Orthopedic care

The hip is referred to as a ball-and-socket joint. The type of replacement you need will depend largely upon how much damage there is in and around the joint, as well as which part of your hip is causing the problem. In a partial hip replacement, the ball of the thighbone is replaced with a prosthetic — an artificial piece made from metal, ceramic or plastic. In a total hip replacement, our orthopedists replace both the ball and the socket, as well as removing damaged cartilage and bone.

In a knee replacement procedure, we replace part of the inner workings of your knee with prosthetic parts. By using leading-edge surgical technology and imaging, we give you the chance for a better prosthetic fit, faster recovery and enhanced function.

Thanks to the combination of our experienced team and advanced approaches, hip and knee replacement surgeries often only require a one- or two-day hospital stay.

Depending on your condition, your orthopedic specialist may suggest physical therapy, whether that be as a nonsurgical treatment or as postsurgical rehabilitation. Our expert physical therapists, speech pathologists and occupational therapists work with you to create a personalized therapy regimen based on your individual lifestyle and health goals. Our objective is to help you recover, regain skills and improve your everyday life.

Shoulder pain can limit your range of motion, making it difficult to do everyday activities such as brushing your teeth or putting on clothes. Should shoulder replacement surgery be necessary, our orthopedic surgeons in Richmond have extensive experience in treating simple to complex cases, including repairing previous shoulder surgeries.

Johnston-Willis Hospital is one of the few hospitals on the East Coast with dedicated operating suites, teams and recovery facilities specifically for brain, nervous system and spine care.

At the Brain and Spine Center, you receive care from board-certified doctors specially trained in orthopedics, orthopedic surgery, sports medicine and neurosurgery. Many specialists are also fellowship-trained in their fields.

Robotic spine surgery

We offer robot-assisted spine surgery — a minimally invasive technology that allows for increased precision and accuracy, while requiring only a few small incisions. This results in better outcomes, as well as faster overall recovery times, shorter hospital stays and minimal scarring.

Holographic spine surgery

Holographic surgery incorporates highly advanced medical technology used by surgeons to plan, perform, and assess low back procedures.

What is holographic spine surgery?

Holographic spine surgery is a combination of augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI), offering interactive, 3D models of your spine before, during and after your spinal procedure through a holographic surgical guidance system.

A hologram of this 3D model is projected onto the surgical field, making your body transparent and enabling the surgeon to see your virtual spine below your skin. This hologram is used to create a personalized plan for your surgery, assist your surgeon with continuous, real-time tracking during your surgery and show the result of your procedure after surgery.

How does holographic surgery work?

Your surgeon orders a 3D X-ray of your spine, which is taken in the operating room on the day of your surgery while you are under anesthesia. A 3D X-ray is a common medical imaging procedure, using X-rays to create internal views of your body, including your spine. Once complete, your X-ray is uploaded into the holographic portal system.

The portal system uses sophisticated AI software to create an interactive, 3D model of your spine and a personalized surgical plan for your procedure. The plan suggests key surgical details, including implant size and placement, and that plan is used to guide the tools used during your procedure.

Your surgeon reviews and confirms your customized surgical plan, which is superimposed directly over your lower back in 3D using the holographic interface on the portal system. This allows your surgeon to visualize your spine under your skin and receive real-time feedback to assist in placing your spinal implants precisely according to your surgical plan.

After surgery, the portal system creates an interactive, 3D model of your spine based on your procedure that is reviewed by your system and can be shared with you to show the results of your low back procedure.

Why have holographic surgery?

Holographic surgery aims to give you the benefits of surgical navigation for spine procedures involving pedicle screw implants, which have been reported to include:

• Greater implant accuracy
• Decreased blood loss
• Lower complication rates and shorter hospital stay

Additionally, surgical guidance systems for spine surgery have been shown to provide surgeons with real-time data and patients with greater procedural accuracy, which may help to put your mind at rest.

Since 1988, athletes and teams in Central Virginia have received treatment from our sports medicine program. This is because we provide the largest group of sports medicine physicians and physical therapists in the Richmond and surrounding areas. Our sports medicine clinic offers advanced technology, expert advice, injury prevention and assessment, health and fitness training and rehabilitation for athletes of all ages.