KNEE REPLACEMENT MURFREESBORO – SERVING RUTHERFORD COUNTY & THE MURFREESBORO AREA
Total Knee Replacement Surgery
Serving Murfreesboro, TN
Muscle-sparing subvastus technique with Mako robotic precision — accessible via I-840 West at the Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee in Franklin.
Dr. Cory Calendine performs total knee replacement for Murfreesboro patients at the Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee in Franklin, approximately 30 to 38 miles west via I-840. Murfreesboro patients drive 40 to 45 minutes to access the subvastus muscle-sparing surgical approach paired with Stryker Mako robotic guidance — a combination not universally available within Rutherford County. Dr. Calendine performs more than 700 hip and knee replacements annually and is a Stryker Mako consultant. A knee replacement is a 20-year decision worth the deliberate trip.
KNEE REPLACEMENT MURFREESBORO FROM FRANKLIN, TN
The Drive from Murfreesboro Is a Deliberate Choice — Why It Makes Sense
A 40-Minute Drive for a 20-Year Outcome
Dr. Calendine’s practice is located in Franklin, Tennessee, approximately 30 to 38 miles west of Murfreesboro via I-840 — a 40 to 45 minute drive depending on starting neighborhood and traffic. That distance is real, and we are not going to soften it. Murfreesboro patients who travel to Franklin for knee replacement are making a deliberate choice — and that choice is almost always tied to a specific technique and a specific surgeon, not to proximity. For a procedure expected to last 20 years, that calculation is straightforward.
For a Murfreesboro knee replacement patient, the Franklin practice offers what is not universally available within Rutherford County: the subvastus muscle-sparing surgical approach paired with Mako robotic guidance on every primary case. Consultation, pre-operative imaging coordination, surgery at the on-campus BJIT Ambulatory Surgery Center, and follow-up visits all happen at one Franklin address. Pre-operative work — Mako CT scan, lab work, medical clearance — is largely completable locally in Murfreesboro. Most Murfreesboro patients make only two trips to Franklin before their surgery day.
Driving to the Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee from Murfreesboro
From most Murfreesboro neighborhoods, the Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee is a 40 to 45 minute drive via Interstate 840. The route is direct and largely highway — Murfreesboro patients value the predictability of the I-840 connector, which bypasses Nashville entirely and avoids the variable congestion of city-center routes. There are two route options, and the I-840 option is the one most patients use.
The I-840 Route (Most Common)
Take I-840 West from Murfreesboro to I-65 North. Take I-65 North to Exit 65 (Highway 96 West / Murfreesboro Road). Turn right onto Highway 96 West and continue approximately 1.5 miles. Edward Curd Lane is on the right at the Williamson Medical Center campus entrance. Total drive time is 40 to 45 minutes from central Murfreesboro in normal traffic. This route is generally the more reliable option for early-morning appointment times when Highway 96 traffic is at its peak.
The Highway 96 Alternative
Take Highway 96 West from Murfreesboro through Nolensville and continue west into Franklin. The total distance is approximately 30 miles, but the route involves more traffic signals and typically takes 45 to 50 minutes depending on the time of day. Some Murfreesboro patients prefer this scenic route in non-rush hours, particularly those starting from the north and west sides of Murfreesboro.
Drive Time by Murfreesboro Starting Point
- From central Murfreesboro and the Old Fort Parkway corridor: approximately 40 minutes via I-840 West.
- From the MTSU area and West Main Street: approximately 38 to 42 minutes via I-840 West.
- From the Stones River area and East Main Street: approximately 42 to 45 minutes via I-840 West.
- From the Veterans Parkway and Salem Highway corridor: approximately 40 minutes via I-840 West.
- From the Murfreesboro Medical Center area: approximately 40 minutes via I-840 West.
- From the Sam Davis Road and Cason Lane area on the west side: approximately 38 minutes via I-840 West or Highway 96.
Distance from Murfreesboro
~30–38 miles
Best Driving Route
I-840 West to I-65 North
Average Drive Time
40–45 minutes
Facility Parking
Free, on-site at BJIT campus
HOW DR. CALENDINE PERFORMS KNEE REPLACEMENT
Total Knee Replacement with Dr. Calendine
The Subvastus + Mako Approach
Knee replacement resurfaces an arthritic knee with metal and polyethylene components engineered to restore pain-free motion. The procedure has been performed reliably for decades, but the past ten years have brought meaningful advances in both surgical technique and implant precision. For Murfreesboro patients evaluating knee replacement, the right questions to ask a prospective surgeon are no longer about whether knee replacement works — it works reliably — but about which surgical approach is used, which precision tools are employed, and how those choices affect the early weeks of recovery and the long-term function of the new knee. These choices matter more for a 20-year outcome than the drive to the surgeon’s office.
