Vim & Vigor - Winter 2020 - UVA - 41

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PHOTO
PHOTO
BY STOCKSY
CREDIT

PHOTO CREDIT

UVA
Orthopedic
Surgeon Says
This Provides
the Best
Pain Relief
UVA Health orthopedic
surgeon Quanjun "Trey"
Cui, MD, grew up in a
family with many physicians, so he always knew
he wanted to be one. At
a young age, he chose
orthopedic surgery and,
like his parents, treats
every patient as a member of his own family. He
loves orthopedic surgery
because it gives him the
opportunity to transform
lives for the better.
"I perform total joint
replacement, including
total knee and total hip
arthroplasty, the two
best surgical procedures
in medical history. They
provide the best pain
relief and a functional
recovery," Dr. Cui says. "I
see patients after surgery
who are walking without
pain, dancing for me at
the clinic or giving me
a huge hug. That's a
wonderful feeling, when
you can really make
a difference in your
professional life."

or additional surgery, which ranges
from replacing parts of the joint to
replacing the whole joint.
Joint replacements can loosen or
fail over time from wear and tear,
and they can sometimes become
infected. If you have a joint replacement, here's what you should know:

Watch for signs
that your replacement
joint is in trouble.
1

A new onset of pain or instability
is a warning sign that your replacement joint could be wearing out or
failing, and you should talk to your
doctor about what you're experiencing, Littleton says. You may also
notice a squeaking noise, especially
in a hip replacement.

Recognize that
some joints last
longer than others.
2

Because hip and knee replacements
are performed more often than
replacements of other joints, and
because they've been done for so
many years, they are more advanced
and tend to last longer than replacements of other joints, Littleton says.
That said, knees need to be revised
a bit more often than hips.
Replacement elbows and shoulders can have problems earlier,
compared with knees and hips.

Be aware that your
3
problems could
stem from infection.

If you're experiencing trouble with
a replacement joint, your doctor
probably will perform studies to
determine whether loosening,
failure or infection is the cause.
The risk of infection is highest
in the first year-your tissues are

healing even when you're back to
full activities. "The ingrowth of
bone into metal is taking place
for a good year after surgery,"
Littleton says.
Even years after surgery, infection
is still possible. Infections elsewhere
in your body, including those from
dental work, can spread in your
blood and migrate toward the
metal prosthesis.
4

Take steps to make your
replacement joint last.

The best way to protect your
replacement joint is to keep as close
to your ideal body weight as possible to reduce the excess stress on
your joint, Littleton says. You can
talk to your doctor or search online
for a body mass index calculator to
see whether your weight is in the
healthiest range for your height.
And while it's important to exercise
regularly, you should steer clear of
activities that can increase the impact
on your joint, such as long-distance
running, basketball and mogul skiing. Walking and riding an exercise
bike are better choices. *

A Top-Ranked
Team to Help
You Feel Better

At UVA Health, find orthopedic care
to help you move and feel better
from a team that is ranked among
the top 10 percent in the nation.
Learn more at uvahealth.com/ortho.

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Vim & Vigor - Winter 2020 - UVA

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