Award-Winning Orthopedic Knee Care
Knee pain is a common complaint across many age groups. Due to the high amount of strain placed on the knee throughout the years, orthopedic knee surgeries like arthroscopic knee surgery and total knee replacement remain common.
Palomar UC San Diego Health Leads the Region in Knee Replacement Expertise
Palomar UC San Diego Health Orthopedic and Spine Center is the top knee replacement destination in North County San Diego, and is nationally recognized for shorter hospital stays, fewer complications and faster recoveries.
If you are faced with a knee condition, Palomar UC San Diego Health Orthopedic and Spine Center can help. We offer the expertise and experience of sub-specialty trained surgeons in orthopedic knee surgery covering:
- Partial knee replacement
- Total knee replacement
- Revision of knee replacement – patients come to us from all over to replace worn implants, or to correct a previous surgery
Patient-First Model
At the Palomar UC San Diego Health Orthopedic and Spine Center of San Diego County, our surgeons are trained to understand your personal activity level and lifestyle, and recommend a course of knee treatment that reflects your exact needs. We believe in empowering our patients, starting with patient education that begins during the decision to undergo knee replacement surgery and continues after discharge.
Types of Knee Treatments
Due to the high amount of strain placed on the knee throughout the years, knee treatment surgeries, such as orthopedic knee surgery, arthroscopic knee surgery and even total knee replacement, remain commonplace.
If you are faced with a knee condition, the Palomar UC San Diego Health Orthopedic and Spine Center of San Diego County can help. We offer the expertise and experience of sub-specialty trained surgeons in orthopedic knee surgery covering:
- Knee replacement – Total knee replacement is one of the most common surgeries performed at the Palomar UC San Diego Health Orthopedic and Spine Center of San Diego County. Although each procedure varies, generally, surgery to replace your knee lasts about two hours. After the damaged bone and cartilage of your knee are removed, your orthopedic knee surgeon will put your new artificial knee in place.
- Arthroscopic knee surgery – Arthroscopy is a procedure used for joint conditions. Originally, arthroscopy was used mainly for planning a standard open surgery. However, because of the development of new instruments and advanced surgical techniques, your knee can also be treated using an arthroscope.
- Arthritis in the knee – Our orthopedic knee surgeons and physical therapists can work with you on exercises to ease pain, maximize your range of motion and fit you with appropriate braces to lessen discomfort.
- Cortisone injections – As a type of steroid, a cortisone injection can greatly reduce swelling, redness, inflammation and pain. Being injected with cortisone is simple and does not require a long length of stay.
What to Expect
Thanks to years of research, the orthopedic knee surgeons of the Palomar UC San Diego Health Orthopedic and Spine Center of San Diego County extended the lifetime use of the implants, while helping to speed up recovery and reduce post-operative discomfort.
As a leader in outcomes for total knee replacement, we provide:
- State-of-the-art facilities with minimally-invasive surgery options
- Pre-operative educational classes to give you the tools you need throughout your journey
- Clinical support every step of the way, from pre-operative tests, knee surgery, therapy and home recovery
- An individualized knee replacement therapy plan
Pre-Knee Replacement Surgery
Your treatment will be tailored to best fit your unique condition and lifestyle, with every decision based on the latest evidence-based protocols. Patient education and total care coordination ensure that both patients and their families are fully informed and that patient care is personalized, comprehensive and convenient.
Post-Knee Replacement Surgery
The average length of stay at the Orthopedic and Spine Center dropped 25% without increasing readmissions. Average length of stay is now about two and a half days, and most patients begin walking on the day of surgery.
2022 Knee Treatment/Replacement Outcomes
In 2022, Palomar UC San Diego Health’s Orthopedic and Spine Center handled a substantial volume of Total Knee Replacement surgeries, with a notable 638 procedures performed. Research indicates a positive correlation between high surgical volume and high-quality outcomes. Hospitals conducting more than 50 knee replacements annually are linked to a reduced risk of patient harm, lower readmission rates and an increased likelihood of patients being discharged to their homes. Palomar UC San Diego Health’s substantial knee replacement surgery volume reflects its commitment to providing quality care and favorable patient outcomes in this specialized field.
A remarkable 85% of individuals who received care at Palomar UC San Diego Health’s Orthopedic and Spine Center witnessed profound and substantial improvements in their overall health and quality of life after undergoing the transformative experience of total knee replacement surgery.
Palomar UC San Diego Health uses a standardized survey (KOOS Jr) to gauge how much surgery has improved our patients’ lives. Patients report their function and pain before their surgery (Pre-op) and after surgery (90 days and 12 months), which is scored on a scale of 0–100. The higher the score, the better the outcome.
Why is this important? Palomar UC San Diego Health wants to know how much surgery has improved our patients’ daily lives. When a patient walks through our doors we want them to feel confident that they will be treated with excellence, quality and compassion, and that the care they receive will improve their level of function and pain when they return to their daily lives.
To view the full 2022 Orthopedic Outcomes Report, please click here.