Subvastus Approach — Muscle-Sparing Total Knee Replacement
Dr. Calendine's standard technique is the subvastus approach, a muscle-sparing variation of total knee replacement that preserves the quadriceps mechanism rather than cutting through it. For Murfreesboro patients — including those balancing work commitments at companies in Smyrna and La Vergne, MTSU faculty and staff, and active Rutherford County retirees — preserving quadriceps integrity translates to a faster early recovery. Patients reach independent walking sooner. Physical therapy progresses with more confidence in weeks two through four. The incision sits along the medial oblique on the inner side of the knee rather than directly over the kneecap — a practical difference for patients who kneel for gardening, faith, work, or recreation.
Mako® Robotic Assisted Precision Technology
Layered onto the subvastus approach is the Stryker Mako robotic-arm assisted system. Dr. Calendine uses Mako on every total knee replacement he performs. The system builds a three-dimensional model of your specific knee from a pre-operative CT scan — imaging that Murfreesboro patients typically complete at a local imaging center using the specific protocol Dr. Calendine's office provides. There is no need to travel to Franklin for the CT scan itself. Mako lets Dr. Calendine plan implant size, position, and rotational alignment before the first incision is made, and verify those decisions in real time during surgery. As a Stryker consultant on the ongoing development of the Mako platform, Dr. Calendine works with the technology at a level few surgeons reach.
Same-day Knee Replacement Surgery
Most appropriately selected total knee replacement patients return home the same day as surgery. For Murfreesboro patients, the same-day discharge model still works well despite the longer drive: morning arrival at the BJIT Ambulatory Surgery Center, surgery, recovery, and a 40-minute drive home to Murfreesboro that evening with a family member or friend providing transportation. No overnight hospital stay. No hotel logistics in an unfamiliar city. The drive home after surgery is the only meaningful logistical consideration the longer distance introduces — and patients consistently report it is shorter and more comfortable than they expected, given that the subvastus approach minimizes the postoperative restrictions that complicate longer drives.
THE MURFREESBORO CHOICE
Why Murfreesboro Patients Travel to Franklin for Knee Replacement
Murfreesboro has its own orthopaedic surgeons — local practices serve Rutherford County for a wide range of musculoskeletal needs. Murfreesboro patients who choose Dr. Calendine in Franklin are typically not making the trip because Murfreesboro lacks orthopaedic care. They are making it because they have identified a specific combination of surgical technique and technology that they want for a procedure they expect to live with for two decades or more.
The Subvastus + Mako Combination
The muscle-sparing subvastus surgical approach paired with Mako robotic guidance on every case is the technique combination Murfreesboro patients consistently cite as the reason for the drive. While individual elements of this combination may be available within Rutherford County, the package as a standard — subvastus on every case, Mako on every case — is what defines Dr. Calendine’s practice and what brings Murfreesboro patients to Franklin.
Specialization and Volume
Dr. Calendine performs more than 700 hip and knee replacements annually. Joint replacement is his entire surgical practice — not one subspecialty mixed with sports medicine, trauma, or general orthopaedics. He is a Stryker consultant on the development of the Mako platform and trains other surgeons nationally and internationally on robotic technique. His fellowship was completed at the Anderson Orthopaedic Research Institute, one of the most respected joint replacement programs in the country.
Pre-Op Work Stays Local, Surgery in Franklin
For Murfreesboro patients, the longer drive does not mean more trips to Franklin. Pre-operative imaging and lab work can be completed locally in Murfreesboro. Medical clearance is handled by your existing primary care physician. Most Murfreesboro patients make just two trips to Franklin before their surgery date: the initial consultation, and surgery day. Post-operative physical therapy is arranged with a Murfreesboro-based provider, with follow-up visits to Franklin at two and six weeks.
