Mercy Hospital’s surgical team showcased a new advanced technique for total knee replacement (TKR), during a live webcast of an actual surgery on Tuesday, October 28th, at 5 p.m. Because of its minimally invasive nature this procedure’s recovery time has been reduced to 50% of the recovery associated with a conventional knee replacement procedure. Cutting into the muscle is minimal, and there is less blood loss, pain and fewer complications.
The mini-incision TKR allows patients to substantially improve their quality of life by eliminating pain, regaining more mobility and improved range of motion. Patients are on their feet just hours after surgery and begin aggressive 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, therefore leaving a smaller scar: 4-5 inch versus an 8-10 inch incision.
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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.
Standard total knee replacement surgery usually lasts about 90 minutes to two hours; Dr. Lavernia usually takes less than one hour from incision to stitching.
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, an adjunct clinical professor of orthopaedics and biomedical engineering at the University of Miami, 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.
Mercy Hospital, a recent winner of the HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™ and the J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Hospital for Service Excellence™, is a comprehensive medical center, sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph, and part of the Catholic Health East - one of the nation's largest healthcare systems. The 512-bed hospital currently has more than 900 physicians on staff representing 28 medical specialties. Its Centers of Excellence include: The Heart Center at Mercy Hospital, the Miami Cancer Center at Mercy Hospital, and The Orthopaedic Institute at Mercy Hospital. Mercy Hospital is located at 3663 S. Miami Avenue, Miami, FL. | ||||||
