Dr. Jason Brashear Performs Area's First Outpatient Joint Replacement
The area's first outpatient total hip replacement procedure was performed March 1 by orthopedic surgeon and hip specialist Jason Brashear, M.D., of Appalachian Orthopedics at the Mountain Empire Surgery Center located at 601 Med Tech Parkway in Johnson City.
Traditionally performed in an inpatient hospital setting requiring an overnight stay, this total hip replacement procedure was performed on an outpatient basis with a minimally invasive technique, referred to as the anterior approach. The advanced technique and protocols used allowed for the patient, local resident and retiree David Cox, to return home the same day following surgery. Additional patient benefits from the outpatient procedure include increased patient satisfaction from the specialized focus and care received as well as cost savings when compared to the traditional inpatient hospital experience.
Now nearly four weeks post-surgery, Cox shares, "After suffering from long-term pain that I had thought was in my back, I've returned to doing daily activities I love, like walking outdoors with my wife and helping my church — without any pain."
With Dr. Brashear's advanced education and training and extensive experience in performing total joint replacements, he recognized quickly that Cox would be an ideal candidate for the outpatient anterior hip replacement at the surgery center. "Identifying who will be an ideal candidate for this outpatient procedure is determined by the patient's activity level, health and commitment to recovery, and Mr. Cox met that criteria," states Dr. Brashear, who has another dozen outpatient joint procedures currently scheduled.
A Ball State University graduate, Dr. Brashear also attended medical school at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Before joining Appalachian Orthopedics, he practiced at Fayette Regional Hospital in Connersville, Indiana, for three years. Dr. Brashear specializes in general orthopedics with an emphasis on minimally invasive hip and knee replacements and sees patients at the practice's Johnson City location.