Care

knee replacement surgeon talking to a patient

Effective communication and compassionate patient care are key factors in ensuring a positive surgical experience. A knee replacement surgeon who takes the time to listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and explain the procedure clearly and understandably can significantly reduce anxiety and build trust.

During your initial consultation, pay attention to the surgeon’s communication style. Do they actively engage with you? Do they address your concerns adequately? Do they provide you with realistic expectations? A surgeon who demonstrates excellent communication skills and shows genuine care for their patients is more likely to provide comprehensive pre-operative and post-operative support.

Availability of Post-Operative Support

physical therapist talking to a patient

The postoperative phase of knee replacement surgery is crucial for a successful recovery. The availability of post-operative support from the surgeon and their team is an essential factor to consider. Adequate follow-up care, physical therapy guidance, and access to rehabilitation services can significantly contribute to your rehabilitation and overall outcome.

Inquire about the post-operative support provided by the surgeon. Ask about the follow-up visits, rehabilitation programs, and any additional resources they offer to support your recovery journey. A surgeon who prioritizes post-operative care and provides ongoing support demonstrates their commitment to your well-being beyond the surgery itself.

Patient Reviews and Recommendations

reviews for dr. Tarlow

Patient reviews and recommendations can provide valuable insights into a knee replacement surgeon’s reputation and patient satisfaction. Look for online platforms where patients share their experiences and ratings. Reading through these reviews can give you a better understanding of the surgeon’s strengths, weaknesses, and overall patient care.

Additionally, don’t hesitate to ask the surgeon for references from previous patients who have undergone knee replacement surgery. Speaking directly with someone who has been through the process can provide firsthand information about the surgeon’s skills, professionalism, and overall patient experience.

Conclusion

Choosing the right knee replacement surgeon is a decision that should not be taken lightly. By considering the key factors discussed in this article—surgeon’s qualifications and specialization, years of experience, track record of successful outcomes, communication style, availability of post-operative support, and patient reviews, you can make an informed choice that increases the likelihood of a successful surgery and a positive outcome.

Stefan D. Tarlow, M.D. is a knee replacement surgeon who possesses all these important qualities. We invite you to visit him at tarlowknee.com. Doctor Tarlow is a highly skilled and specialized knee replacement surgeon who is committed to providing the highest quality care and delivering excellent outcomes for his patients. With our team’s expertise, experience, and patient-centered approach, we strive to help you regain mobility and improve your quality of life.

Remember, your choice of a knee replacement surgeon can make a significant difference in your surgical experience and the long-term success of your knee replacement. Make an informed decision and trust your knee health to the best.

The Basics of Choosing a Knee Surgeon

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choosing a knee surgeon

Knee problem can be complicated that it sometimes leads to replacement surgery. People choose to undergo surgery because they have suffered enough from the discomfort, the pain and the other symptoms associated with their knee problem. But the procedure itself is not the only thing that people should consider. Equally important is the surgeon who will conduct the operation. That is why choosing the right and best knee surgeon is highly important to the success of the surgery and for the recovery as well. With this, we listed some of the basic things to consider when selecting a knee surgeon.

Basic Factors to Consider When Choosing a Knee Surgeon

  • Experience

This is highly important to the success of the surgery. Experience sharpens the skills and knowledge of a professional. So when you choose a knee surgeon, make sure to check how long has he/she been practicing and what disciplines is he/she most experienced at. You must also ask how many times has the surgeon performed knee replacement surgery and does he/she perform such many times a year? Questions like this help you establish the competency of the surgeon.

  • Education

The training, education and degrees of the surgeon also speak of his/her competence in the field. That is why you must consider and review the surgeon\s education, training, degrees, fellowship and board certifications.

