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Orthopedics

Orthopedics2024-07-02T14:26:35-04:00

Stop living in pain and start living again. It’s your move.

Whether you need treatment for arthritis, broken bones, osteoporosis, sports injuries or other conditions, CentraState can help get you back to an active life. Our team of board-certified orthopedic surgeons, specially-trained orthopedic nurses, patient care technicians, physical and occupational therapists, dietitians, social workers and case managers can help keep your joints healthy and pain free, so you can keep moving and living life well.

THE TOTAL JOINT CENTER OF NEW JERSEY AT CENTRASTATE

The Total Joint Center of New Jersey provides an array of non-surgical options for joint pain treatment. These include a tailored physical rehabilitation program designed to increase mobility, build strength, and relieve joint pain, along with pain management and complementary therapies.

Joint Commission Reaccreditation

After a rigorous onsite review, CentraState’s Total Joint Center has earned The Joint Commission’s two-year accreditation by demonstrating compliance with the Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in disease-specific care.

joint-commission

JOINT PAIN TREATMENT

Non-Surgical Treatment Options

Surgical Treatment Options

JOINT REPLACEMENT FAQs

The goal of joint replacement surgery is to reduce joint pain, restore independence, and get you back to the activities you enjoy as soon as possible. If your physician determines that surgery is your best option, a clinical coordinator at CentraState will help plan all your preoperative appointments and consultations.

A physical therapist will prepare you for surgery through a personalized exercise regimen, because preoperative strength-training activities have been shown to reduce recovery time and make rehabilitation easier.

Education classes are offered to introduce you to the staff, explain medical devices that may be used, and familiarize you with the surgical unit.

The Total Joint Center provides joint replacement patients with around-the-clock, high-quality, compassionate care. Our innovative approach to pain management helps ensure patients’ comfort while encouraging them to get up and move as soon as possible after surgery. Most joint replacement patients are walking with an assistive device the day following surgery and are able to return home within three days of the procedure.

Our orthopedic specialists will work to manage any pain safely and effectively to minimize your discomfort. If opioids are prescribed, we’ll “dial down” the dosage as soon as you feel relief or we can prescribe a lower-level pain reliever, like NSAIDS or Tylenol. If you can’t tolerate opioids or would prefer not to take them, there are several alternatives, including ice, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), therapeutic taping, or cryotherapy, a type of therapy using extremely cold temperatures. Ensuring that you feel well enough to move the joint and participate in physical therapy is the main goal in managing your pain.

With guidance from their orthopedic surgeon and proper outpatient physical therapy, patients are usually back to work and the activities they enjoy in three to six weeks. Those who require more intense therapy after joint replacement can receive the specialized care they need at The Manor Health and Rehabilitation Center, CentraState’s health and rehabilitation facility located on the hospital campus.

When choosing a hospital, be sure to find a facility that performs an adequate number of surgeries, has good outcomes and low complications rates (check Medicare.gov for this data). You may want to consider an accredited surgical center of excellence, which is designed to deliver high-quality care and specialized attention while providing coordinated, streamlined services for fewer complications, less pain and more rapid recovery. CentraState Medical Center is accredited by The Joint Commission as a Total Joint Center of Excellence for hips and knees.

When choosing a surgeon, look for one who is fellowship trained in joint replacement. Also, be sure to choose a physician who reviews all of your treatment options, including non-surgical procedures. He or she should talk with you to understand your goals and expectations for treatment, and work with you to decide what course of treatment is best for you.

A total hip replacement is when the arthritic ball of the upper thigh bone (femur) and damaged cartilage from the hip socket is removed. The ball is replaced with a metal ball that is securely attached inside the femur. The socket is replaced with a plastic liner that is usually fixed inside a metal shell. This forms a new smooth cushion and a working joint that does not hurt. Surgery may be performed as posterior total hip replacement or direct anterior hip replacement, depending on patient needs and surgeon preferences. Each has a different incision location but similar long-term outcomes.

