At the WVU Medicine Center for Joint Replacement, we aim to provide the best joint replacement care for the people of West Virginia and the surrounding region. We pride ourselves on staying at the forefront of joint replacement technology and techniques. In addition to providing excellent surgical care, our goal is to make the total joint replacement experience as worry free for patients as possible.
The WVU Medicine Center for Joint Replacement offers a variety of comprehensive solutions for people with chronic joint pain caused by arthritis.
Our specialists provide the entire continuum of joint replacement care – from non-surgical treatment and primary joint replacements to revision surgeries. We were the first facility in West Virginia to offer robot-assisted total hip arthroplasty, and we offer almost every possible surgical treatment for adult and pediatric reconstruction, including the following:
- Minimally invasive hip and knee replacement
- Mako™ Robot-Assisted Hip and Knee Replacement
- Direct anterior total hip replacement
- Patient-specific partial and total knee replacement
- Same-day total joint replacement
- Complicated revision for total joint replacement
Additional benefits of joint replacement surgery at WVU Medicine:
- Concierge Service
Having surgery can be a stressful experience for you and your loved ones. At the WVU Medicine Center for Joint Replacement, we have created a concierge service to greet you and your family member(s) or friend(s) at the front door of the hospital. Our concierge staff will help you through the registration process in the dedicated orthopaedic waiting area, guide you to the pre-operative area, and direct family and friends to the comforts of the recently renovated waiting area where you’ll find televisions, charging stations, and refreshments. - Orthopaedic Medical Optimization Program
In addition to our surgical team, you will benefit from the expertise of our Orthopaedic Medical Optimization Program, which consists of medical doctors and advanced practice providers trained to maximize your outcomes and make your surgical experience as safe as possible. - Accelerated Recovery Program
We understand your goal is to return to your normal activities with as little pain as possible as quickly as possible. The WVU Medicine Center for Joint Replacement has developed an accelerated recovery program that allows some patients (hip or knee) to return home the same day as their total joint replacement. Our highly trained nursing staff, dedicated physical therapist, and multimodal anesthesia regimen provides you with effective pain control, rapid mobilization, and a safe discharge to return home.
WVU Medicine has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced Certification for Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement.
Appointments and Directions
855-WVU-CARE (855-988-2273)
University Town Centre
6040 University Town Centre Drive
Morgantown, WV 26501
Fairmont Gateway Clinic
100 Stoney Hill Road
Fairmont, WV 26554
Waynesburg Outpatient Clinic
451 Murtha Drive
Waynesburg, PA 15370
Joint Replacement Resources
Patient Guides
WVU Medicine Joint Replacement Videos
- Joint replacement pre-operative class
- Preparing your home
- Safety and avoiding falls
- What to expect at the hospital
- What to expect for post-operative care
- Taking care of your incision
- Compression stockings
WVU Medicine Joint Replacement Exercise Videos
- Hip and knee replacement exercises (pre-operative)
- Knee replacement exercises (post-operative)
- Hip replacement exercises (post-operative)
- Mobility exercises for hip and knee replacement
Joint Replacement Surgery Options
The WVU Medicine Center for Joint Replacement offers a number of different techniques and surgical approaches, including total hip replacement, total and partial knee replacement, and revisions of previously replaced joints. Not all patients are candidates for joint replacement surgery. Your surgeon will assess which approach suits you best during your first appointment.
Total hip replacement
During total hip replacement surgery, your surgeon removes the arthritic ball of the upper thigh bone (femur), as well as damaged cartilage from the hip socket. The ball is generally replaced with an artificial ball attached to a stem that is fixed solidly inside the femur. The stem may be glued to the bone with acrylic cement (methylmethacrylate), or the stem may be fixed to the bone with a rough metal surface that the bone grows onto. The socket is usually replaced with a metal shell and a plastic liner inside that shell. The metal shell of the socket is usually fixed tightly to the bone without glue. Occasionally, screws may be used to help hold the socket shell in place. The artificial ball and socket relieve the bones from rubbing and creates a new, smooth cushion and a pain-free functioning joint.
Total knee replacement
A total knee replacement is an operation to remove the arthritic bone and cartilage and replace them with an artificial surface. The knee itself is not replaced, as is commonly thought, but rather an artificial substitute for the cartilage, or implant, is inserted at the end of the bones. This is performed with a metal implant on the femur/tibia and a plastic spacer in between and under the kneecap, which creates a new, smooth cushion and a pain-free functioning joint.
Partial knee replacement
Partial knee replacement is a less-invasive treatment option than traditional total knee surgery designed for adults living with osteoarthritis that has not yet progressed to all three compartments of the knee. A partial knee replacement is not for everyone, but can lead to a quicker recovery and a more natural feeling knee.
Total ankle replacement
A total ankle replacement, or arthroplasty, is a surgery to treat advanced ankle arthritis. It removes the arthritic bone and cartilage and replaces them with artificial substitutes. The new metal components are inserted at the end of the bones (tibia/talus) with a plastic spacer in between to create a functioning joint. A total ankle replacement preserves the joint motion, keeps the ankle stable, and allows the patient to walk with less pain and return to a more active lifestyle. Learn more about total ankle replacement by listening to this episode of the Live Healthy WV podcast.
Robotic joint replacement
Orthopaedic surgeons at the WVU Medicine Center for Joint Replacement are trained in the utilization of robotic technology to assist in your joint replacement. A pre-surgical plan is created based on a CT scan of your limb and allows your surgeon to use a robotic arm to resurface the diseased portion of your hip or knee with a new implant.
Revision joint replacement
Some total hip and knee replacements can wear out over time or have complications where additional surgeries may be needed to correct the problem. Our surgeons are experienced in assessing the challenges some people may experience after total hip or knee replacement.
