Types of Replacements

Hip and knee replacements are the most common joint replacement procedures performed in the United States, a fact that is reflected by the joint patients treated at Virginia Hospital Center. However, our Orthopedic Surgery specialists are also experienced with ankle, shoulder and elbow replacements—both total and partial.

Total joint replacement involves completely removing a damaged joint and replacing it with an artificial implant made of metal and plastic, whereas partial replacements involve removing the most severely damaged joint tissue and then lining the surface of what remains with metal ("resurfacing" it). "Reverse" shoulder replacements, in which the ball-and-socket locations of the prosthetic implant are reversed from those of the natural shoulder joint, are also available at Virginia Hospital Center and may be indicated for patients with particularly difficult shoulder injuries.