CHICAGO, Ill. (Ivanhoe Newswire) – The knee is the most commonly injured joint, especially among athletes, with over two injuries per every one thousand people in the U.S., according to The Consumer Product Safety Commission and The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. There are about 790,000 total knee replacement procedures performed in the United States every year. Doctors at Midwest Orthopaedics have developed a minimally-invasive total knee replacement procedure to get patients up and running sooner rather than later.
From sports, to tripping, or just aging, knee injuries are quite common. Total knee replacement surgery has become a common procedure, offering relief from chronic knee pain and restoring mobility.
Richard Berger, MD at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush explains, “We’re doing a much better job with the surgery. If you had a knee replacement, for example, used to be out for months and months and months – you come to see me, you’ll be out of the hospital in three hours, you’ll be back driving and back to work, if you wanna be, in a week.”
Total knee replacement surgery, also known as total knee arthroplasty, or TKA, is a surgical procedure that replaces the damaged or worn surfaces of the knee joint with artificial components, typically made of metal and plastic. The surgery Dr. Berger performed is done through a three- to four-inch incision instead of a large eight- to 12-inch incision. Ninety-two percent of patients leave the hospital the same day.
“Whether or not it’s to run a marathon or take a walk around the block or just go up and down and doing the laundry in the evening, patients wanna do what they wanna do, and I’m providing them that mobility,” Dr. Berger tells Ivanhoe.
In addition to a faster recovery and shorter hospital stay, TKA also increases range of motion sooner after surgery and there is less blood loss. Despite the numerous benefits of total knee replacement surgery, it’s essential to recognize that it’s not suitable for everyone. People who smoke, are obese, or have had any form of a severe nerve disease are not good candidates for TKA.
Contributors to this news report include: Adahlia Thomas, Producer; Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, Videographer; Roque Correa, Editor.
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Sources:
https://greatlakeso.com/knee-replacement/who-is-not-a-good-candidate-for-knee-replacement/
MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS
RESEARCH SUMMARY
TITLE: GET A KNEE REPLACED TODAY; DRIVE NEXT WEEK
REPORT: MB #5393
BACKGROUND: Knee injuries can range from minor strains to severe ligament or cartilage tears, and they can have a significant impact on a person’s mobility and quality of life. The knee has four major ligaments, the ACL, PCL, MCL, and LCL that provide stability. Injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament ACL and medial collateral ligament MCL tears are common in athletes. Knee injuries account for a significant portion of all orthopedic injuries. They are especially common in sports such as soccer, basketball, football, and skiing. Total knee replacement surgery, also known as total knee arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure in which a damaged or worn-out knee joint is replaced with an artificial joint, known as a prosthesis. This surgery is typically recommended for patients with severe knee arthritis or other knee conditions that cause significant pain and disability. The most common reason for total knee replacement is osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease that causes the cartilage in the knee to break down.
(Sources: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/ligament-injuries-to-the-knee
DIAGNOSING: Diagnosing the need for total knee replacement surgery involves a thorough evaluation of a patient’s knee joint to determine whether the joint damage or disease is severe enough to warrant the procedure. This evaluation typically includes a combination of medical history, physical examination, and imaging tests. Diagnosis always begins with the gathering of a patient’s history, previous treatments, and other health condition detection. Next, physical examinations, and imaging tests are conducted. The goal is to determine whether surgery is the best option to alleviate pain, restore function, and improve the patient’s quality of life. The decision for surgery should be made collaboratively between the patient and healthcare provider, taking into account the patient’s preferences and overall health.
NEW TECHNOLOGY: Small sensors that allow for increased intervention during recovery of knee injuries have become a new method of treatment for patients recovering from knee injuries. Smart sensor-Bluetooth devices are now being joined to patient’s knees during knee replacement surgeries. After surgery, it allows surgeons to track their steps, range of motion, and how frequently they are getting around.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT:
Ann Pitcher
If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Marjorie Bekaert Thomas at mthomas@ivanhoe.com
