Five Insights from Five Years of Orthopedic Care in Tyler
Five years after opening, CHRISTUS Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Institute Tyler has become one of East Texas' busiest destinations for orthopedic care, performing more than 1,000 surgeries annually and helping expand specialty orthopedic services across the region.
In Tyler specifically:
- Joint replacement and revision procedures account for nearly 28% of surgical activity.
- More than four follow-up or post-operative visits occur for every new orthopedic patient visit, reflecting the long-term relationships often required to treat injuries, manage conditions and support recovery.
- Knee-related procedures accounted for approximately 1 in 4 surgical procedures.
While knee injuries and joint replacements are treated most often, the institute also performs common sports medicine procedures such as ACL reconstruction, meniscus surgery, rotator cuff repair, shoulder arthroscopy and labral repair.
1. Orthopedic Care Is More Than a Procedure
Joint replacement surgery is often one step in a much longer process.
The Joint Commission's Advanced Certification in Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement evaluates care across the full patient journey, from the initial orthopedic consultation through rehabilitation and follow-up care. Both Tyler and Longview have earned this designation.
That broader view of orthopedic care is reflected in CHRISTUS orthopedic services, where follow-up visits occurred approximately four times more often than new orthopedic patient visits.
Recovery often includes consultations, imaging, surgery, therapy and continued monitoring over weeks or months.
The emphasis on rehabilitation, follow-up care and long-term outcomes reflects a philosophy that orthopedic success is measured not only by the surgery itself, but by how well patients recover and regain function.
2. Sports Medicine Extends Beyond the Clinic
Sports medicine was part of the vision when the CHRISTUS Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Institute opened in Tyler. Bringing orthopedic specialists, rehabilitation, performance services and sports medicine together helped create a more connected way to support athletes, families and active people across East Texas.
Sports medicine is an important part of the institute's work, but its impact reaches beyond surgical procedures and clinic visits. CHRISTUS orthopedic teams perform sports medicine-related procedures such as ACL reconstruction, meniscus surgery, rotator cuff repair, shoulder arthroscopy and labrum repair.
That work also extends into the community. CHRISTUS physicians, athletic trainers and care teams support schools and athletic programs throughout the communities they serve. Initiatives such as Saturday Sports Clinics help connect young athletes and families with orthopedic expertise, injury evaluation and guidance before small issues become larger problems.
For patients and families, orthopedic care is not limited to the hospital or clinic. It is becoming part of the community, helping athletes stay healthy, recover safely and return to the activities they enjoy.
3. Orthopedic Surgery Reflects a Broad Range of Patient Needs
Orthopedic care in East Texas extends far beyond a single type of procedure.
Over the last year, CHRISTUS orthopedic teams performed surgical procedures across several major categories.
| Surgical Category | Share of Surgical Activity |
|---|---|
| Joint Replacement and Revision | 27.8% |
| Fracture and Trauma Repair | 23.3% |
| Arthroscopy and Sports Injury Repair | 17.8% |
| Hand, Wrist and Nerve Procedures | 13.7% |
| Other Orthopedic Procedures | 17.5% |
The "other orthopedic procedures" category includes specialized procedures such as tendon and ligament repair, hardware removal, debridement, manipulation procedures, thumb reconstruction, elbow arthroplasty and foot arthroplasty.
4. Joint Replacement Remains a Major Need Across East Texas
Joint replacement and revisions accounted for nearly 28% of all surgical procedures.
Nearly half of all major joint replacement and revision activity involved the knee, followed by the hip and shoulder. That mix reinforces the continued importance of mobility-focused orthopedic care across East Texas.
| Joint Replacement Category | Share of Major Joint Replacement and Revision Activity |
|---|---|
| Knee | 49.7% |
| Hip | 35.5% |
| Shoulder | 14.8% |
5. Knee Care Includes More Than Knee Replacement
Knee-related procedures accounted for roughly 25% of all surgical procedures.
Knee care at CHRISTUS includes the full spectrum of knee problems, from sports injuries and torn ligaments to arthritis and joint deterioration.
Knee-related procedures include more than just knee replacements. The category includes knee replacement and revision procedures, robotic-assisted knee replacement, navigation-assisted knee replacement, ACL reconstruction, meniscus surgery, knee arthroscopy and other knee-related surgical interventions.
| Knee Procedure Category or Example | Role in the Story |
|---|---|
| Total knee replacement | Advanced joint disease or severe joint damage |
| Robotic-assisted MAKO knee replacement | Technology-supported knee replacement |
| Navigation-assisted knee replacement | Technology-supported surgical planning and placement |
| Revision knee replacement | Follow-up surgery for existing knee replacement needs |
| ACL reconstruction | Sports injury and ligament repair |
| Meniscus surgery | Treatment for common knee cartilage injuries |
| Knee arthroscopy | Minimally invasive diagnosis or treatment of knee problems |
| Other knee repair procedures | Additional care for injury, pain or function-related needs |
A Local Idea Has Become a Regional Approach
What began in Tyler has expanded into a broader orthopedic presence across East Texas.
When the CHRISTUS Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Institute opened in Tyler, it brought orthopedic specialists, surgery, rehabilitation, diagnostics and recovery services together in a single location. Today, that approach extends beyond Tyler into Longview, Beaumont and Texarkana.
Tyler remains the largest orthopedic hub in the region, performing more than 1,000 surgeries a year and holding The Joint Commission Advanced Certification in Total Hip and Total Knee Replacements. The campus also has access to robotic-assisted joint replacement using the Mako SmartRobotics system with same-day discharge for eligible patients.
Longview has become a significant orthopedic destination. The market performs more than 600 surgeries annually, maintains advanced hip and knee replacement certification and reports that approximately 90% of eligible joint replacement patients return home the same day.
Texarkana performs more than 500 surgeries each year and offers robotic-assisted joint replacement technology locally, helping patients access advanced orthopedic care closer to home.
In Beaumont, patients have access to orthopedic specialists, robotic-assisted joint replacement technology, preoperative joint education classes and same-day discharge for eligible patients.
While each market continues to evolve, together they demonstrate how the orthopedic approach first established in Tyler has expanded into additional communities across East Texas and Southeast Texas, bringing orthopedic expertise, rehabilitation and recovery services closer to where patients live.
