Total Joint Replacement
Personalized, minimally invasive procedures
Our team is completely focused on your success and return to a pain free lifestyle. We believe in a comprehensive approach to Joint Replacement surgery. This includes your orthopaedic surgeon, nurses, physical therapists, and other members of the healthcare team that are completely focused on getting you healthy!
We’re proud to be the areas only outpatient surgery center performing outpatient Total Shoulder, Hip, Knee and Ankle replacements. The surgical experts at MVSC have developed the techniques required to ensure an optimal surgical experience and the ability to recover in the safety of your own home which allows for less cost and a faster recovery. Our best advocates of outpatient total joint replacement are our patients. Here is what they have to say about their joint replacement experience at MVSC.
We are the FIRST and ONLY ambulatory surgery center in the State of Iowa to achieve the Advanced Orthopaedic Certification for joint replacement and complex spine from AAAHC.
If you suffer from irritating joint symptoms that have begun to affect your day-to-day activities, it may be time to seek professional help. Our experienced orthopaedic surgeons believe in exploring the least invasive treatment options possible until surgical intervention becomes necessary.
Whether you have injured a joint or suffer from a chronic condition, we will do our best to help you get back to feeling like yourself without sacrificing the activities you love.
The center offers minimally invasive/rapid recovery, 23 hour total joint replacements, which are alternatives to large open procedures. Our fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeons perform over 800 total joint replacements annually and hundreds of minimally invasive knee surgeries per year.
In addition to knee and hip replacements, the center also offers shoulder replacement, ankle replacement as well as small joint replacements in the fingers and toes. To minimize your pain and help you feel more like yourself again, our dedicated team of health care providers are committed to providing you the personalized attention and treatment necessary to help you regain what you’ve lost in life.
The knee joint is composed of three parts: the end of the femur (thigh bone), the top of the tibia (shin bone), and the patella (knee cap). In a normal knee, these three bones are covered with a smooth cartilage that cushions the bones and enables them to move easily. In the arthritic knee, the cartilage layers are destroyed resulting in bone rubbing against bone which causes pain, muscle weakness and limited motion. Total knee replacement surgery involves the resurfacing of the knee joint. Metal components are cemented to the ends of the bones and a plastic liner is inserted between them. The kneecap is also resurfaced with a plastic liner. When in place, these components move together to allow normal motion of the knee joint. Bow leg or knock knee deformity can usually be corrected by the new alignment.
Your hip joint is composed of two parts: the round head of the femur (the ball) and the acetabulum (the cup or socket in your pelvis). In a normal hip joint these two bones are coated with smooth articular cartilage that allows them to move against each other without friction or pain. In an arthritic hip, the cartilage layers are destroyed, and bone rubs against bone causing pain and limiting motion. Hip replacement surgery replaces your arthritic hip joint with an artificial joint composed of a ball component and a socket component. The metal ball is attached to a stem that fits into your thigh bone. This component can be cemented or non-cemented depending on your age and the condition of your bone. A plastic liner with an outer metal sheet is secured into your pelvis. A combination of a cemented ball and a non-cemented socket also may be used. Your orthopedic surgeon will choose the type of components that best meets your individual needs. Once in place, the artificial ball and socket functions in essentially the same manner as your natural hip.
The most common cause of joint pain that lead to the need for a total joint replacement, is arthritis. There are different types of arthritis, however, most joint pain is caused by three main types: rheumatoid, osteoarthritis and post-traumatic arthritis.
Symptoms:
- Pain in the joint(s)
- Swelling
- Stiffness
- Joints may be warm and tender to the touch
- Boney deformities may been seen or felt around the affected joint
Arthritis is loss of cartilage (cushioning material) between the bones resulting in bone-on-bone contact. Loss of this cartilage results in pain and limited range of motion sometimes occurs. The type of arthritis that commonly occurs in the knees is called osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that may be hereditary or maybe the result of overuse (wear and tear), excess weight, developmental disorders and/or injury. Joint space narrowing as result of cartilage loss, often causes bone spurs to develop and can severely alter joint biomechanics. In severe cases, the joint may become unstable. Occasionally these alterations of normal knee function may lead to visible “bowleg” or “knock-knee” joint deformities. Osteoarthritis can be extremely painful and can cause aching, swelling, and stiff joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of “inflammatory arthritis” and due to the chronic inflammation, can lead to cartilage loss, stiffness and pain. Finally, serious knee injuries earlier in life or acutely, such as fractures or tears of the ligaments (ACL,MCL, PCL or meniscus) may also damage the cartilage over a period of time, causing arthritis later in life.
