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Tuesday, November 09, 2021

AHN Orthopaedic Institute Starts Region’s First Knee Replacement Surgery Program in a Stand-alone Outpatient Surgery Center

MONROEVILLE, Pa.  –  Allegheny Health Network’s (AHN) Monroeville Surgery Center (4121 Monroeville Blvd, Monroeville, PA 15146) has become the first stand-alone community ambulatory surgery facility in the Pittsburgh region to offer outpatient knee replacement surgery to eligible patients. The new program provides patients with access to AHN’s leading joint reconstruction specialists in the convenience and comfort of a community-based surgery center, enabling them to be discharged the same day as their procedure surgery and recover at home.

AHN orthopaedic surgeon Brian Moore, MD, began performing same-day partial and total knee replacement surgeries at the AHN Monroeville Surgery Center in September, and the experience of and response from patients has been extremely positive. 

“Patients who are eligible for outpatient knee replacement surgery in general report higher satisfaction rates overall,” shared Dr. Moore. “By allowing the patient to return home on the same day of their operation rather than staying overnight in a hospital, they are typically able to recover in a much more comfortable manner.  Providing this service in an efficient, conveniently located community setting like our Monroeville Surgery Center takes the patient experience to an even higher level.”

Studies have shown that outpatient knee replacement surgery is a safe and effective option for eligible patients, Dr. Moore said.

Doctors at the Hospital for Special Surgery and Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, for example, found no increased risk of complication rates or readmission rates for patients who were discharged the same day compared to patients who stayed in the hospital for the same procedure. Additional benefits of outpatient knee replacements include lower risk of infection and a quicker return to normal activities 

Patients must be in good health with no major underlying health conditions and have an optimal recovery environment at home to be eligible for the outpatient procedure. After patients are discharged, AHN’s physical and occupational therapy team meets them at their homes to ensure they are set up for recovery. Therapists then return to the patient’s home every few days for the first few weeks to manage the patient’s initial rehabilitation process. 

Dr. Moore said advances in postoperative pain management have also made outpatient knee replacement a more feasible option. Patients receive a comprehensive multimodal pain control regimen that can involve perioperative nerve blocks, anti-inflammatory medication, and/or pain medication.

In general, knee replacement patients will be 90-95% recovered in six to eight weeks post-operation.

“Our orthopedic surgery program is committed to providing patients with the most innovative, high-quality, and high-value services possible to meet their specific health needs,” said Patrick DeMeo, MD, Chair, AHN Orthopedic Institute and medical director of the Pittsburgh Pirates. “While the concept of outpatient knee replacement surgery itself isn’t new, and our team offers those services at many of the network’s hospitals, very few health systems around the country have taken this next big step to perform knee replacement in the more patient-friendly and more cost-effective setting of a stand-alone surgery center.”

For more information on the AHN Orthopaedic Institute, visit https://www.ahn.org/services/orthopaedic.

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About the Orthopaedic Institute at AHN:

 Part of Allegheny Health Network (AHN.org), the AHN Orthopaedic Institute is one of the largest and most comprehensive orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine programs in the state of Pennsylvania. Its more than 70 affiliated orthopaedic surgeons and sports medicine specialists provide access to a full spectrum of care for musculoskeletal injuries and diseases, including advanced, minimally invasive surgical approaches that help patients recover faster and with less pain. The Institute’s comprehensive sports performance program provides individualized strength training, physical therapy, sports medicine, sports nutrition, and advanced recovery for developing youths, performing athletes and active adults. These programs follow industry-leading protocols and are supported by highly advanced technologies available in premier facilities such as the AHN Cool Springs Sports Complex in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Designated as an Official U.S. Olympic Regional Medical Center, AHN is one of a few leading medical providers selected by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to provide comprehensive medical services to elite Team USA athletes. AHN is also the official medical provider of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Gannon University, Mercyhurst University and nearly 30 Western Pennsylvania area high school athletic programs. To learn more, visit www.ahn.org/services/orthopaedic.

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