He gets you going

Duke orthopaedic surgeon Michael Bolognesi, MD, can get you moving again with the most advanced technology for joint replacement.

How has hip replacement surgery advanced in recent years?

We have continued to improve the patient experience and expedite recovery. The field has developed new surgical approaches to hip replacement, new implants, and new anesthetic and physical therapy techniques that allow us minimize post-operative pain. This means patients can mobilize earlier, get out of the hospital quicker, and return to their normal activities.

What about new technology for hip replacement?

This is a field that is really has evolved with the development of new materials. We have plastic liners for the hips now that are performing better that the older plastic liners did. We also have newer ceramics that are designed to be more resistant to fracture and while still being advantageous from a wear standpoint. We also continue to develop new technologies using pre-operative imaging (mechanical navigation), computer assisted techniques, and robotic assisted techniques in hopes improving the accuracy of our implant positioning.

What else should I know about joint replacement at Duke?

Duke is a place that performs hip and also knee replacement procedures at a high volume. We know this is important because higher-volume hospitals and surgeons have lower complication rates. This level of expertise allows us to manage both straightforward and complicated cases effectively. Patients come to us from all over the state and even the country. We are lucky to have a team of five surgeons that only do hip and knee reconstruction procedures. This specialization is critical.

A wide range of techniques, including vascularized bone grafting, arthroscopy of the hip and knee, partial replacements, osteotomy, and hip resurfacing are used by the Duke Orthopaedic team in an effort to delay the need for a total joint replacement. Many of these techniques were pioneered and perfected at Duke.

Dr. Bolognesi and his colleagues Drs. David Attarian, Scott Kelley, Sam Wellman and Rhett Hallows perform more than 1,700 hip and knee replacements each year on patients from young adults to senior citizens.