Choosing a U.S. Joint Replacement Surgeon: Questions to Ask

Key Takeaways

• The United States has a wide selection of joint replacement surgeons that vary in experience, specialization, accessibility, and efficacy.
• Choosing the right U.S. surgeon can give you more confidence in your joint replacement surgery and promote successful, long-lasting outcomes.
• You can better understand a surgeon’s credentials, surgical philosophy, and patient care approach by asking informed questions.
• The Joint Replacement Center of Scottsdale is readily available to provide clarity on our specialists’ experience, our advanced technology, and what to expect during surgery.

The Importance of Asking the Right Questions

With the right surgeon on your side, a joint replacement surgery can drastically enhance your quality of life by improving your mobility and alleviating pain. However, to receive the most optimal results possible, evaluating the specialist performing the procedure is essential.

Try to ask thoughtful questions that reveal your surgeon’s level of experience, approach to patient care, and support structure. Doing so will help you obtain peace of mind and accurately tailor your expectations before committing to the surgery.

This comprehensive guide outlines some of the most important questions to ask when choosing a joint replacement surgeon in the United States—it is especially beneficial for medical tourists traveling internationally for care from countries like Canada or the UK. By regurgitating some of the questions below, you can empower yourself to make informed, confident decisions that support a faster, smoother recovery after the procedure is complete.

Surgeon Credentials & Training

Anyone considering medical tourism should verify a surgeon’s qualifications and get a better understanding of their training background, as their credentials and training are foundational to their clinical expertise. Therefore, you should start by asking the questions from the categories below.

Board Certification

Asking about your prospective surgeon’s certification can confirm their level of competency and adherence to ongoing professional development requirements in the medical industry. To confirm a surgeon’s board certification, ask your joint replacement center, “Is the specialist performing my orthopedic surgery board-certified through the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery or an equivalent organization?”

Fellowship Training

You may feel more confident committing to your joint replacement surgery if a fellowship-trained surgeon performs it, as these medical professionals have undergone intensive, focused learning that goes beyond standard orthopedic residency. To verify the surgeon’s fellowship training, specifically ask, “Has the surgeon completed a joint-specific fellowship in hip, knee, or shoulder replacement?”

Continuing Education

In addition to checking in on board certification and fellowship training, you should also ask about the U.S. surgeon’s participation in ongoing education opportunities, such as:

• Attending national conferences
• Publishing in peer-reviewed journals
• Engaging in peer mentoring programs

A good question to ask that encapsulates a wide range of educational topics is “How does the surgeon stay up-to-date with evolving surgical techniques, materials, and best practices?”

You should choose an experienced, world-class surgeon, like Dr. Shane Martin, who not only exercises ongoing learning but headlines it. As part of the Stryker medical education faculty, Dr. Martin trains surgeons around the world in robotic joint replacement techniques, making him one of the top industry experts in innovative medical tools and procedures that enhance orthopedic care.

Experience & Case Volume

As emphasized in the section above, experience matters, especially when the medical procedure is as complex and nuanced as a hip or knee joint replacement. Additional questions to verify your prospective surgeon’s experience and case volume can be found below.

Annual Procedure Count

Joint replacement wait times in Canada, the U.K., and other countries with publicly funded healthcare systems are unusually long. To check your U.S. medical provider’s efficiency and likelihood of getting to your joint replacement promptly, you should ask, “How many total hip or knee replacements do you perform each year?”

Keep in mind that the surgeons at high-volume centers have more opportunities to build experience, which can contribute to better outcomes and fewer complications post-surgery.

Complex Cases

Since surgeons who routinely treat complex cases are more adept at handling complications if they arise, anyone in need of a unique, intricate joint surgery should ask their U.S. medical provider, “Do you have experience managing revision surgeries, deformities, or patients with comorbidities?”

Years in Practice

Another way to gauge a surgeon’s experience is by simply asking, “How long have you been performing joint replacements?”

On one hand, newer surgeons may bring cutting-edge knowledge, but on the other hand, experienced surgeons can offer more depth and dependability when it comes to complex case management.

Hospital & Facility Quality

After getting more insight into the specific surgeon performing your procedure, you should look into the hospital where the knee or hip replacement surgery will take place. The questions in the categories below can paint a clear picture of the medical facility’s overall quality.

Accredited Centers

A medical center with sufficient accreditation is sure to follow rigorous safety and quality standards that can lead to better surgical outcomes. So, you should ask professionals, “Is your facility accredited by the Joint Commission or highly rated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services?”

Technology & Equipment

The orthopedic field is constantly evolving thanks to the introduction of new technology that encourages more accurate procedures and faster recovery. To ensure that your U.S. facility is keeping up with technological advancements, you should ask, “Does the facility offer custom implants and robotic-assisted systems, such as CORI surgical system and Mako SmartRobotics™, 3D imaging?”

Post-Op Support

Future joint replacement patients should ask about nurse-to-patient ratios and access to on-site rehabilitation services. To get an accurate representation of a medical provider’s post-op support, you should ask, “Do your care offerings include physical therapy, pain management, and infection control programs?”

Outcomes & Complication Rates

Getting a transparent look at past surgical outcomes can help you assess risk and success probabilities for your own procedure. Try asking the questions from the following categories to gauge success and complication rates.

Success Metrics

Although hospital-wide data can be helpful, you should seek surgeon-specific success metrics if available. To do so, ask your surgeon, “What are your infection, readmission, and complication rates?”

