Committed to excellence, Penn Medicine Princeton Health is recipient of The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for total hip and knee replacements. It is also one of four New Jersey healthcare organizations and 84 nationwide to earn advanced certification in total hip and total knee replacement from the Joint Commission, the nation's oldest healthcare accrediting body.
Learn more about procedures performed at the Jim Craigie Center for Joint Replacement by clicking on the links below:
- Hip Replacement
- Knee Replacement (Partial and Total)
- Outpatient Joint Replacement
- Robotic Arm-Assisted Joint Replacement
To learn about the education and support offered as part of the surgery process, click here.
Hip Replacement
Your hip is made up of two basic parts that move and work together to ensure smooth motion and function. When conditions such as arthritis affect the joint and the cartilage that cushions the hip wears away or is destroyed, you and your doctor may consider joint replacement surgery.
Your orthopaedic surgeon will consider many factors, like age, bone density and the shape of your joints to determine the exact kind of hip replacement you’ll receive.
Regardless of the approach, our orthopaedic surgeons and the Jim Craigie Center for Joint Replacement are committed to delivering an exceptional patient experience and the highest quality of outcomes.
- Total Hip Replacement: In this procedure, your orthopaedic surgeon replaces the upper part of your femur (the long bone in the thigh of your leg) with an artificial ball that will glide normally in your hip socket, which will be lined with metal and plastic as part of the surgery. Your surgeon may decide to attach your new joint with or without bone cement. If your doctor decides not to use cement, a special implant will be used that allows your bone to grow into it.
There are several ways to approach your hip in completing a total hip replacement: direct anterior, lateral or posterior approach. Each of these techniques has advantages and disadvantages, which your surgeon will describe to you. Our orthopaedic surgeons utilize the latest techniques in minimizing skin incision and practicing muscle-sparing surgery, which diminishes trauma to your soft tissues and allows for a quicker recovery.
Knee Replacement
Your knee is made of three basic parts that move and work together to ensure smooth motion and function. When conditions such as arthritis affect the joint and the cartilage that cushions the knee wears away or is destroyed, you and your doctor may consider joint replacement surgery.
Your orthopaedic surgeon will consider many factors, like age, bone density and the shape of your joints, when determining the exact kind of knee replacement you’ll receive.
Regardless of the approach, our orthopaedic surgeons and the Jim Craigie Center for Joint Replacement are committed to delivering an exceptional patient experience and the highest quality of outcomes.
- Partial Knee Replacement: This procedure may be appropriate when the cartilage damage in your knee is limited to just one side. Partial knee replacement is similar to total knee replacement except only one side of the knee joint is resurfaced. Patients can expect a shorter hospital stay, quicker recovery and a smaller scar with this approach.
- Total Knee Replacement: If the cartilage damage in your knee has occurred on both sides of the joint or in all three joint components, a total knee replacement procedure may be performed. Knee replacement surgery involves resurfacing the knee joint and using artificial components to replace damaged tissue. At the Jim Craigie Center for Joint Replacement, your surgeon will use minimally invasive surgery, if appropriate.
Outpatient Joint Replacement
The Jim Craigie Center for Joint Replacement has launched the Outpatient Joint Replacement Program, allowing patients who meet certain criteria to undergo hip or knee replacement surgery and return home just hours later.
Candidates for outpatient joint replacement must be highly motivated to achieve a rapid recovery and have a dependable support network at home and relatively good health, with conditions such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure well controlled.
Outpatient joint replacement is available for partial knee replacement, total knee replacement, anterior hip replacement and total hip replacement. The outpatient procedures are performed using minimally invasive techniques that result in lower infection rates, reduced pain and faster recovery.
Robotic Arm-Assisted Joint Replacement
If your doctor recommends hip, partial knee or total knee replacement surgery, you may be a candidate for a robotic arm-assisted procedure.
In this approach, your orthopaedic surgeon is assisted by a robot to plan and perform the joint replacement. Prior to the procedure, you will undergo CT scans to create 3D images of your unique anatomy. With this information, your surgeon creates a personalized surgical plan that he/she follows in the operating room. The 3D modeling enables the surgeon to precisely place the implant, while the robotic arm limits the movement of surgical instruments to a pre-designated area.
The precision of this approach may allow the patient to benefit from fewer complications, more precise implant positioning, the potential for longer lasting implants and a faster recovery with less pain.
Mako® Partial Knee System (left); Total Hip System (center); Total Knee System (right)
For more information about joint replacement procedures at the Jim Craigie Center for Joint Replacement or to find an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in joint replacement, please call 1.888.742.7496.
Education & Support
The Jim Craigie Center for Joint Replacement provides the care and resources patients need before and after joint replacement procedures to remain confident and prepared throughout their journey.
All patients have access to our orthopedic nurse navigator who is available to answer questions, educate, and guide the patient through their journey. The nurse navigator can be reached at 609.853.7954. Additionally, our orthopedic case manager maintains communication with patients prior to surgery, assists with obtaining equipment needed post-surgery, and coordinates post-discharge rehabilitation.
The Jim Craigie Center also offers a unique approach to surgery preparation known as pre-hab — it is offered to a certain subset of patients. As part of the pre-hab service, physical therapists visit the patient’s home prior to their surgery to determine what medical equipment will be needed after surgery, and to advise them on how to make their home as safe as possible for their recovery (such as removing tripping hazards and moving frequently used items within easy reach). This service can be done in-person or virtually. The therapist also answers questions and reviews the procedure, which helps lessen anxiety and ensures that the patient understands what to expect as they recover.
Preoperative education classes are available live online and in pre-recorded form, and on a 1:1 basis in Pre Admission testing for those patients who would rather receive in-person sessions. Rehabilitative therapy and safe, effective pain management is provided post-surgery.