Learning how to choose a joint replacement surgeon is one of the biggest decisions you will make before hip or knee surgery. The surgeon you pick shapes your pain relief, your recovery, and how well your new joint works for the next 20 years or more.
In my practice, I perform more than 700 hip and knee replacements every year, and I also see patients who come to me after a first surgery did not go the way they hoped. The pattern is consistent. The right surgeon, with the right focus and volume, changes the outcome. Here is what actually matters, and the exact questions worth asking.
How to Choose a Joint Replacement Surgeon: Why Specialization Comes First
“Orthopaedic surgeon” is a broad title. Some focus on sports injuries, some on fractures, some on the spine. Joint replacement is its own discipline, and not every orthopaedic surgeon does it as their main work.
Start by separating a general orthopaedic surgeon from a dedicated joint replacement specialist. A specialist has built their entire practice around hip and knee replacement, which means more repetitions, sharper judgment, and a smoother path when something unexpected comes up during surgery.
What Fellowship Training Actually Means
After medical school and a five-year orthopaedic residency, a joint replacement specialist completes an additional year of fellowship training devoted entirely to hip and knee replacement. That extra year is where a surgeon masters complex cases, revision surgery, and the fine details that protect your long-term result.
I completed my fellowship at the Anderson Orthopaedic Research Institute in Alexandria, Virginia, following my residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. When you research a surgeon, look for that fellowship line on their profile. It tells you their focus is hip and knee replacement, not a small slice of a general practice.
Surgeon Volume: The Strongest Predictor of a Good Outcome
If you remember one thing from this article, make it this: volume matters more than almost anything else. The more joint replacements a surgeon performs, the lower your risk of complications.
For hip replacement, a study of nearly 38,000 patients found that complication rates, including dislocation and the need for revision, rose when a surgeon performed 35 or fewer hip replacements a year. For knee replacement, a study of more than 169,000 patients found that surgeons doing fewer than 70 a year had a 31 percent higher risk of needing revision surgery and an 18 percent higher risk of deep infection.
Many general orthopaedic surgeons perform fewer than 100 joint replacements a year. My annual volume of more than 700 hip and knee replacements sits well above both research thresholds, and that experience shows up in efficiency, fewer complications, and better aftercare.
A Simple Checklist for How to Choose a Joint Replacement Surgeon
Bring these questions to any consultation:
- How many of this specific procedure do you perform each year?
- Are you fellowship-trained and board certified in joint replacement?
- What are your infection and revision rates?
- Where will my surgery take place, and who is on the care team?
- What does recovery look like for someone my age and activity level?
A confident, experienced surgeon will welcome every one of these questions. If a surgeon brushes them off, that tells you something too.
Technology and Surgical Technique
Modern joint replacement is more precise than it was even a decade ago. Ask whether a surgeon offers current, evidence-based approaches, because technique affects accuracy, recovery speed, and how natural the joint feels.
I use the Mako® robotic-assisted platform from Stryker® for many of my hip and knee replacements. The robot does not replace the surgeon; it helps me plan and place each implant with a level of precision that is hard to match by hand. You can read more on my robotic joint replacement page.
Technique also matters by procedure. For hips, the anterior approach works between muscles instead of cutting through them, which can mean a quicker early recovery. For knees, a muscle-sparing subvastus approach can reduce early pain. Whether you need a total hip replacement or a total knee replacement, the right surgeon will explain which approach fits your anatomy and why.
The Care Team and Where Your Surgery Happens
No surgeon does this alone. Nurses, physician assistants, anaesthesia providers, surgical coordinators, and physical therapists all shape your experience. Ask who will handle your pre-op education, who follows up after surgery, and whether you see the same team throughout.
Where your surgery takes place matters just as much. Facilities that perform a high volume of joint replacements invest in specialized equipment, infection-control systems, and staff who care only for orthopaedic patients. Ask about the facility’s infection rate and how recovery and physical therapy are organized.
Logistics count for real life. A location close to home makes follow-up visits and physical therapy easier on you and your caregiver, which supports a smoother recovery.
Credentials, Reviews, and How a Surgeon Communicates
Board certification and fellowship training are the baseline. Beyond that, look for the FAAOS designation, which marks a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and membership in the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS), which signals a dedicated joint replacement focus.
Then look at reputation with a careful eye. Read verified patient reviews and look for patterns rather than a single rave or a single complaint. My practice holds a 5.0 rating across more than 426 patient reviews, alongside Castle Connolly and Nashville Lifestyles Top Doctor recognition.
Finally, pay attention to how a surgeon makes you feel in the room. Do they listen, ask about your daily life, and explain options without rushing? Surgeons who communicate well tend to get better results, because prepared patients recover better.
How to Choose a Joint Replacement Surgeon in Middle Tennessee
If you are searching close to home, I practice at the Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee at 3000 Edward Curd Lane in Franklin, TN 37067. I care for patients across Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Spring Hill, Nolensville, and the broader Middle Tennessee region.
The “best” surgeon is not always the one with the biggest clinic or the flashiest marketing. It is the fellowship-trained specialist who performs your exact procedure in high volume, uses modern technique, surrounds you with a strong team, and earns your trust. Take your time, ask the hard questions, and choose with confidence.
Ready for an expert opinion on your hip or knee?
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Cory Calendine, a fellowship-trained joint replacement specialist performing 700+ hip and knee replacements a year.
Request an Appointment or call (615) 791-2630
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider about your individual situation. Individual results vary.
References
- Ravi B, Jenkinson R, Austin PC, et al. Relation between surgeon volume and risk of complications after total hip arthroplasty: propensity score matched cohort study. BMJ. 2014;348:g3284.
- Okoro T, Tomescu S, Paterson JM, Ravi B. Analysis of the relationship between surgeon procedure volume and complications after total knee arthroplasty using a propensity-matched cohort study. BMJ Surg Interv Health Technol. 2021;3(1):e000072.
- Bozic KJ, Maselli J, Pekow PS, et al. The influence of procedure volumes and standardization of care on quality and efficiency in total joint replacement surgery. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2010;92(16):2643-2652.
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Finding the Right Orthopaedic Surgeon. OrthoInfo. Accessed 2026.
