CBS New York reports total knee replacements can be done as an outpatient surgery, allowing patients to go home on the same day. When Craig Williamson, an active 44 year-old father was unable to keep up with his kids, or take the stairs due to bone-on-bone osteoarthritis in his right knee, the only solution was a total knee replacement. Williamson’s surgeon Steven B. Haas, MD, chief of the Knee Service at HSS, confirmed he was a good candidate for outpatient knee replacement.

CBS New York spoke to Williamson about his recovery post-surgery, and Dr. Haas who explained the recent advances that have made this procedure possible. “We developed less invasive or minimum invasive techniques. It’s involved less cutting of the muscle and tendons around the knee,” said Dr. Haas. “That was followed by innovations in pain control. [We] got better at controlling the pain, better nerve blocks, and injections around the knee,” he added. The improved pain control allows the patient to walk and even climb the stairs within a few hours after surgery.

It’s been three months since his surgery and Williamson is doing well. “I feel great. I go to the gym all the time again and I am taking spin classes a couple times a week, doing the elliptical. I actually ran up the stairs the other day,” he said.

Watch the segment at newyork.cbslocal.com. This segment also aired during the 5pm news on June 18, 2019.