Implementing lifestyle modifications such as losing weight, switching from high impact exercise (i.e. running) to low-impact exercise (i.e. swimming or biking), and avoiding aggravating activities can be very effective for reducing pain associate with knee arthritis. Even a modest weight loss of only a few pounds can significantly effect the amount of joint pain you’re experiencing. Supplementing with glucosamine, chondroitin or other natural anti-inflammatories may be helpful. Other non-surgical treatments to help relieve pain and discomfort associated with mild cases of arthritis include taking anti-inflammatories, wearing a knee brace or sleeve, using a cane, wearing energy absorbing shoes or inserts, and/or receiving corticosteroid injection(s). While non-surgical treatment can relieve mild cases of the condition, surgery may be necessary if it continues to worsen.
Common Joint Replacement Procedures
Our first joint replacement occurred in June, 2003. Joint replacements in the outpatient setting were a new concept; therefore, few cases were done until approximately June 2007. At that time, the number of patients choosing to have their joint replacement here at our facility began to grow significantly. Patients, as well as surgeons and staff, realized that joint replacement in an ambulatory surgery center setting not only made sense, but that patients recovered faster, had fewer complications and had better experiences than in a hospital setting.
We are proud to be the areas only outpatient surgery center performing outpatient Total Shoulder, Hip, Knee and Ankle replacements. The surgical experts at MVSC have developed the techniques required to ensure an optimal surgical experience and the ability to recover in the safety of your own home which allows for less cost and a faster recovery. Our best advocates of outpatient total joint replacement are our patients. Here is what they have to say about their joint replacement experience at MVSC.
In 2018, we enjoyed reaching the milestone of performing over 2,000 joint replacement surgeries since the inception of our joint replacement program. The success of our program is based on clinically superior outcomes, cost effective care, and most importantly our patients that definitely recommend us to their friends and family for surgical care. We are proud to be a part of a surgical experience that our patients can feel good about.
Joint Replacement Specialists
Tuvi Mendel, MD
Dr. Mendel performs hundreds of minimally invasive knee surgeries per year. Dr. Mendel is a board certified orthopaedic surgeon who has been in practice for over 17 years. To better serve his patients, Dr. Mendel completed a world-recognized foot and ankle fellowship with the prestigious Dr. Roger Mann Fellowship in San Francisco.
Dr. Mendel’s advanced training and the minimally-invasive surgical techniques he employs help minimize stress on the body, reduce scaring and get patients back on their feet as soon as possible. As an experienced leader in minimally invasive knee surgery, Dr. Mendel is able to offer alternatives to get you feeling better, faster. Dr. Mendel is also able to offer his patients the ability to have total joint replacement in a minimally invasive manner, allowing for outpatient total joint procedures.
Craig Moe, MD
Dr. Craig Moe is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon, he is fellowship-trained in hip and knee reconstructive surgery and has over 20 years of experience in orthopaedics.
Dr. Moe has always wanted to be a doctor and chose orthopaedics because of the tangible results involved with seeing people get better and back to living with less pain. His approach to patient care is treating patients as though they were family. It is important for him to take time to explain procedures and answer questions so that his patients can be as well-informed as possible.
Besides medicine, Dr. Moe is passionate about music. He has been to over 500 concerts and is slowly but surely improving his guitar skills. He also enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with his wife and children.
Brian McGowan, MD
Dr. Brian McGowan is a fellowship-trained arthroplasty surgeon, Dr. McGowan specializes in primary and revision hip and knee replacements, offering guidance and personalized treatment plans to each patient.
Dr. McGowan earned his undergraduate degree from Miami University, graduating summa cum laude in bioengineering. He attended Indiana University School of Medicine, where he graduated at the top of his class with Alpha Omega Alpha honors. Dr. McGowan completed his orthopaedic residency at the University of Wisconsin, where he was recognized by his peers with the Golden Mallet award for embodying the ideals of an educator, leader, and team member. Building on this foundation, Dr. McGowan pursued advanced training through a fellowship at West Virginia University, specializing in primary and revision hip and knee replacement surgery. During this fellowship, he acquired specialized training in robotically assisted direct anterior total hip replacement.
At the core of Dr. McGowan’s practice is a commitment to individualized patient care and developing meaningful patient relationships. He approaches each case with empathy and compassion, treating his patients as he would want his family members to be treated. Dr. McGowan prioritizes open communication and collaborative decision-making, empowering his patients to be active participants in their healthcare journey.
“My goal is to gain your trust and ensure that you will receive the highest standard of care, tailored to your unique needs and preferences. It is rewarding to see patients regain their mobility and quality of life after joint replacement, and I am humbled to be able to help patients do just that. From diagnosis to recovery, our team will advocate for you every step of the way, ensuring that you receive the personalized attention and support you deserve.” Dr. McGowan
John Hoffman, MD (Retired)
Dr. Hoffman completed his fellowship training in Sports Medicine with subspecialties in arthroscopic surgery for athletic injuries. He performed over 800 minimally invasive surgeries per year and over 600 total joint replacement procedures.
To learn more about these procedures and our surgeons who perform Joint Replacement, visit Orthopaedic Specialists.