Joint Replacement

Your joints allow you to move your body with ease. Over time, however, your joints can become stiff and painful from inflammation, injury or disease, or from the natural effects of aging. Joint replacement is a surgical procedure that involves removing the arthritic or damaged joint and replacing it with a metal, plastic, or ceramic device designed to replicate the movement of a normal, healthy joint. At Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, our orthopedic surgeons have decades of experience performing successful joint replacement surgeries across Washington state.

Are you ready to start being active again? Our dedicated joint replacement team specialists take a patient-centered, collaborative approach to joint replacement that uses the latest methods to manage pain. For knee replacement surgery, this includes a continuous nerve block technique called the adductor canal catheter that not only reduces pain, but also maintains muscle strength in the leg, which is critical to recovery. The anesthesia delivered to people undergoing joint replacements is also designed to promote a faster recovery with fewer complications.

Our orthopedic specialists are highly skilled in the following joint replacement surgeries: 

• Partial and total knee replacement
• Hip replacement
• Shoulder replacement
• Total ankle replacement

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is proud to offer robotic arm-assisted total knee, partial knee and total hip replacement at St. Anne Hospital and St. Clare Hospital. Robotic arm-assisted surgery uses a CT scan and software to generate a 3D virtual model of your unique anatomy to help your surgeon provide more accurate placement and alignment of your implant. 

Learn more about robotic arm-assisted surgery

If you’re considering joint replacement surgery at St. Joseph Medical Center, St. Anne Hospital, St. Anthony, St. Elizabeth Hospital, St. Michael Medical Center, St. Clare, or St. Francis Hospitals, you’ll have access to a dedicated nurse navigator and care coordinator. These team members are your go-to resource for any questions you might have and will help facilitate your care from start to finish (30 days post-surgery), so you always know what’s next. The Nurse Navigator Program helps us coordinate care with your primary care doctor, orthopedic specialist and any other specialists using electronic medical records.

For your convenience and to expedite your check-in, please print, complete, and bring any applicable forms to your appointment:

Total joint replacement journey

Total joint replacement overview

Joint replacement mobility/social assessment questionnaire

Surgery letter for primary care doctor

Health history form

Medications and allergies