23 Hour Joint Replacement

By Ehren Allen, DPT/Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist

23 Hour Joint Replacement

Treatment for Orthopedic issues has evolved over the past 20 years.  This is very true when it comes to hip and knee replacement surgery.  As a physical therapist, I used to see patients in an in-patient rehabilitation hospital for 10 days after hip or knee replacement surgery.  Patients received care in the hospital for 3 days before coming to the Rehabilitation Hospital as well.  High infection risks, high healthcare costs, and improvements in technology and surgical technique led to changes in that plan of care after a joint replacement.

Over the past 10 years, patients who received a Hip or Knee Replacement remained in the hospital for 3 days then went home for home health care for 2 weeks.  This allowed patients to be at home quicker.  Patients tend to thrive better in their home environment.  With less time in an in-patient facility, the overall cost of care decreased, and the risk of secondary infection or illness decreased.

What is a 23 Hour Joint Replacement?

The quick answer is that a 23 Hour Joint Replacement is the same surgical procedure as previous hip and knee replacement surgery.  The difference is the length of stay in the hospital.  With a 23 Hour Joint Replacement, the surgery is typically early in the morning. By the afternoon, the patient will receive physical therapy in the hospital for walking and movement exercises.  Your JOI surgeon will determine if you are able to go home safely.  It is important to speak with your physician if you have an interest in this program.

With continued concern about healthcare costs and the time for recovery from a Joint Replacement, changes still need to be made.  Many Orthopedic Surgeons are performing 23 hour Joint Replacement Surgeries for Hip and Knee Replacements.

The concept of the 23 Hour Joint Replacement decreases the hospitalization cost after a joint replacement by decreasing the time in hospital.  Limiting the stay to “23 hours” limits the stay to 1 day instead of 2 days.  The difference is the cost of the hospital stay is substantially less with a 23 Hour procedure.

The risk of secondary infection is less when there is less time for exposure in the hospital.  This is especially important during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

If you would like to learn more about Hip Replacement Surgery,  watch this anatomy video

Therapy after a Joint Replacement

Physical and Occupational Therapy is vital after a Hip or Knee Replacement.  In some cases, a therapist will come to the home for home health therapy.  This can help with mobility in the home and improve the joint’s movement and strength after surgery.  Nurses may also come to the home if there are medication concerns or wound care issues.

In some cases, patients begin outpatient physical therapy at 2 to 3 days following the joint replacement.  Patients travel to the outpatient therapy site and receive therapy in a facility. Early outpatient physical therapy’s advantages may include early mobility and range of motion and may improve outcomes for some patients.

Does JOI Offer a 23 Hour Joint Replacement?

The quick answer is Yes! Many surgeons with the Jacksonville Orthopedic Institute are now utilizing the 23 Hour Joint Replacement Option at Baptist Medical Center.  This is really important for patients who worry about staying overnight in the hospital due to Covid 19 concerns.  In some cases, JOI is beginning outpatient physical therapy 2 to 3 days after surgery in our facilities. JOI Rehab also offers Outpatient therapy in the home of patients who cannot come to the clinic. This is called the JOI Rehab Bridge Program. This allows patients to see a JOI Physical Therapist and transition seamlessly to the clinic environment when appropriate.

Our website medical library has several articles on all of the injuries listed below.

A new option, you can now schedule and cancel follow-up appointments with your physician at the JOI Patient Portal. 

To schedule an appointment for physical therapy at one of the 12 JOI Rehab Centers, please call 904-858-7045.

JOI and JOI Rehab

JOI Physicians continue to offer online new patient appointments. Make an appointment by calling (904) JOI-2000 or schedule online. This is a new option to make it more convenient to make new patient appointments.  Follow the link below to select your JOI MD and schedule online.

By: Ehren Allen, PT