Joint Replacement at Penn Highlands Healthcare.

Joint Replacement Program for Hip, Knee, and Shoulder Replacement

Now Offering Mako SmartRoboticsTM

Penn Highlands Healthcare is the first health system in North Central/Western Pennsylvania to offer robotic assisted joint replacement surgery. The orthopedic surgeons at Penn Highlands Healthcare are specially trained to perform joint replacement surgery using Mako SmartRoboticsTM. The result of a procedure performed with Mako SmartRoboticsTM can differ from traditional joint replacement surgery with fewer soft tissue releases and smaller incisions, less blood loss, protection of healthy bone, and ultimately optimal joint alignment and faster recovery.

Mako SmartRoboticsTM is an innovative surgical solution for many people suffering from painful arthritis or degeneration of the knee or hip. The Mako robot uses 3D CT-based planning software so your Penn Highlands Orthopedics surgeon can know more, and cut less. That is, the CT-scan helps your orthopedic surgeon understand more about your unique anatomy to create a joint replacement surgical plan that is extraordinarily advanced in precision and customization to your body.

Joint Replacement Program

According to estimates presented by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, by 2030, the numbers of knee replacements and hip replacements in the United States are expected to nearly double, largely due to our extended lifespans and advancements in surgery. Joint replacement surgery is now using prosthetic joint components that have a more customized fit and last longer—as long as 20 years for hip replacements. In addition, the effective outcomes and easier recovery thanks to better anesthetic and pain medications have led to great patient satisfaction, which inspires others to take the plunge.

For many patients, the pain, swelling, and weakness associated with joint damage can be alleviated through nonsurgical treatments such as medication, corticosteroid injections, or physical therapy. But for some, the damage caused to the joint by trauma, arthritis, or overuse means it needs to be replaced. Knee replacement and hip replacement surgery are two of the most commonly performed orthopedic procedures in the United States.

At Penn Highlands Healthcare, our Joint Replacement Program provides surgery for not just hip replacement, knee replacement, partial knee replacement, but for shoulder replacement as well.

Doctor Photo In Network
Dinsmore, Harry H., MD, MS
Specialties

Orthopedics / Orthopedic Surgery

Sports Medicine

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - HuntingdonA Service of Penn Highlands Huntingdon

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Tyrone


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Nartatez, Mark A., DO
Specialties

Orthopedics / Orthopedic Surgery

Sports Medicine

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - ClearfieldA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - PhilipsburgA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Tyrone


Doctor Photo In Network
Patel, Ashish Kumar, MD
Specialties

Orthopedics / Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - ClearfieldA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - DuBois COEA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois

View Providers Practice

Doctor Photo In Network
Sheba, David, DO
Specialties

Orthopedics / Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Rostraver Township

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Uniontown

View Providers Practice

Doctor Photo In Network
Sheba, Justin, DO
Specialties

Orthopedics / Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Rostraver Township

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Uniontown

View Providers Practice

Doctor Photo In Network
Tissenbaum, Allan , MD
Specialties

Orthopedics / Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Charleroi

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Rostraver Township

View Providers Practice

Doctor Photo In Network
Varacallo, Matthew A., MD, MBA, FAAOS
Specialties

Orthopedics / Orthopedic Surgery

Sports Medicine

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - DuBoisA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois

View Providers Practice

Doctor Photo In Network
Zeliger, Keith L., DO
Specialties

Orthopedics / Orthopedic Surgery

Sports Medicine

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - DuBois COEA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - St. MarysA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois


Why would I Need Joint Replacement Surgery?

When damage to a joint becomes so severe that it’s limiting your activities and interfering with your quality of life, it may be time to consider surgery. After years of arthritis or overuse, the cartilage in your joints that provides cushioning wears away resulting in bone-on-bone contact. Without a shock absorber in your joint, inflammation, stiffness, and pain will continue to worsen. The joint also may lose stability and become unable to bear weight.

What should I Expect from Hip or Knee Replacement Surgery?

If you are living with pain and limited mobility from a damaged knee, hip, or shoulder, joint replacement surgery will provide better quality of life. We believe that the more you know about what to expect before, during, and after joint replacement surgery, the better your results will be. You’ll be more prepared and will feel less anxious about the unknown. Penn Highlands offers a joint education program at each of our hospitals to help educate and comfort our patients before surgery. The educational program provides a combination of pre-surgical education and exercise, peer support, and supervised rehabilitation and joint replacement recovery.

What will My Recovery from Joint Replacement Be Like?

The orthopedic inpatient units at Penn Highlands Clearfield, Penn Highlands DuBois, Penn Highlands Elk and Penn Highlands Huntingdon provide the perfect place for you to recover from hip, knee, shoulder, or other joint replacement surgery. With specially trained nurses, therapists, and aides in coordination with The Rehabilitation Center, this program offers a specific recovery process designed to get patients back to their active lifestyles as quickly as possible after joint replacement surgery. Find out more about the expertise and services available for patients recovering from joint replacement surgery at The Orthopedic Center.

Many patients are candidates to have their joint replacement surgery performed with their orthopedic surgeon using MakoTM Smart Surgical Robot. One of the greatest benefits is the faster recovery time that’s been demonstrated for a significant number of patients who have undergone procedures where the surgeon performs surgery using the Mako Robot.

While traditional joint replacements can sometimes require four to six weeks of recovery before a patient can return to some normal routine activities, in some cases, MakoTM is shown to decrease recovery time by as much as half. Mako may also lead to less blood loss, swelling, and pain than traditional knee replacement surgery.

Learn more about knee replacement, hip replacement, shoulder replacement and other types of orthopedic surgery.

Joint Replacement Program News

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Videos

Brian Picks Penn Highlands Mako Robot for Hip Replacement
Bruce Discusses Penn Highlands Mako Joint Replacement
Dale Shares His Experience Penn Highlands Mako Joint Replacement
Jerry is the First Patient at Penn Highlands to Get Knee Replacement
Joann Talks About her Penn Highlands Mako Joint Replacement
Meet Penn Highlands Mako Robot for Joint Replacement
Meet the Penn Highlands Mako Robot