MURFREESBORO PATIENTS ACROSS RUTHERFORD COUNTY
Murfreesboro Patients from Across the City and County
Dr. Calendine’s Murfreesboro knee replacement patients come from across the city — from the central Murfreesboro neighborhoods around the historic downtown Square, to the MTSU campus area where faculty and staff live, to the rapidly growing communities along Veterans Parkway and Old Fort Parkway. Patients from the Stones River and East Main Street area generally use I-840 West for the drive to Franklin. Patients from the Salem Highway and Sam Davis Road corridors on the west side of Murfreesboro sometimes prefer the Highway 96 alternative. The Murfreesboro Medical Center area, the Mercury Boulevard corridor, and the Florence Road neighborhoods all feed regularly into the patient population. Rutherford County more broadly — including Smyrna, La Vergne, and Eagleville — sends patients to the Franklin practice for the same reasons: a specific combination of subvastus technique and Mako precision that becomes the decision-driving factor. Patients also travel to Dr. Calendine from Nashville, Brentwood, Nolensville and Spring Hill.
Considering hip replacement instead? See Hip Replacement for Murfreesboro Patients.
MURFREESBORO KNEE REPLACEMENT FAQ
Common Questions from Murfreesboro Patients
Is the drive from Murfreesboro to Franklin worth it for knee replacement with Dr. Calendine?
A knee replacement is expected to last 20 years or more. The pre-operative decision about which surgeon to use — and specifically which technique and technology they offer — will shape your daily function for all of those years. The 40 to 45 minute drive from Murfreesboro to Franklin on I-840 West to I-65 North is a one-time logistical consideration measured against a decades-long outcome.
Murfreesboro patients who choose Dr. Calendine specifically want the subvastus approach — a muscle-sparing knee replacement technique that leaves the entire quadriceps intact — combined with Mako robotic guidance for patient-specific implant placement. Both are available at his Franklin practice. For patients who have done their homework and identified both as important, the drive is a settled question.
Can I do my physical therapy in Murfreesboro after knee replacement in Franklin?
Yes. Post-operative physical therapy takes place wherever is most convenient for you — and for Murfreesboro patients, that means working with a PT practice in Murfreesboro. Dr. Calendine’s office communicates his specific post-operative protocol directly with your physical therapy provider, including functional goals, progression criteria, and any technique-specific considerations for subvastus knee replacement recovery.
Murfreesboro has multiple physical therapy practices experienced with total knee replacement recovery. The protocol Dr. Calendine uses — which emphasizes early weight-bearing, quadriceps activation, and range of motion progress — is straightforward to implement locally and does not require specialized equipment or training beyond standard outpatient PT.
Does Dr. Calendine have patients from Murfreesboro — how common is the commute for surgical care?
Yes. Murfreesboro is one of the most common referring communities in Dr. Calendine’s practice. Patients from Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne, and Rutherford County regularly travel to the Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee in Franklin for joint replacement surgery. The I-840 connector makes the drive direct and relatively predictable — most Murfreesboro patients find the early-morning drive to a 7:30 AM consultation straightforward.
For Murfreesboro patients concerned about the logistics of multiple pre-operative visits, Dr. Calendine’s team works to consolidate appointments efficiently. Many patients complete their entire pre-surgical process — consultation, imaging, and pre-operative lab work — with just two Franklin visits before their surgery date.
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What is the Mako CT scan process for a Murfreesboro knee replacement patient?
The pre-operative CT scan required for Mako knee replacement can be completed at an imaging facility in Murfreesboro using the protocol Dr. Calendine’s office provides. The scan takes approximately 20 minutes, is non-invasive, and captures the three-dimensional bone geometry of your knee that Dr. Calendine uses to plan your patient-specific implant placement.
For most patients, the CT scan is covered by their insurance plan as part of the standard pre-operative workup. Dr. Calendine’s team handles any insurance coordination and pre-authorization questions before your scan is scheduled, so there are no surprises when you arrive at the imaging center.
LOCATION & PRACTICE INFORMATION
Visit the Bone and Joint Institute
of Tennessee
The Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee is located in Franklin, Tennessee, just off Exit 65 of Interstate 65, adjacent to Williamson Medical Center. Our facility serves patients throughout Middle Tennessee, including Nashville, Brentwood, Murfreesboro, Spring Hill, and surrounding communities.
BONE AND JOINT INSTITUTE OF TENNESSEE
3000 Edward Curd Lane
Franklin, TN 37067
🕐 Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
READY FOR THE NEXT STEP?
Schedule a Knee Replacement Consultation in Franklin
Murfreesboro patients are 40 minutes from a knee replacement consultation with Dr. Calendine. The first appointment includes a clinical exam, imaging review if available, and an honest conversation about whether surgery is the right next step. Most pre-operative work after the consultation can be completed locally in Murfreesboro. Learn more about Dr. Calendine’s training, credentials, and surgical philosophy.