  • Check Online

You can verify the surgeon’s credentials and education online. In the U.S., you can look into the surgeon’s disciplinary record and reputation through any of these associations’ respective website: American Medical Association and Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

  • Ask Questions

It is your right as a patient to ask questions. After all, it’s your condition and health that are in line here. Try not to feel intimidated and uncomfortable when asking questions. Raise your concerns about the procedure, its success, the possible complications, the recovery time, etc. You can even ask the surgeon directly about his/her experience and credentials.

  • Second Opinion

If you are not comfortable or satisfied with the first surgeon you approached, you can always try a second opinion. The surgeon usually understands if you are not at ease and are requesting for a second opinion.

  • Trusting Your Instincts

Sometimes, you just have to trust your gut. Weighing in all the considerations mentioned above, you can just go with the surgeon you have a good feeling about.

Knees-Only Surgeon

Orthopedic surgeons perform knee surgery. However, in general, they are not specialized in knee replacement. If you really want a surgeon who is highly trained and experienced in knee procedures, go straight to a knees-only surgeon. In Arizona, TarlowKnee is the place to go. Dr. Tarlow is a knees-only surgeon who perform advanced procedures like knee replacement. Learn more about Dr. Tarlow today.

Improving Total Knee Replacement Surgery Results: Optimize Risk Factors PreOp

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Knee surgery risks photo

One way of improving the results of Total Knee Replacement Surgery is to optimize the risk factors. The common patient risk factors include the following: uncontrolled diabetes (Blood Sugar >150, HbA1C>8), Smoking, Obesity (BMI > 40), Opioid use, and Kidney disease. All these risk factors should be corrected prior to having the surgery.

There are treatments available to reverse these risk factors. Uncorrected, the above listed factors increase the chance a patient will suffer an prosthetic joint infection, a return to the operating room for another knee procedure, wound healing problems, revision knee surgery or an unsatisfactory surgical result.

Knee Replacement Surgery Risks

Like any other surgery, total knee replacement carries some risks. However, the occurrence of these risks is quite low: infection, nerve damage, stroke or blood clot. The aforementioned risks are those that might occur during or after the surgery. What we are going to focus on are the factors that might affect the outcome of the surgery. Such factors or risks must be corrected before the surgery is conducted. They include the following: uncontrolled diabetes, smoking, obesity, opioid use and kidney disease.

Uncontrolled Diabetes

  • The Risks

According to a number of studies, people with diabetes face a higher risk of postsurgical complications. The possible complications that a patient may experience if he/she undergoes a surgery such as total knee replacement with uncontrolled diabetes are the following: joint loosening, fracture around the implant, blood clot, stroke and wound infection.

  • The Treatment

Diabetes is an important consideration before a patient undergoes a surgical procedure. The research suggests that patients need to control their diabetes before undergoing a major surgery such as total knee replacement. While your blood sugar will be tightly monitored right before and after surgery, it’s up to you to make the long-term lifestyle changes necessary to ensure you get the best outcome. This is an important conversation to have with both your surgeon and the physician or provider who helps you manage your diabetes. Eating well and exercising (if appropriate and with approval from your providers) can help you get your body ready for surgery.

Smoking

  • The Risks

Research shows that there is a correlation between smoking and the success of knee surgery. Some studies put the chance of redoing the surgery at a rate ten times higher in smokers than in non-smokers. Smokers also show higher rate of surgical complications which include blood clots, kidney problems, urinary tract infections, and abnormal or irregular heartbeats. This is because nicotine constricts the blood vessels, which interfere with and affect the healing process.

  • The Treatment

The best way to get rid of the risks is to quit smoking. You may have tried to do so in the past and not found success, but if you’re going to have total knee replacement surgery, let this be the big push you need to finally quit. In addition to the possibility of increased post-surgical complications, just imagine trying to find a place to smoke while you’re recuperating. Talk with your primary care provider about available techniques and support.

Obesity

  • The Risks

Obesity is the root of various health conditions and diseases like type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and metabolic syndrome.  All these conditions increase the risk of knee replacement surgery. Aside from these, patients with obesity are also more at risk to experience the following postsurgical risks: blood clots, difficulty breathing, poor and slow wound healing, infection and pulmonary embolism.

