Nov 05, 2009
For Immediate Release
Contact: Sarah Ellis, (303) 765-6484, sarahellis@centura.org
Health News Update: What’s New In Joint Replacement
DENVER (Nov. 5, 2009) –More than 20 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, including three times as many women than men. This “wear and tear” form of arthritis affects the cartilage on the bones, resulting in decreased or completely worn off cartilage of the bones, which can then grind together and cause chronic, debilitating pain.
Dr. John S. Woodward Jr., chief of surgery at Porter Adventist Hospital and an innovative joint replacement surgeon, says that although the prognosis for osteoarthritis is that it worsens over time and there is no cure, there are treatments that can help – some non-surgical.
There is a strong correlation with the rise in obesity and osteoarthritis; many overweight people have osteoarthritis on the joints that bear the most weigh – knees, hips, feet and back. One lifestyle modification that can be helpful is weight loss; another is lifestyle modification, such as changing activities that may induce pain; and taking medication, such as Ibuprofen, Naproxen or Celebrex.
Many patients turn to corticosteroids for short-term relief of pain and swelling, but Dr. Woodward stresses the injection must be made directly into the joint for the patient to get any relief. Fitness programs to aid with weight loss can make a drastic difference, even if 10 to 15 pounds are lost, and assisted devices such as a walker or brace may also help osteoarthritis sufferers.
Surgery depends on the patient’s age, activity level, condition of the affected joint, and extent to which the disease has progressed. Joint replacement surgery involves resurfacing parts of the bones with implants, creating an artificial joint. Dr. Woodward says that much of today’s public interest in joint replacement surgery focuses on minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques. MIS involves newer, smaller instruments and smaller incisions. However, Dr. Woodward emphasizes that an issue may not be the size of the incision, but how the tissue is handled; if the incisions are small, this may result in potential tissue trauma and infection, due to the stretching and lack of visualization.
Another option is the unicompartmental surgery, where just one-third of the knee is resurfaced. This is also done via a smaller incision, and it may allow for a more active lifestyle; but Dr. Woodward says it is not uncommon for a patient to come back several years later with a condition that has worsened and now need a total knee replacement.
Computer-assisted surgery is available at Porter Adventist Hospital. Using this technology, Dr. Woodward has computer-aided evaluation of cuts and alignment, giving a better view and more precise implantation.
Dr. Woodward explains that there are myriad options to choose from when it comes to the type of surgical treatments available, and the type of implant used. The future of this technology is leaning toward more custom, patient-specific designs, where the joint implants will be patient-matched based on MRI/CT scan results.
Porter Adventist Hospital celebrated Bone & Joint Week, Oct. 12-16. The orthopedic doctors at The Porter Center for Joint Replacement are renowned for their expertise. Performing more than 1,000 joint surgeries each year as well as training surgeons around the world, they are international leaders in joint replacement surgery. Each doctor is dedicated to staying on top of the latest treatments and technological advances - often leading the way and conducting the latest research on joint technology and surgical techniques. Their findings have been published in noted medical journals and they lecture at seminars around the world.
About Porter Adventist Hospital
Porter Adventist Hospital is a full service, Nursing Magnet® designated, 368-bed acute-care referral center for complex medicine and surgery patients that specializes in cardiac care, cancer care, joint replacement, spinal care and transplant. Porter is sponsored by Adventist Health System and is part of Centura Health, Colorado’s largest hospital and health care network delivering advanced care to more than half a million people each year, across 12 hospitals, seven senior living communities, medical clinics, Flight for Life® and home care and hospice services. Porter’s and Centura's strength lies in the ability to offer a team of connected networks and shared resources to deliver accessible, reliable and cost-effective health care across the state. For more information about Porter Adventist Hospital, visit www.porterhospital.org or the Media Room at http://porter.mediaroom.com.
###
