Dr. James Trauger, Joint Replacement, Hip and Knee

“Orthopaedics is generally not a life or death issue. But it is a quality of life issue. I am privileged to have the skills and training necessary to return so many people from disabling injuries and arthritic conditions back to active, productive and happy lives. It comes down to giving people their lives back. Nothing could be more rewarding and satisfying.”

Dr. James Trauger specializes exclusively in joint replacement surgery of the hip and knee. His focus is intentionally narrow, but his patient demographic is remarkably wide. “My practice is primarily people from their 40’s up to 100 years. Age doesn’t matter when you are in pain. You’re never too young or too old to improve your quality of life. Disabling arthritis can be post traumatic in nature, resulting from congenital and childhood conditions or may simply arise due to the cumulative effects of wear and tear as we grow older. Whatever the case may be, I won’t operate prematurely, but with all the options available, there is no need to suffer.”

Dr. Trauger has replaced over 1000 joints in less than a decade of practice. A self described “perfectionist,” he credits having the ability to provide lots of options for his patients to the intense training he has completed over the years. “Under the umbrella specialty of joint replacement, I further specialize in partial knee replacements and minimally invasive techniques.” These abbreviated procedures are of particular interest to patients who are athletes, or lead an active lifestyle that dictates maximum range of motion be preserved. Partial replacements also equate to fewer complications and easier recovery periods for older folks who may be fearful or reluctant to consider total knee replacements. Dr. Trauger spends plenty of time with each individual to be sure the treatment plan is aligned with the patient’s goals and expectations. “I don’t like to rush people. They should know I am behind them 100% with the best plan of attack.”

There have been many significant advances in joint replacement techniques and materials that help minimize recovery time and maximize the longevity of the new joint. “Typically the lifespan of a joint replacement is limited by wear of the bearing surface. Over the years we found that plastic wear particles around a joint can thin out the bone and result in loosening of the prosthesis. Moreover, we found that the larger the metal ball is, the faster this process occurs. The advantage of a larger head size is that it has to “jump” further from the socket to dislocate. The increased wear with larger head sizes has traditionally prevented their use on a routine basis as a means of preventing post operative hip dislocation. Recently introduced, the new extra large metal on metal bearing surfaces is one of the most exciting tools in our kit. Metal on metal articulations wear less than metal-plastic bearings and the wear actually decreases as the head size increases so very large head sizes can be used without compromising the longevity of the prosthesis. These larger head sizes more closely mimic the anatomy of the natural hip so there is a greater range of motion and decreased risk of dislocation.”

An exciting advancement in knee replacements is the use of trabecular metal tibial components that can be inserted without the use of bone cement. “Since bone grows into the bottom of this plate, it has the potential to remain fixed to the bone longer than a cemented component. This new technology creates less wear because the plastic articular surface is melted into the tibial component and therefore eliminates wear at this interface. All these improvements translate into a knee that lasts.”

Most patients are amazed at how easy the recovery is compared to what they’ve anticipated. Many walk without a limp on their first visit back to the office. “There is a great sense of satisfaction in being part of a patient’s renewed sense of freedom. Some of the most gratifying cases are the more difficult ones that keep me thinking and keep me on top of my game. Rising above these challenges on behalf of my patients is what sets me apart.”