A total knee replacement is actually a cartilage replacement with an artificial surface. An artificial substitute for cartilage is inserted on the end of the bones. In includes a metal alloy on the upper thigh bone (femur), and a plastic spacer on the shinbone (tibia) and kneecap. This forms a new smooth cushion and a working joint that does not hurt.

At CentraState, we also offer partial knee replacement surgery for certain patients when arthritis does not involve the entire knee joint. Younger, more active patients may benefit from this less invasive procedure. Most procedures are also quad sparing, meaning that they do not involve cutting the quadriceps tendon. These approaches allow most patients to recover mobility and range of motion more quickly.

Most patients experience good to excellent results with pain relief and significantly increased activity and mobility.

Most joint replacement patients stay in the hospital for one to three days after their surgery.

Yes. There are two types of anesthesia – spinal/epidural or general. You can discuss which anesthesia is the best choice for you with your anesthesiologist.

Most patients can go home directly after discharge. Some may transfer to an outpatient or inpatient rehabilitation facility, such as The Manor Health and Rehabilitation Center. Inpatient stays typically last from three to 10 days. Our Total Joint Center coordinator or discharge planner will help you with this decision and make the necessary arrangements. You should check with your insurance company about your inpatient and outpatient physical therapy coverage and homecare benefits.

Yes. During the first several days or weeks, depending on your progress, you will need someone to help with meal preparation and other activities of daily living. If you go directly home from the hospital, the Total Joint Center coordinator or discharge planner will arrange for a home health care nurse to come to your house as needed (depending on what your insurance allows). It is helpful if family or friends can be available to assist you.

Preparing ahead of time can minimize the amount of help needed. For example, it’s a good idea to have the laundry done, house cleaned, yard work completed, clean linens put on the bed, and single- portion, frozen meals ready to go before your surgery.

We recommend that most patients take at least one month off from work, unless their jobs are quite sedentary and they can return to work with crutches. Our occupational therapists can make recommendations for joint protection and energy conservation on the job.

Rehabilitation options after surgery include inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, as well as homecare. Insurance coverage varies and referrals to rehabilitation facilities or homecare (such as the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey) will depend on a combination of patient needs and insurance coverage. If a certain service is not covered by insurance, patients can choose to pay privately if the service is available.

The goal is to provide a joint replacement that lasts a lifetime. Most joint replacements last more than 15 years. However, there is no guarantee. A small percentage do not last that long and a second replacement may be necessary.

ORTHOPEDIC DOCTORS & SURGEONS

James Cozzarelli, MD, FAAOS JC

James Cozzarelli, MD, FAAOS

Orthopedic Surgery

Gerardo Goldberger, DO

Gerardo Goldberger, DO

Orthopedic Surgery

David Rodricks, MD DR

David Rodricks, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Ryan Coyle, MD

Ryan Coyle, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Ravi Verma, MD RV

Ravi Verma, MD

Orthopedic Surgery, Spine Surgery

Alan Nasar, MD

Alan Nasar, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Gregg Berkowitz, MD, FAAOS

Gregg Berkowitz, MD, FAAOS

Orthopedic Surgery

Gary Pess, MD

Gary Pess, MD

Hand Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery

Sunil Thacker, MD

Sunil Thacker, MD

Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine

Eric Buxbaum, DO

Eric Buxbaum, DO

Orthopedic Surgery

Michael Greller, MD, MBA

Michael Greller, MD, MBA

Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine

Bruce Stamos, MD

Bruce Stamos, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Grigory Goldberg, MD

Grigory Goldberg, MD

Orthopedic Surgery, Spine Surgery

Stacey Gallacher, MD

Stacey Gallacher, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Kenneth Chern, MD

Kenneth Chern, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Patrick Buckley, MD PB

Patrick Buckley, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Dhimant Balar, DO

Dhimant Balar, DO

Sports Medicine

Joseph Bogdan, MD

Joseph Bogdan, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

William Baione, MD WB

William Baione, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Joseph Marsicano, MD

