Knee Replacement in Elizabethtown, KY
Knee Replacement Surgery for Elizabethtown Patients
Knee arthritis that has worn through the cartilage does not get better on its own, and there is a point where injections, bracing and therapy stop buying time. Aptiva Health’s Elizabethtown clinic, 529 Westport Road, Suite 2, gives Hardin County patients a complete pathway for knee replacement: evaluation and X-rays on site, non-surgical care first, surgery with Dr. J. Steve Smith, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, and physical therapy afterward in the same building. Every visit except the operation itself takes place in Elizabethtown.
Call 270-506-4888, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, for a same-day appointment at 529 Westport Road, Suite 2, Elizabethtown, KY 42701.
Medically reviewed by J. Steve Smith, MD. Last reviewed: October 2026.
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Is Knee Replacement Right for You?
Knee replacement is an operation for end-stage arthritis, most often osteoarthritis, but also rheumatoid arthritis and arthritis that follows an old fracture or ligament injury. The surgeon removes the worn ends of the thigh bone and shin bone and resurfaces them with metal components separated by a medical-grade plastic bearing. When only one compartment of the knee is worn, a partial replacement resurfaces that compartment alone and keeps the healthy cartilage and ligaments.
Surgery is considered when:
X-rays show bone-on-bone wear in at least one compartment
Pain limits walking, stairs, sleep or work despite months of non-surgical care
The knee is stiff, gives way or has drifted into a bow-legged or knock-kneed position
Injections and therapy no longer provide meaningful relief
Age alone is not the deciding factor. Patients in their fifties with severe wear and patients in their eighties in good general health both do well when the knee is the real limiting problem.
What We Try First, in Elizabethtown
The non-surgical pathway is available at Westport Road:
Physical therapy with Simon Hoehn, PT, DPT and Dovie Brown, PTA, focused on quadriceps and hip strength, range of motion and walking mechanics. Dovie works one on one with patients and has extensive experience with orthopedic injuries and conditions.
Corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections for flare control
Bracing and activity modification, including an unloader brace for single-compartment arthritis
Weight management and anti-inflammatory medication where appropriate
Many patients delay surgery for years with this plan. Replacement is for the knee that no longer responds.
Your First Visit at Westport Road
Where: 529 Westport Road, Suite 2, Elizabethtown, KY 42701.
When: Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM; same-day appointments at 270-506-4888.
What happens: history, a knee and hip exam, and standing X-rays of the knee taken on site. Standing views show the true joint space.
Further imaging: MRI is rarely needed for arthritis. If it is, it is scheduled at Aptiva Health Imaging, 3615 Newburg Road in Louisville, and reviewed at your next Elizabethtown visit.
Bring: photo ID, insurance card, medication list, prior imaging or operative reports, and claim details for work or auto injuries.
Surgery Day
Knee replacement takes one to two hours under spinal or general anesthesia. Through an incision over the front of the knee, the surgeon removes the damaged surfaces, sizes and fits the components, and checks alignment and ligament balance before closing. Patients stand and walk with a walker the same day.
Surgery for Elizabethtown patients is performed in the Louisville metro area. Many knee replacements are now done as outpatient or overnight procedures; your surgeon decides this with you at the pre-operative visit in Elizabethtown, based on your health and home support.
Recovery and Physical Therapy in Hardin County
Days 0 to 14: walking with a walker, then a cane; home exercises for bending and straightening; wound check and first follow-up at the Elizabethtown office.
Weeks 2 to 6: physical therapy at Westport Road two to three times a week, working on motion, swelling control and strength. Most patients drive by three to four weeks once off narcotic pain medicine and able to bend the knee well.
Weeks 6 to 12: walking without aids, stairs, return to desk work and light activity.
Months 3 to 12: strength and endurance keep improving; the replaced knee feels most natural after about a year. Low-impact activity such as walking, cycling, swimming and golf is encouraged for life.
