Lancaster Community Hospital Health News; Logo of Lancaster Community Hospital
Summer 2009

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Healthy Aging
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Tips for Eating Right
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as You Age
Take a Step Toward
Hip Pain Relief
Everyday Activities Can Improve Memory
Senior Advantage Program Benefits YOU!
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REGIESM On-Line.
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Past Issues

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Lancaster Community Hospital Health News; Logo of Lancaster Community Hospital
Lancaster Community Hospital Health News; Logo of Lancaster Community Hospital

Lancaster Community Hospital Health News; Logo of Lancaster Community Hospital


Get Back in Stride with Hip and Knee Joint Replacement
Take a Step Toward Hip Pain Relief

Photo of a runner
As activity or age causes cartilage in your joints to wear away, medication and physical therapy may help ease pain and relieve stiffness. However, if constant and significant hip pain is interfering with your daily activities, a new hip could be in order.

Return to Your Activities
Surgeons at Lancaster Community Hospital (LCH) use advanced techniques to perform minimally invasive total hip replacement and hip resurfacing procedures. The surgeries help to relieve pain so that you may regain lost mobility, resume some of the activities you once enjoyed and return to a fuller, more active life.

During total joint replacement, surgeons remove bone and damaged cartilage in the hip joint. They then install an artificial ball-and-socket prosthesis that performs like a healthy hip.

Personal Choices, Quicker Recovery
Surgeons at LCH select an appropriate prosthesis for each patient. Many patients do well with the traditional metal-and-plastic replacement joints. Metal-on-metal joints may be a better alternative for younger patients because they offer more stability and durability.

"Implants have improved dramatically, even in just the last five years," says Gregg Sobeck, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at LCH. "Generally, we don't remove as much bone, so recovery time is shorter and patients are out of the hospital faster."

New implants are tougher, so there's less concern that they're going to wear out in 10 or 15 years. "With the new materials used in current implants, they could last for up to 40 or 50 years," he says.

Reshaping by Resurfacing
LCH also offers hip resurfacing procedures, where surgeons reshape the bone, rather than remove it. They then fit a metal cap on the reshaped bone and replace the hip socket with a metal cup. This can be a durable solution for younger, active patients who want a high level of functionality and performance.

"These days, many joint replacement patients don't just want to get back to daily activities. They want to get back to running, skiing, snowboarding and other pursuits. They can do all these things much easier than they could with older joint replacement procedures," Dr. Sobeck says.

Get Back in Motion
LCH offers many treatments that may help to relieve pain, including joint replacement. For a free physician referral, call Direct DoctorsSM Plus at 1-800-851-9780.

Do You Need a New Knee?
Are you one of the millions of Americans who have arthritis of the knee with no relief from medications and other nonsurgical treatments? If you've ceased or cut back on activities you once enjoyed before you developed painful, stiff knees, it may be time to consider a partial or total knee joint replacement.

"Knee replacement surgery is the most common joint procedure performed in the United States," says Gregg Sobeck, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at LCH. "With our aging population living longer, the number of people having knee replacements will continue to grow."

Choices Mean Custom Fit
Surgeons at LCH provide patients with comprehensive care before, during and after knee replacement procedures. Smaller incisions made during surgery mean less damage to tissues and a faster recovery time for many patients. A wider range of implant sizes than previously available helps surgeons create a better, more individualized fit. "With newer implants, the replacement knee bends like a normal knee. We can achieve a 140-degree bend or better," Dr. Sobeck says. "Older replacements were able to achieve only about 110 degrees. The additional bend makes a huge difference in mobility, especially with activities like getting in and out of a chair or climbing stairs."

Quality Postsurgical Care
Improved pain control during surgery means patients can start therapy more comfortably. "LCH offers excellent physical therapy for rehabilitation," Dr. Sobeck says. "Patients can stay right here in the Antelope Valley to receive the same high-quality postsurgical care they would receive anywhere else."

New Joints, New You
Hip or knee replacement might be the answer to your pain if:

  • Noninvasive treatments, like medications and physical therapy, no longer work
  • The pain keeps you awake at night
  • You have to limit your daily activities


Logo of Lancaster Community Hospital Lancaster Community Hospital,
43830 N. 10th Street West, Lancaster, CA 93534
Phone: 661-948-4781

Lancaster Community Hospital Health News; Logo of Lancaster Community Hospital