The Joint Replacement Center

The Joint Replacement Center at Griffin Hospital offers a focused approach to the care and treatment of persons undergoing hip and knee joint replacement, properly preparing them for their surgery. We find that patients who take an active role in their treatment and recovery experience the most positive results. The Joint Replacement Center is no exception. Like all programs at Griffin Hospital, the components of the Joint Replacement Center have been structured using the Planetree philosophy of patient centered care in a healing environment. Our intention is to involve the patient in his or her treatment through each step of the program.

Education is a key component of this comprehensive program. The educational experience begins before surgery when each patient is given a GuideBook. The GuideBook walks the patient thrugh every step of preoperative preparation and postoperative care. Emphasis is placed on group activities, individualized care, involvement of family and friends and a coordinated after-care program.

The program follows a very calculated and rigorous pathway. Much effort is put into getting patients properly prepared for their surgery. You will have many helpers, advisors and counselors to make sure that you finish your round successfully. The practice of teamwork is at its best when the patient, family and each member of our staff focus on the outcome and rehabilitation of the patient.

The rapidity of return to activity is highly dependent upon the patient's pre-operative physical condition and postoperative activities. Under the guidance of experienced memers of our Joint Replacement Center team, your Care Partner will provide the support system necessary to encourage your full and rapid recovery. A horse racing theme -- Getting You Back on Track -- has been developed to build camaraderie and encourage friendly competition among those in the program while making the rehabilitation process more enjoyable.

It is important to recognize that the Joint Replacement Center at Griffin Hospital is far more than just a place. Rather it is a philosophy, which inspires each member of the team to provide the best and most innovative care available to patients with joint problems. Our team of dedicated professionals takes great pride in the years of experience, dedication and understanding that we bring to each patient who honor us with their trust.

Features of The Joint Replacement Center

A dedicated team of physicians, nurses, patient care technicians, care managers, and physical therapists who specialize in the care of joint replacement patients
Comprehensive patient education prior to surgery
A comprehensive GuideBook from preoperative preparation to postoperative care
Unique Planetree Care Model
Emphasis on group activities as well as individual care
Family and friends educated to participate as Care Partners in the recovery process
Coordinated after-care program

Our Surgical Team

Each year, over 500,000 people in the U.S. undergo total joint replacement surgery. Typically, candidates for this surgery are individuals with chronic joint pain from arthritis that severely diminishes their ability to perform normal daily activities. This often leads to a loss of independence and self esteem. A replacement joint can make a big difference in your ability to return to work or other activities that you enjoy.

Total Joint Replacement patients should recover quickly. The hospital stay is typically 3-4 days. New surgical techniques and improved analgesic methods make blood transfusions far less common, and have allowed us to quicken the recovery process. In fact, most patients will be expected to walk on the day of surgery.

This rapid recovery process, as it has come to be known, affords the return to most normal activities in six to eight weeks. This includes driving, walking distances and golfing. The rapidity of return to activity is highly dependent upon the patient’s pre-operative physical conditioning. The better your physical condition is prior to surgery, the quicker your recovery to more normal activity will be developed to provide a comprehensive and planned course of treatment for your benefit.

We find that patients who take an active role in their recovery experience the most positive results. Our intention is to involve you in your treatment through each step of the program. You cannot take a passive role and expect a great result from your surgery. This patient guidebook will give you the necessary information needed to inform and guide you to a safe and successful surgical outcome.

In addition, we believe that it takes a team of dedicated professionals to assist you through this significant surgical event. To that end, you will come into contact with many highly experienced members of our team, each of which has important information that you must understand and implement to ensure that your outcome will be as good as it can be. Your team includes physicians, physician assistants, nurses, care managers, patient care technicians, physical therapists and office coordinators specializing in total joint care. Virtually every detail, from pre-operative teaching to post-operative exercising, is considered and reviewed with you.

We value the trust you have placed in our organization and consider it a privilege to provide you with the opportunity to improve your quality of life through joint replacement surgery. Please rest assured that your surgeon and the team of professionals who provide care to you want you to be confident with your decision, and will be working together to ensure a pleasant experience for you.

Finally, when you join with us in getting your joint back into useful condition through surgery, you are signing up for a unique membership into a group of patients whose once painful joint now serves to open doors to an exciting and active life. This membership is for life and its only dues are the requirement that you get out and use your new and restored joint to enjoy your life. You are about to become a member of this prestigious club focused on “Getting You Back on Track” following your surgery at the Joint Replacement Center at Griffin Hospital. Our unique approach combined with our numerous Planetree components distinguishes our program from all others. You are among a select group!

Meet The Members of Our Orthopedic Team

We are pleased that members of the Griffin Hospital Orthopedic team are among a select number of specially trained physicians cleared to use an innovative, less invasive prosthesis to help knee and hip replacement patients make a quick recovery to daily activities. These physicians were able to take part in a rare training opportunity and bring the benefits of this technology back to the community.

Gerald F. Cambria, M.D.
111-121 Wakelee Avenue
Ansonia, CT 06401/ 203 734-7900

Board Certified
Specialties: arthroscopic surgery, total
joint replacement, sports medicine
Undergraduate: Boston College
Medical School: Georgetown Univ, DC
Residency: Boston University Medical Center.
Fellow: American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery.
Affiliated with Valley Orthopedic Specialists
In practice since 1981

Ignatius Komninakas, M.D.
25 Constitution Boulevard
Shelton, CT 06484
203 922-7777

Board Certified
Specialties: arthritis care, joint
reconstruction/replacement, sports medicine
Medical School: St. Louis University, MO
Residency: University of Maryland
Fellowship: Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
Certified, FDA approved Oxford Unicompartmental
Knee System.
Affiliated with Merritt Orthopaedic Associates
In practice since 1997

Joel Malin, M.D.
Two Enterprise Dr., Suite 204
Shelton, CT 06484 / 203 944-0042

Board Certified
Specialties: orthopedic surgery,
joint replacement
Undergraduate: Cornell University
Medical School: Johns Hopkins University,
School of Medicine, MD
Residency: Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine
Fellowship: Adult Reconstructive Orthopaedic Surgery,
Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, PA.
Fellow: American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery.
Certified, FDA approved Oxford Unicompartmental
Knee System.
Affiliated with Orthopaedic Specialty Group, PC,
In practice since 1997

Robert W. Nolan, M.D.
111-121 Wakelee Avenue
Ansonia, CT 06401/ 203 734-7900

Board Certified
Specialties: sports medicine
Undergraduate: Boston College
Medical School: University of Pennsylvania
Residency: West Virginia University Hospital
Fellow: American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery.
Affiliated with Valley Orthopedic Specialists
In practice and on the Griffin staff since 1991.

Gary R. Richo, M.D.
111-121 Wakelee Avenue
Ansonia, CT 06401 / 203 734-7900

Board Eligible
Specialties: foot and ankle surgery,
joint replacement
Undergraduate: Yale University
Medical School: University of Miami
Ph.D: cell biology, University of Miami
Residency: UMDNJ, NJ Medical School of Orthopedic
Surgery Fellowship: foot and ankle surgery, University of
Pennsylvania.
Fellow: American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery.
Affiliated with Valley Orthopedic Specialists
In practice since 2004