Joint replacement unit
We are a highly specialized unit in the comprehensive treatment of knee and hip joint diseases requiring prosthetic replacement. We offer a complete approach that includes precise diagnosis, advanced surgery, and a personalized rehabilitation program, with the objective of relieving pain, restoring mobility, and improving our patients’ quality of life.
When is a joint replacement or prosthesis necessary?
Joint replacement surgery is indicated for individuals experiencing persistent pain and significant functional limitation in the knee or hip, who have not improved with conservative treatments (such as medication, physical therapy, or infiltrations).
The following patients especially benefit:
- Patients with advanced osteoarthritis (cartilage wear), which is the most frequent cause and leads to chronic joint pain that limits daily activities such as walking, climbing stairs, or standing up.
- Patients with joint stiffness or a significant loss of joint mobility.
- Cases of inflammatory arthritis (such as rheumatoid arthritis).
- Individuals with sequelae or deformities due to trauma or fractures that have affected the joint.
In general, candidates are those patients whose pain and limitations significantly affect their quality of life, regardless of age, always following an individualized assessment.
The Instituto Cugat approach
Our unit at Instituto Cugat stands out for being a team trained at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, distinguished by:
- An approach centered on a rigorous and personalized surgical indication, opting for replacement surgery only when it is strictly necessary. The key to success begins with a correct indication.
- A team offering close, compassionate, and empathetic care, accompanying the patient throughout the entire process.
- Careful, respectful, and precise handling of soft tissues during surgical approaches, which is key to avoiding complications in this type of surgery.
- A versatile team with high subspecialization in trauma pathology, capable of resolving cases of post-traumatic arthropathy and possessing extensive experience in treating periprosthetic fractures.
- Surgeons with more than 20 years of experience who possess a commitment to continuous training and professional development.
Our Joint Replacement Unit features surgeons with over 20 years of experience, specializing in advanced joint replacement surgery and complex hip and knee revision.
Types of knee and hip replacements we perform
- Hip / Knee
- Total / Partial
- Revision cases for both hip and knee
- Periprosthetic fractures
How is joint replacement surgery performed at Instituto Cugat?
Knee or hip replacement surgery is a surgical procedure that consists of replacing the damaged parts of the joint with artificial components called prostheses.
In the knee, the damaged joint surfaces of the femur, tibia, and, in some cases, the patella are replaced with metallic and plastic parts designed to replicate its natural movement. Knee replacement is usually performed under spinal anesthesia with sedation and lasts approximately 60–90 minutes, depending on the complexity of the case. In most cases, the prosthetic components are cemented.
In the hip, the femoral head and the acetabulum (the pelvic cavity where it fits) are replaced with artificial components that allow smooth, friction-free movement. Hip replacement is also performed under spinal anesthesia with sedation and typically has a slightly shorter duration than a knee replacement. The components (cemented or uncemented) and the type of approach (posterolateral, anterolateral, or anterior) are personalized based on the patient’s anthropometry, existing deformities, and bone quality.
Medical Team
Instituto Cugat boasts a team of highly experienced professionals. Specialising in sports traumatology, they employ the most advanced surgical techniques to aid in the recovery of athletes.
