Hip & Knee Replacement Near Charleston: Is the Drive Worth It?

I'm Dr. Patrick Pallitto. I'm a fellowship-trained hip and knee replacement surgeon, and I went to college at the College of Charleston. I'll give you an honest answer: for some people, the drive is worth it. For others, staying closer to home makes more sense. Here is how I'd think it through.

Wherever you end up, these questions will help you choose well:

• What is your training in hip and knee replacement? Ask whether the surgeon completed a fellowship focused on joint replacement.
• Which approach do you use, and why? For hips, ask about the approach and what it means for your recovery. For knees, ask whether robotic assistance is used and how it's chosen.
• What should I try before surgery? A good surgeon will talk through nonsurgical options first.
• What does recovery look like for someone with my job and goals? Ask for honest ranges, not promises.
• Who will I see at my visits, and how easy is it to reach the office?
• Would you be comfortable if I got a second opinion? The answer should be yes.

I've written more about this here: Choosing a Surgeon: Questions to Ask.

After my orthopaedic residency at UNC, I completed a fellowship in adult reconstruction at the University of Pittsburgh. That fellowship training focused on primary and revision hip and knee arthroplasty (joint replacement).

My practice focuses primarily on hips and knees. That focus shapes how I plan each operation and how I talk with patients about whether surgery is the right step at all.

I use the direct anterior approach for nearly all hip replacements. It reaches the hip joint from the front, using a muscle-sparing technique. I'll explain what that means for your recovery and whether it's the right plan for your hip.

Read more: Anterior Hip Replacement · Hip Replacement

For robotic-assisted knee replacement, I use two systems: MAKO and VELYS. I perform the surgery. The robotic system helps me plan and carry out that plan with precision personalized to your anatomy.

Robotics is a tool, and it doesn't decide your outcome on its own. Your recovery still depends on your health, your knee, and the work you put into physical therapy. I'll tell you which system I'd use for your knee and why.

Read more: Robotic-Assisted Knee Replacement · Knee Replacement

Here's what you'd be trading. Charleston-area patients book at my Beaufort office, which is about 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes from the Charleston area, depending on traffic. That's about 1 hour 20 minutes from West Ashley, about 1 hour 30 minutes from Summerville, about 1 hour 35 minutes from downtown Charleston, and about 1 hour 40 minutes from Mount Pleasant.

That drive matters most in the weeks right after surgery, when you typically won't be driving yourself yet. Driving typically resumes at about two weeks, depending on your procedure and recovery. Return to work typically depends on your job and recovery: desk jobs typically 1–2 weeks, sometimes sooner if part-time work is an option, and physically demanding jobs may need about 2–4 weeks.

On surgery day, most patients go home the same day or after one night in the hospital. The operation typically takes about an hour. Surgery is performed at the Outpatient Surgery Center of Hilton Head and at Beaufort Memorial Hospital, both in South Carolina. Some patients choose to stay locally the first night after surgery.

This is usually the deciding question, so here's the general path:

1. Consultation. I review your symptoms, exam, and imaging, and we go over nonsurgical and surgical options. Consultations take place in person at my South Carolina offices.
2. Pre-op. One pre-op visit before surgery.
3. Surgery day. At the Outpatient Surgery Center of Hilton Head or Beaufort Memorial Hospital.
4. Follow-up visits. Post-op visits at about 3 weeks, 8 weeks, 4 months, and 1 year after surgery. Some follow-up visits after surgery can be done virtually when needed.

Every patient is different, and the number of visits depends on your procedure and how your recovery goes. You can see the full path on the Surgical Journey page.

Much of recovery happens in physical therapy. Physical therapy can be done with an outside physical therapist, so you may be able to do it closer to home. I coordinate with your therapist using my standard protocol.

Read more: Physical Therapy After Joint Replacement

I went to college in Charleston before medical school at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson, residency at UNC, and fellowship in Pittsburgh. The Lowcountry is where I chose to come back and practice.

Few areas of medicine let you give someone back so much of their life in a single operation. My goal is to help every patient return to the activities they enjoy, whether that's walking the Battery, a round of golf, or a day on the water.

If a surgeon has already recommended a hip or knee replacement, a second opinion can help you feel sure before you decide. I offer second opinions for hip replacement, knee replacement, and revision surgery, with no commitment to surgery.

I don't think of a second opinion as competing with your current doctor. It's another set of eyes on a big decision. Sometimes I agree with the plan you already have. Sometimes I suggest trying more nonsurgical care first.

• Hip Replacement Second Opinion · Knee Replacement Second Opinion

It may be worth it if, after meeting with me, my approach fits what you're looking for: two robotic knee systems to choose from, the anterior approach for nearly all hips, and a practice that focuses primarily on hips and knees. It may also be worth it if you'd like a second opinion before you commit.

Staying closer to home may be the better fit if the drive would make your recovery harder, or if you already trust your surgeon and their plan. Both are reasonable choices. The right one is the one you feel good about.