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The Headache and Pain Center, P.A. |
Joint Preservation Surgery
What Is It?
The primary objective of Joint Preservation, JPS, is to relieve the severe joint pain while at the same time preserving the natural joint and improving function. This is done by removing dead or dying bone responsible for the patient’s joint pain and disability from the inside of the one itself and replacing it with the patient’s own healthy bone. JPS is done through a small incision and usually requires only an overnight hospital stay. After a period of protected weight bearing, patients undergoing JPS are able to resume weight bearing activities. Joint Preservation Surgery is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance companies.
Am I a good candidate?
Carefully selected patients that will typically benefit for Joint Preservation Surgery (JPS) share the following characteristics:
• Pain that has failed to respond to oral medications including the NSAIDS and narcotics.
• Pain that has failed to respond to injections of steroids and other medications into the painful joint
• Pain that has failed to respond to physical therapy
• Pain that is present at rest and worsens with activity
• Previous injury to the joint
• A history of osteonecrosis/avascular necrosis
• A history of exposure to steroids or chemotherapy
• A history of smoking and alcohol use
• A history of HIV
• A history of continued pain after arthroscopy.
What are the Benefits of Joint Preservation Surgery?
Over 43,000 million Americans suffer from joint pain with 16,000 of these individuals suffering joint pain that is so severe that it limits their ability to carry out daily activities. While many patients suffering from joint pain can be helped with oral medications, injections into the painful joint, and arthroscopic surgery, a large number of these patients continue to suffer with severe joint pain in spite of their doctors best efforts. For those patients who do not respond to conservative therapy and arthroscopic surgery, Joint Preservation Surgery may represent a reasonable next step. While not for everyone, when performed on carefully selected patients, Joint Preservation may help relieve the patient’s pain, improve their function, and help delay or avoid the need for more invasive total joint replacement surgery.
The decision to have any type of sugery should be accompanied by information and answers to your questions. We will try to provide you with information to help with your decision. James Brannon, M.D. is a board certified Orthopedic surgeon with a special interest in joint preservation. He is a pioneer in the field. He understands the needs and concerns of patients who are considering this surgery.
Dr. Brannon provides expert consultation and evaluation to determine your diagnosis and to advise you of the appropriate treatment. He can answer your questions and discuss your concerns and options.