Todd B. Dietrick, M.D.
Adult Reconstruction Surgery Hip and Knee Replacement

Dr. Dietrick's practice in joint replacement and reconstructive arthritis surgery focuses on minimizing pain and restoring normal function. While joint replacement is a highly successful procedure, Dr. Dietrick has noticed that traditional techniques are often painful and require prolonged recovery periods. Through less invasive techniques, he finds patients have better pain control and a rapid return to function. During hip replacement, Dr. Dietrick utilizes an anterior approach to the hip joint which does not cut muscles or tendons. This technique, which has been used successfully in Europe for decades, allows for better initial pain control and earlier return of hip function.

Dr. Dietrick has applied the same principle of tissue-sparing surgery to his knee replacement practice. With the help of computer-assisted navigation, he is able to recreate the patient's normal alignment without cutting muscle or tendons, thus improving the overall alignment and range of motion after surgery. In combination with an advanced anesthesia protocol, which minimizes early post-operative pain, patients are able to recover more quickly than with traditional techniques.

Dr. Dietrick gained a particular interest in the emerging fields of joint preservation and cartilage transplantation of the hip and knee while at UCSD. He continues to perform research and give lectures on these topics. In his clinical practice, Dr. Dietrick chooses to focus on joint replacement surgery of the hip and knee, including primary and revision hip and knee replacement, partial knee replacement, minimally invasive surgical techniques, and computer assisted navigation.