Joseph Marsicano, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Justin Elkrief, DO

Justin Elkrief, DO

Orthopedic Surgery

Sergei Pushilin, MD

Sergei Pushilin, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Brian Katt

Brian Katt

Orthopedic Surgery

Michael Nakashian, MD

Michael Nakashian, MD

Elbow Surgery, Hand Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Shoulder Surgery, Wrist Surgery

Jason Nitche, M D JN

Jason Nitche, M D

Orthopedic Surgery

Joel Fechisin, MD JF

Joel Fechisin, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Jonathon Lentz, DO

Jonathon Lentz, DO

Orthopedic Surgery

Steven Mennona, MD SM

Steven Mennona, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Praveen Yalamanchili, MD

Praveen Yalamanchili, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Arth Patel, MD

Arth Patel, MD

Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine

Andrew Harrison, MD AH

Andrew Harrison, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Arthur Vasen, MD

Arthur Vasen, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Aron Green, MD AG

Aron Green, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Richard Klein, MD RK

Richard Klein, MD

Orthopedic Surgery, Spine Surgery

Kenneth Swan, MD KS

Kenneth Swan, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Christopher Spagnuola, MD CS

Christopher Spagnuola, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Kevin McDaid, MD

Kevin McDaid, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Tyler Kreitz, MD

Tyler Kreitz, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Shamik Chakraborty, MD

Shamik Chakraborty, MD

Neurosurgery, Spine Surgery

David Junkin Jr., MD DJ

David Junkin Jr., MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Ahmed Siddiqi, MD, MBA AS

Ahmed Siddiqi, MD, MBA

Orthopedic Surgery

Steven Weintraub, DO

Steven Weintraub, DO

Sports Medicine

Christos Plakas, MD

Christos Plakas, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

David Chalnick, MD DC

David Chalnick, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Arthur Mark

Arthur Mark

Orthopedic Surgery

Sheref Hassan, MD SH

Sheref Hassan, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Paul Haynes, MD

Paul Haynes, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Gregory Roehrig, MD GR

Gregory Roehrig, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Nicholas Phillips, DO

Nicholas Phillips, DO

Hand Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Upper Extremity Surgery

David Polonet, MD DP

David Polonet, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Garret  Sobol, MD

Garret Sobol, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

Christopher Collins, MD

Christopher Collins, MD

Orthopedic Surgery

David Lamb, MD

David Lamb, MD

Orthopedic Surgery, Spine Surgery

Joanie's Story
Joanie's Story
Joanie's Story
Joanie Sapienza placed second in a surfing contest last summer on Long Beach Island. It’s one of many trophies the 59-year-old lifelong competitive surfer has won. This honor was the sweetest, however, because it marked the Manasquan resident’s return to the sport she loves after a potentially life-altering injury. Joanie, a critical care nurse practitioner at CentraState, had just finished...Read More >
Julia's Story
Julia's Story
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Julia Schleuss was a trailblazer when she joined the boys’ wrestling team at Wall Township High School. However, when she broke her collarbone during a match this winter, she was concerned that she might never wrestle again. Julia, 16, decided in eighth grade that she wanted to join the boys’ wrestling team because of the team’s workout regimen; being the...Read More >
Edward's Story
Edward's Story
Edward's Story
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Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) Model

CentraState Medical Center is participating with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in a new care improvement initiative called the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) model. Lower extremity joint replacements and major leg procedures are included. The goal of the project is to support better and more efficient care. The model tests bundled payments for the hospital and quality measures.

As part of this model, hospitals, physicians, and post-acute care providers will work together to further improve quality of care. Drs. Berkowitz, Buxbaum, Greller, and Nasar are working with CentraState on plans for care. CentraState’s participation in the CJR model should not restrict your access to care for your medical condition or your freedom to choose your health care providers and services. Additional information is available here.

Read CentraState’s Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Program (CJR) Collaborator Selection Policy

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