Hip, Knee, and Shoulder Replacement Surgery

hip and knee replacement surgery

South Shore Health offers a full spectrum of care for hip, knee, and shoulder replacement surgery. From pre-surgery education to home care and physical therapy to get you back on your feet, our goal is to get you back to your active lifestyle without the limitations imposed by joint pain.

South Shore Hospital’s dedicated inpatient unit is designed to meet the specialized needs of orthopedic surgery patients and consistently ranks in the top percentile for patient satisfaction scores. It offers spacious private rooms and a rehabilitation gym on the floor—where patients participate in individual and group therapies as soon as possible after joint replacement surgery.

Hip replacement—or total hip arthroplasty—is a surgical procedure to replace a worn out or damaged hip joint with an artificial joint. This surgery may be the best treatment option for you after a hip fracture or for severe pain due to arthritis.

There are a few types of arthritis that affect the hip joint:

  • Osteoarthritis. A degenerative joint disease that is most common from middle age onward. It causes pain and stiffness and may cause the breakdown of joint cartilage and adjacent bone in the hips.
     
  • Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the joints, causing severe pain and stiffness.
     
  • Traumatic arthritis is arthritis resulting from an injury and may also cause damage to the hip cartilage.
     

Our seasoned orthopedic surgeons—many with fellowship training in joint replacement surgery— specialize in posterior hip replacement surgery. Posterior hip replacement surgery is the most common and allows the surgeon excellent visibility of the joint. Immediately following surgery, patients can often bend their hip freely and bear full weight when comfortable, resulting in a more rapid return to normal function. Our physical therapists start working with hip replacement patients in our gym on the dedicated unit shortly after surgery and in their home after leaving the hospital. Outpatient physical therapy typically starts 1-2 weeks after surgery.

Knee replacement surgery—or knee arthroplasty—involves removing damaged cartilage and bone out of the knee joint and replacing it with an artificial joint. This surgery may be the best treatment option for you if you have severe arthritis or have suffered a serious knee injury.

Our experienced team of orthopedic surgeons specialize in partial and total knee replacement surgery. After surgery, our specially trained team of experts will support you through your recovery process. Our physical therapists start working with knee replacement patients in our gym on the dedicated unit shortly after surgery and in their home after leaving the hospital. Outpatient physical therapy typically starts 1-2 weeks after surgery.

Shoulder replacement surgery—or shoulder arthroplasty—involves removing the arthritic portions of the shoulder and replacing them with prosthetic components (generally metal or plastic). Replacement surgery is most often performed for osteoarthritis but also is done in some cases for severe shoulder fracture and irreparable rotator cuff injury. Shoulder replacement most often leads to significant relief of pain and can improve range of motion and general shoulder function.  

Typically, shoulder replacement surgery is performed as an inpatient surgery with a one- to two-day stay prior to discharge home. Occasionally, it may be done as an outpatient surgery. Recovery can take several months to achieve full function and requires a dedicated approach to rehabilitation to get the best possible outcome. Most patients can resume exercise activities and light athletics within four to six months.

Our Joint Replacement Orthopedic Surgeons

Dr. Mark Bulman, Orthopedic Surgeon

Mark J Bulman, MD

Joint Replacement
Orthopedics
Sports Medicine
Dr. Dewire, Orthopedic Surgeon

Peter Dewire, MD

Joint Replacement
Orthopedics
Sports Medicine
Dr. Geary, Orthopedic Surgery, Hand Surgery

Michael W Geary, MD

Joint Replacement
Orthopedics
Sports Medicine
Michael Marchetti, MD, South Shore Orthopedics

Michael E Marchetti, MD

Joint Replacement
Orthopedics
Sports Medicine
Dr. Owen McConville, Orthopedic Surgeon, South Shore Orthopedics

Owen R McConville, MD

Joint Replacement
Orthopedics
Sports Medicine
Dr. Michael Rowland, Orthopedic Surgeon, South Shore Orthopedics

Michael T Rowland, MD

Joint Replacement
Orthopedics
Sports Medicine
Dr. Christopher Rynne, Orthopedic Surgeon, South Shore Hospital

Christopher W Rynne, MD

Joint Replacement
Orthopedics
Sports Medicine