Joint Replacement Surgery
Joints often become damaged due to injury or as a result of a medical condition such as Arthritis. When your joints are damaged, you may be in pain or find it hard to perform daily activities. In some cases, nonsurgical treatments like medications or physical therapy may relieve your pain and help you regain motion. However, nonsurgical treatments are not always successful and your physician may recommend a joint replacement surgery.
During a joint replacement surgery the damaged or arthritic joint is removed and replaced with a prosthesis. The prosthesis is a metal, plastic or ceramic device designed to replicate the movement of a normal, healthy joint.
Our team of specialists at UNC Health Rex perform more total joint replacement surgeries a year than any hospital in the Triangle. We’re also recognized as a Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center for hip and knee replacements, the most commonly performed joint replacements. UNC Health Rex is ranked #4 in the country for having the lowest readmission rates within 30 days of discharge for knee and hip replacement patients.
Joint-Replacement Classes
No registration is required for our joint replacement classes, simply show up a few minutes before the class is scheduled to begin. For more information, please contact rexjointclass@unchealth.unc.edu. Please read the following guides for more information:
UNC MyChart Sign Up
Please sign up for MyChart. It offers you a personalized and secure online access to your medical records. Mark your calendar for one year from now, to watch for an email to answer an important survey about how you are doing since your joint replacement surgery. The message will come via MyChart and is a requirement of Medicare and other insurance programs. For assistance signing up for MyChart call 888-996-2767. Learn more with our UNC MyChart Sign Up Guide.
Total Hip Replacement Education Video
Total Knee Replacement Education Video
Education Video Form
Types of Joint Replacement Surgeries
UNC Health Rex offers a wide range of joint replacement surgeries including:
- Knee Replacement
- Hip Replacement
- Shoulder Replacements
Our Expertise
UNC Health Rex has been recognized as a Blue Distinction Center+ for Knee and Hip Replacement Surgery. Blue Distinction is a designation awarded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality specialty care - safely, effectively, and cost efficiently. Learn more about the Blue Distinction Center+ for Knee and Hip Replacement®.
What to Expect
Before having a joint replacement, we want you to be in the best health possible so you have the best opportunity at a successful surgery and recovery. It is important to know about risk factors that can affect your body's ability to recover. Some risk factors include:
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Anemia
- Poor nutrition
Before scheduling surgery, your doctor may talk with you about ways you can improve your health. For example, weight loss or beginning a smoking cessation program.
During your initial consultation, you’ll talk with your care team about how you’ll benefit from a total joint replacement and develop an individualized treatment plan. Your physician will also walk you through the surgery and answer any questions you may have about the procedure.
Knee Replacement:
- Surgery will last between 1 to 2 hours
- Recovery will last between 1 to 4 hours
- Average hospital stay is 1 to 2 days
- Some patients will discharge home day of surgery. The average length of stay is 24 hours.
Hip Replacement:
- Surgery will last between 1 - 2 hours
- Recovery will last between 1 to 4 hours
- Average hospital stay is 1 to 2 days
- Some patients will discharge home day of surgery. The average length of stay is 24 hours.
Pre-Operative Joint Class
It’s important that you’re prepared for your surgery and informed about the care you’ll need following your procedure. We offer free preparation classes to patients who are planning to undergo total knee or hip replacement surgery. No registration is required. For more information, call (919) 784-7760. No classes are held on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
During this class you will learn:
- Valuable information about your surgery
- What to expect following surgery
- How to fully participate in your recovery
- Equipment needed
UNC Health Rex class schedule
Total Knee Replacement Classes
- Tuesdays 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
- Thursdays 1:00pm – 2:00pm
- Held in the UNC Health Rex Patient Education/Waiting Room
Total Hip Replacement Classes
- Mondays 1:00pm – 2:00pm
- Held in the UNC Health Rex Patient Education/Waiting Room
- Parking is available at the front of the main hospital. Enter through the patient tower entrance, take the first hallway on the right, and the classroom/waiting room is the first room on the right.
- Valet parking will be available at the Patient Tower Entrance beginning 30 minutes before class time for patients attending the pre-operative joint class for a fee.
UNC Rex Holly Springs class schedule
Current Schedule - 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
This is a combined hip and knee replacement class.
RHSH classes are located on the second floor in the conference room next to the cafeteria
No classes are held on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
