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Broadcast:
Small Incision Total Knee Arthroplasty
Mercy Hospital's surgical team will showcase an advanced technique for total knee replacement (TKR), during a live webcast of an actual surgery on Tuesday, March 1st, at 5 p.m. Because of its minimally invasive nature, this procedure's recovery time has been reduced significantly from the recovery associated with a conventional knee replacement procedure. Smaller special instruments are used and cutting into the muscle is minimal. This allows for faster recovery and function and improved range of motion utilizing a multi disciplinary medical and surgical approach.
The small-incision TKR allows patients to substantially improve their quality of life by decreasing pain, regaining more mobility and improved range of motion. Patients are on their feet just hours after surgery and begin physical therapy the same day their procedure is completed. Another advantage of this new technique is a shorter length of stay in the hospital (less than three days). The minimally invasive surgery technique uses a smaller incision and an advanced pain management protocol.
Carlos J. Lavernia, MD, F.A.A.O.S., medical director of the Orthopaedic Institute at Mercy Hospital, leads a surgery team in performing the procedure during the Internet broadcast using an implant and instrumentation that he helped develop along with other surgeons.
"By using smaller incisions that require less cutting into the muscles, this technique allows patients to recover faster and may ultimately improve their mobility," said Dr. Lavernia.
Standard total knee replacement surgery usually lasts about 90 minutes to two hours. The procedure takes approximately one hour.
Live surgery webcasts give patients and family members the opportunity to observe the surgical technique. This contributes to alleviating the fear and anxiety associated with having this type of surgery. Dr. Lavernia has also served as principal investigator of several research studies. Among his research findings: that fear and anxiety plays a significant role in delaying joint replacement surgery and that waiting too long to undergo arthroplasty surgery negatively affects recovery and prevents proper healing. The latter study also showed that women and minorities-particularly African-Americans-have an increased tendency to delay surgery due to fear and anxiety.
About Mercy Hospital
Mercy Hospital, a recipient of the prestigious MagnetTM award for nursing excellence, HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence AwardTM (2003-2004, 2006-2011) and HealthGrades Patient Safety Excellence AwardTM (2007-2009), is Miami-Dade County's only Catholic Hospital. Established in 1950, it is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine, Florida and a member of Catholic Health East. A 473-bed acute care hospital, staffed by over 700 physicians representing 27 medical specialties, its Centers of Excellence include: The Heart Center at Mercy Hospital, the Miami Cancer Center at Mercy Hospital, the Orthopedic Institute at Mercy Hospital, the CyberKnife Institute, the Maternity and Women's Health Center and the Minimally Invasive Surgical Institute at Mercy Hospital. Mercy Hospital is located at 3663 South Miami Avenue, Miami, FL. www.mercymiami.org
Participants
Featuring:
Carlos Lavernia, MD
Chief, Orthopedics and Medical Director
Manuel Anton, III, MD
President & Chief Executive Officer