JRMC to host free seminar on knee replacement options

Jamestown Regional Medical Center will host a free JRMC U seminar on July 28 at Two Rivers Activity Center for people trying to decide when knee pain has become more than a nuisance. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Roxanne Keene will lead the 11 a.m. to noon session, titled “When is it time to consider a knee replacement?”, and the program will cover the causes of knee pain, conservative treatment options and when total knee replacement may be the right choice. The event will be held at 1501 5th St. NE in Jamestown.

The topic lands in a county where joint pain is likely familiar to many households. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated Stutsman County’s population at 21,414 on July 1, 2025, and said 21.8% of residents were 65 or older. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 21.3% of U.S. adults age 18 and older had diagnosed arthritis in 2024, a reminder that knee pain often starts as an everyday problem before it becomes a surgical one.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says total knee replacement may be worth considering when medications and walking supports no longer relieve knee arthritis symptoms. The academy describes knee replacement surgery as a procedure that can relieve pain, correct leg deformity and help patients resume everyday activities. For patients and families trying to sort out next steps, that is the key question to bring to a doctor: whether conservative care is still doing enough, or whether the pain has crossed into territory where a surgical evaluation makes sense.

JRMC says education is part of its orthopedic care, including a joint replacement education class for patients and family members before surgery. The hospital’s orthopedic specialty page says board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael T. Dean specializes in total joint replacements of the hip, knee and shoulder, knee arthroscopy and fracture repair, underscoring that the local program includes both pre-surgery teaching and operative care.

JRMC has also been recognized locally for joint replacement results. In August 2025, News Dakota reported the hospital was recognized for quality knee and hip replacements, citing averages of 21% fewer readmissions and 21% fewer complications within 90 days for designated facilities. A January 2026 account said Valley City resident Dale Sather experienced less pain and more mobility just six days after same-day total knee replacement at JRMC.

For residents weighing whether to keep trying conservative treatment or move toward surgery, the July 28 seminar offers a direct local starting point before the pain decides for them.