Updates

BJC and Saint Luke’s Officially Combine as BJC Health System

Hip and Knee

Orthopedics

Hip and knee discomfort can keep you from your favorite activities and affect your quality of life. You deserve pain-free living. Our hip and knee experts are here for you and put your goals within reach. We deliver nationally recognized care that helps you get moving again. 

Find a specialistRequest an appointment
Hip and knee care: Why choose us? 

BJC HealthCare works with Washington University physicians, BJC Medical Group, and providers across the region to deliver extraordinary care. You’ll find outstanding care at BJC, whether you have hip pain, knee pain or both. Our program is home to trusted hip and knee specialists delivering the best available therapies and maintaining excellent outcomes. 

Highlights of our program include:  

  • National recognition: Our commitment to care excellence has earned our program prestigious accolades. We rank among the nation’s top programs in joint replacement and hip fracture care, according to U.S. News & World Report. We also maintain The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement. 

  • Comprehensive and connected care: Orthopedists with advanced fellowship training and decades of experience guide your care. They collaborate with therapists and specially trained nurses to help you have a seamless care experience.  

  • Compassion: Any hip or knee pain that’s slowing you down matters to us. It’s never too early to seek recommendations from experts like ours. We develop a personalized plan that may prevent issues from worsening. And if the pain comes back after treatment, we can still help you. We won’t stop until you get lasting relief.  

  • Convenience: Some hip and knee specialists offer virtual visits. Our experts are also available in an after-hours orthopedic injury clinic. We see patients 5 and older with sprains, dislocations, sharp pain and fractures. 

Hip and knee conditions we treat

We successfully treat common and complex conditions, including:  

  • Arthritis
    This condition occurs when there is inflammation and stiffness. It may be due to rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis or post-traumatic arthritis.
  • Bone fractures
    Fractures are broken bones. There are many types, like stress fractures, which are small. Open fractures can break the bone in two, causing it to poke through the skin's surface.
  • Bursitis
    Fluid-filled sacs (bursae) that cushion your muscles and tendons become swollen. It occurs when repetitive motions irritate the bursae.
  • Hip dysplasia
    This is a congenital (present at birth) condition. The hip socket is too shallow to secure the upper leg bone, raising the risk of dislocation.
  • Hip impingement
    This congenital condition, also known as femoralacetabular impingement (FAI) causes the upper leg bone to pinch the cup of the hip bone. This damages nearby cartilage, leading to wear and tear.
  • Joint dislocation
    One or more bones that make up a joint slip out of their natural position. For example, the upper leg bone may fall out of the hip socket.
  • Knee ligament strains and tears
    Injuries to ligaments, like the anterior cruciate ligament that holds the knee in place, occur with forceful twisting and repeated jumping.
  • Sports injuries
    These injuries, such as sprains, strains, bursitis or tendonitis, occur in active people.
  • Traumatic injuries
    Orthopedic emergencies in the upper limbs include open fractures, rotator cuff tears and dislocations.
Related conditions

Arthritis

Bursitis

Hip impingement

Non-surgical hip and knee treatments

BJC is your partner in care and delivers all the services you need in one program. Many patients achieve lasting relief with non-surgical treatments. We develop personalized care plans that help you steadily regain range of motion and function.  

Types of non-surgical hip and knee treatments we offer include:

Acupuncture
Physical medicine doctors (physiatrists) insert tiny needles into specific areas at different depths to unlock the body's healing energy.
Aquatic therapy
Doing exercises in water takes pressure off painful joints so you can get moving earlier in your recovery. Available at select locations.
Custom splints and adaptive devices
These devices fit the unique shape of your body. They hold the affected area in a position that provides support and relieves strain.
Occupational therapy
We help you accomplish daily tasks using postures, techniques and devices that are gentler on your body.
Physical therapy
Therapists guide you through exercises to regain strength and mobility. They may also use special techniques to loosen stiff muscles.
Therapeutic injections
We inject drugs or other substances directly into your area of concern, which can speed healing. Real-time imaging helps deliver them with precision.
Hip and knee surgery

Our experience performing a high volume of hip and knee procedures each year helps us deliver precise treatments. We use minimally invasive techniques whenever possible, which require only small incisions and are gentler on your body.  

Hip and knee surgeries we offer include: 

Cartilage repair
Surgeons use a variety of techniques to restore healthy cartilage. These techniques include making small cuts in nearby bones to stimulate new tissue development.
Core decompression and bone grafting
Surgeons drill holes into diseased bones near the hip or knee. This relieves pressure and increases blood supply, slowing disease progression.
Debridement
This procedure removes damaged cartilage in the knee or hip, which decreases pain and improves joint movement.
Fixation for bone fractures
Surgeons implant plates, screws or pins to stabilize broken bones.
Joint replacement
We replace worn-out or damaged joints with artificial devices.
Joint resurfacing
Also known as partial joint replacement, surgeons remove only the damaged parts of the joint and replace them with artificial implants.
Knee ligament reconstruction
We replace torn or damaged knee ligaments with healthy tissue from elsewhere in your body. Sometimes donor tissue is used.
Labral repair
Surgeons remove damaged tissue, then reattach the labrum (ring of cartilage) to the hip socket's outer rim, anchoring it in place.
Tendon repair
We fix torn tendons by reattaching the healthy ends. Repair also may involve fastening a tendon that's come loose to nearby muscle or bone.
Knee Replacement
Receive knee replacement services from some of the region’s best arthroplasty specialists. Options include partial and total knee replacement.
Locations
Hip and Knee News & Resources
See all News & Resources

Schedule your appointment

Call  (314) 362-9355  or  (800) 392-0936  to schedule your appointment with a specialist.

Sign up for our newsletter and take charge of your whole health.

Stay ahead of the curve with exclusive content from BJC's health care professionals, delivered right to your inbox.