Revision Rates

Surgeons who have a history of low revision rates tend to have more accurate surgical techniques and an ability to select viable, appropriate implants. To get more specific about their complication rates, you can ask surgeons, “How often do their patients require follow-up surgery within five years?”

Longevity Statistics

The last question will give you insight into the implant’s efficacy during the first five years after surgery, but you should zoom out and also ask, “What is the average survival rate of your implants after 10 or 15 years?”

In general, if a surgeon has a history of delivering long-lasting results, it is a sign of both surgical skill and implant quality.

Patient Communication & Philosophy

Your medical provider’s bedside manner and communication style are bound to play a considerable role in your comfort and confidence throughout each step of your joint replacement surgery. To fully grasp your surgeon’s patient communication style and care philosophy, ask the questions from the categories below.

Pre-Op Consultations

A medical provider who prioritizes thorough consultations usually prioritizes respect, transparency, and attentiveness. Therefore, one of the first questions a patient should ask their prospective surgeon is, “How much time do you typically spend explaining the procedure, alternatives, and risks?”

Shared Decision-Making

When surveying surgeons, it is crucial to look for someone who takes a collaborative approach rather than relying solely on a one-size-fits-all approach. To clarify if the medical provider will prioritize shared decision-making, you should ask, “How does the surgeon involve patients in the treatment planning process?”

Pain Management Strategies

Understanding how medical providers facilitate pain management can help you plan more effectively. You should ask the U.S. surgeon, “What pain control methods are available after surgery?” 

Many patients report substantial reductions in pain through multimodal analgesia, nerve blocks, and non-opioid alternatives, making medical centers that offer these increasingly favorable.

Rehabilitation & Recovery Support

Support from your medical provider shouldn’t end as soon as surgery is over. It is essential to find a team of medical professionals that are willing to walk you through rehabilitation and the various stages of recovery. Ask U.S. surgeons the questions in the following categories to learn if the recovery support they offer will be able to meet your needs.

Inpatient vs. Outpatient

Experienced, reputable medical facilities like the Joint Replacement Center of Scottsdale prioritize outpatient procedures. Thanks to our advanced robotic technology, we can perform minimally invasive surgeries, enabling patients to return home shortly after their procedure.

To ensure that you’ll be able to return to the comfort of your home sooner rather than later, you should ask your surgeon, “Will my procedure be inpatient or outpatient, and can you explain why?” 

Physical Therapy Programs

Some surgery-based treatment plans incorporate physical therapy into their design. With that in mind, patients should ask whether these potential programs include home exercise guidance, tele-rehab, or in-person sessions, by inquiring, “Will there be access to joint-specific physical therapy during my recovery, and what would that look like?”

Follow-Up Schedule

In addition to physical therapy, which may be performed off-site, you should look into post-op visit requirements with the surgeon and their team. Simply ask, “How often are post-op follow-ups scheduled, and for how long?”

Choosing a U.S. medical center with a strong follow-up program can promote early detection of any complications by regularly monitoring your progress.

Costs & Financing

Suppose you are a medical tourist who will be traveling internationally to receive joint care. In that case, financial planning is crucial, mainly because most forms of medical tourism require out-of-pocket payments. You should ask the questions from the sections below to keep a pulse on the estimated costs and financing opportunities associated with your procedure.

Out-of-Pocket Estimates

It is always a good idea to request an itemized quote before committing to a joint replacement surgery. To minimize potential surprises, ask your medical provider, “What are the estimated costs for surgery, anesthesia, facility use, and rehab?”

Financing Options

Since they are usually unable to use insurance plans, some medical facilities offer discounted pricing for international or self-pay patients. Regardless, it is important to check if the clinic works with medical lending services to. Ask your surgeon, “Does your team offer payment plans?”

Having financing options to choose from can make the out-of-pocket medical payments more manageable.

Patient Testimonials & Referrals

Now that you have gotten a more comprehensive look at the surgeon and their medical center from them or their team, it is time to see what previous patients have to say. Ask the questions in the categories below to understand if and why British people or Canadians choose U.S. surgeons from the medical center you are considering.

Review Platforms

Sites like Google, Healthgrades, and Vitals can provide great insight into a surgeon or a facility as a whole. However, not every medical provider can be found on these sites, making it essential to ask your U.S. surgeon, “Where can I read some independent reviews?”

As you search through reviews, look for trends regarding communication, support, recovery experience, and bedside manner.

Success Stories

Another way to get a look at real-world experiences and know what you can expect from your surgery is to ask, “Can you share before-and-after stories, testimonials, or referrals from patients with similar conditions?”

Make the Informed Choice for Your Joint Health

Choosing a joint replacement surgeon in the United States requires more than just confirming their credentials. You should also ensure the surgeon will provide comfort, thorough communication, and access to advanced technology that will augment your results. 

Asking the diverse, detailed questions from the various categories in the guide above can help you confirm whether or not a provider will meet your expectations when it comes to safety, experience, and post-op care.

If you’re considering traveling to the United States for joint surgery, contact the Joint Replacement Center of Scottsdale. Our knowledgeable team is always ready to answer questions and provide additional clarity on our expert surgeons, typical processes, and the advanced technologies we use. We also offer second opinions if you have already received a treatment plan from a different medical provider, helping you build confidence in your medical decisions.

Schedule a virtual consultation today to start getting personalized answers to your most pressing surgical questions.