Risks and Realistic Expectations
Risks include infection, blood clots, stiffness, persistent pain, implant wear or loosening over time, and anesthesia complications. Modern implants are expected to last fifteen to twenty-five years. Most patients report large improvements in pain and function, but a replaced knee is not a twenty-year-old knee: kneeling may stay uncomfortable and high-impact sports are discouraged.
Why Elizabethtown Patients Choose Aptiva Health for Knee Replacement
One building for the whole pathway. Exam, X-ray, injections, bracing, the pre-operative visit, every follow-up and physical therapy all happen at 529 Westport Road, so you are not driving to Louisville for routine care.
A surgeon who sees you in Elizabethtown. Dr. J. Steve Smith evaluates you here, operates in the Louisville metro area, and follows you here afterward.
Therapy and surgery on one chart. Simon Hoehn, PT, DPT and Dovie Brown, PTA follow Dr. Smith’s protocol directly, so your rehab matches your operation.
Same-day appointments. Call 270-506-4888, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
Your Elizabethtown Clinic and Physical Therapy Team
Aptiva Health Orthopedics, Elizabethtown: 529 Westport Road, Suite 2, Elizabethtown, KY 42701. Phone 270-506-4888. Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. X-ray on site.
Physical therapy at Westport Road is provided by Simon Hoehn, PT, DPT and Dovie Brown, PTA. Dovie works one on one with patients and has extensive experience treating orthopedic injuries and conditions. Your surgeon and therapy team share one chart, so your rehab plan follows your surgical protocol.
MRI, when needed, is scheduled at Aptiva Health Imaging, 3615 Newburg Road, Louisville, KY 40218, and reviewed with you at your next Elizabethtown visit.
When to See a Doctor
You should be evaluated by an orthopedic specialist if you have:
Knee pain that has limited your daily activities for months
Knee pain at rest or at night
Stiffness that keeps the knee from fully straightening or bending
Knee arthritis that conservative care no longer controls
A prior knee surgery or injury and a knee that has gradually worsened
Same-day appointments are available at our Elizabethtown clinic Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Call 270-506-4888.
Your Elizabethtown Knee Surgeon
J. Steve Smith, MD — Director of Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Dr. Steve Smith is the Director of Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine at Aptiva Health and a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. He graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, trained at the University of Rochester, and completed a sports medicine fellowship at the Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles. He has performed thousands of orthopedic procedures and treats the full range of knee conditions, from sports injuries and ligament tears to knee arthritis and knee replacement. Dr. Smith evaluates and treats knee patients at Aptiva Health’s Elizabethtown clinic on Westport Road, performs surgery in the Louisville metro area, and follows patients in Elizabethtown afterward.
Get Evaluated in Elizabethtown
Aptiva Health Orthopedics, Elizabethtown: 529 Westport Road, Suite 2, Elizabethtown, KY 42701. Call 270-506-4888, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, or schedule online. Same-day appointments are available.
Insurance accepted: most major medical insurance, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, most Kentucky Medicaid plans, workers’ compensation and auto injury coverage. We offer self-pay where there is no insurance, it is a non-covered service, and on a case-by-case basis. Call 270-506-4888 and our team will check your plan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Knee Replacement in Elizabethtown
Do I have to go to Louisville for knee replacement?
Your evaluation, X-rays, injections, pre-operative visit, follow-ups and physical therapy are all at our Elizabethtown clinic on Westport Road. The surgery itself is performed in the Louisville metro area, and you return to Elizabethtown for all follow-up care.
Partial or total: which do I need?
It depends on how many compartments of the knee are worn and on the condition of your ligaments. Standing X-rays taken at the Elizabethtown clinic usually answer the question, and Dr. Smith reviews the options with you at your visit.
How long does recovery take?
Most patients walk without a walker by two to three weeks, drive by three to four weeks, return to desk work by four to six weeks, and feel close to full function by three months. Strength keeps improving for a year.
Can I do physical therapy in Elizabethtown?
Yes. Simon Hoehn, PT, DPT and Dovie Brown, PTA provide post-operative therapy at the Westport Road clinic, one on one, following Dr. Smith’s protocol.
How soon can I be seen?
Same-day appointments are available Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Call 270-506-4888.