  • The Treatment

To lower the risks and to promote a better result, patients with obesity are advised to lose some weight. It is important that the patient is in good health and weight prior the surgery. Try hard to lose some weight and eat healthy before the scheduled surgery. Your immediate post-surgical health will improve—and along with your new knee, being in better shape will give you a new lease on life.

Opioid Use

  • The Risks

One of the total knee replacement precautions a patient must know concerns opioid use.  One study showed chronic opioid use before a total knee arthroplasty led to worse outcomes for patients, including “longer hospital stays, more postoperative pain, and higher complication rates… [patients] were also more likely to need additional procedures, require referrals for pain management, suffer from unexplained pain or stiffness, and have lower function and less motion in the replaced knee.”

  • The Treatment

The FDA suggests that patients undergoing knee replacement surgery should decrease the duration and amount of opioid use. There are many other pain management treatments available besides opioids, and you should explore them with your pain management physician—not just because of your surgery, but because chronic opioid use itself brings a whole host of problems you don’t want.

Kidney Disease

  • The Risks

Patients with kidney disease, particularly chronic renal disease, have increased risk for readmission after the surgery. The success of knee replacement surgery is also low and the occurrence of common complications is high among patients with kidney problems.

  • The Treatment

If you have kidney disease and need to have surgery—any kind of surgery—you and the doctor managing your disease, as well as the surgeon, need to work closely together to assess your risk and make sure surgery is the right course for you. If you and your providers move ahead, techniques like post-operative dialysis, substituting or changing the normal dose of medications like antibiotics given before and during surgery and avoiding pain medications that are known to cause problems are all good strategies to keep you healthy.

Reducing Total Knee Replacement Complications

We, the patient and the doctor, both want something in common. That is, the best outcome possible of the surgery. Knowing how to reduce the complications is powerful information. It is very important that you follow the tips mentioned in this article and control the risks mentioned to improve the results of your total knee replacement surgery.

If you’re contemplating knee replacement, schedule an appointment to see me and the rest of the team here at Advanced Knee Care. Assessing your needs and the appropriate treatment for you is our top priority.

Key to Better Knee Replacement Outcomes: An Experienced Surgeon

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Experienced Knee Replacement Surgeon

Optimal Delivery of Total Knee Replacement Surgery – Surgeon Experience Improves Outcomes

High volume Total Knee surgeons working at high volume facilities deliver the best outcomes for patients undergoing total knee replacement surgery.

The Hospital for Special Surgery in New York published data on meaningful surgeon and hospital volume thresholds in the October, 2016 Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.
Here are the key numbers.
Surgeon volume of 60 or more cases per year had the best 90 day complication and 2 year revision rates. Choose a surgeon that performs 5 or more knee joint replacement surgeries per month.
Facility volume of 236 cases per year had lower 90 complication rates.  Mortality rates were lowest for facilities performing more than 645 cases per year.

Higher Hospital and Orthopedic Surgeon Volume Linked to Improved Patient Outcomes

An analysis of 182,146 patients undergoing primary total hip and knee replacement concludes higher surgeon volume was associated with lower rates of readmission and reoperation, shorter length of hospital stay and higher likelihood of being discharged to home (JBJS November 17, 2010). Higher hospital volume was associated with lower risk of mortality and readmission and higher likelihood of being discharged home.

The process of standardization- adhering to evidence based processes of care resulted in improved clinical outcomes and shorter length of hospital stay, independent of surgeon or hospital volume. Annual surgeon volume high to low in quartiles is 278, 127, 62 and 24 cases per year. Annual hospital volume high to low in quartiles is 1007, 604,361 and 181 cases per year.

Dr. Tarlow’s surgical volume is in the highest Quartile (above 278 cases per year)

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