From Dr. Buchalter's Desk
Dr. Buchalter answers all your questions about today’s advances in Knee Replacement Surgery!
"I’M HAVING A LOT OF PAIN IN MY KNEE. MY DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT I HAVE ARTHRITIS AND MAY NEED TO HAVE A TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT. I’VE BEEN TOLD THE OPERATION IS PAINFUL AND THERE’S A VERY LONG RECOVERY. IS THAT TRUE?"
Knee replacements have been around for over 40 years. Over 90% of knee replacements will last more than 20 years. Recent advances are allowing for faster recoveries and less pain. Surgery can be done with a "MIS" or a minimal incision approach. These incisions are 3-4 inches in length instead of the 8-12 inch incisions in traditional knee replacements. In addition, computer GPS systems allow for accurate and reproducible placement of the components.
Not only have the length of hospital stays been decreased, but patients are now ableto walk for 30 minutes without the use of a cane just one month after surgery. By using the computer, the accuracy of the surgery has been dramatically improved. The better the alignment, the faster the recovery, and the more likely that the knee replacement will last over 20 years.
The reason you may not have heard about this innovation isn’t because it’s experimental. The equipment is so expensive that surgeons must perform hundreds of procedures in order for it to be cost-effective. It takes a significant amount of training and dedication to learn this method. As a surgeon who performs 200 total knee replacements a year, I am one of the very few surgeons in the country using this technique. Many of my patients who have had knee replacement drive to my office two weeks after surgery telling me they’re no longer in pain!
Even more technological advances are under way. I’ve just been chosen to be a leading investigator who will be performing custom knee replacements. Before surgery, special x-rays are taken and sent to a company that makes instruments that are designed to be used only in that selected individual. I am quite excited about the opportunity to offer this to the community.
Knee replacements no longer have to be a painful procedure with a lengthy recovery.
If you are suffering with chronic knee pain from arthritis, schedule a personal consultation with me today. We will review your history and discuss your options for minimally invasive knee replacement and start you on a permanent road to recovery.
Call (561) 496-6622 to schedule an appointment today or request a consultation securely online now!