When it comes to knee replacement surgery, getting patients back to their desired quality of life is key, according to surgeons with Orthopedics & Sports Medicine BayCare Clinic in Manitowoc.
Drs. Jon Henry, Carl A. DiRaimondo and Craig L. Olson took part in a Facebook livestream focused on partial knee replacement and total knee replacement surgeries.
“Our philosophy for the three of us here, all of us in our office, it’s to customize patient care and to help patients get their quality of life back,” Henry says. “The goal of any treatment, whether it’s taking an ibuprofen or having knee replacement, the goal is to help patients get back and maintain their desired quality of life.”
Partial knee replacement surgery, or knee resurfacing, is a minimally invasive procedure in which only one part of the knee joint is replaced. Bone, cartilage and ligaments in the healthy part of the knee are preserved.
Total knee replacement surgery removes the old, problematic knee and replaces it with durable prosthetic components made of metal and plastic.
Both options offer improved motor function and eliminate pain associated with deteriorating or seriously injured knees.
It’s important to consider an orthopedic surgeon’s educational background, training and experience when selecting one for knee surgery, all three doctors say.
“There’s always new and different modifications to what we’re doing,” DiRaimondo says. “It’s the ongoing education … that provides us with opportunities where every year we’re going out and doing courses, we’re trying to learn and bring back techniques that we feel, in our hands, we can provide for our patients.”
Emerging technologies play a key role in that, as does the collective experience of the orthopedic surgeons at Orthopedics & Sports Medicine BayCare Clinic in Manitowoc, Olson says.
“Technology’s a big deal. … We’re always looking forward to see what we can change to improve patient’s lives,” he says.
“There’s no substitute for experience when it comes to quality surgery with successful outcomes,” Henry adds. “Excellent experience and skills combined with technology gives you the best situation. You can’t replace experience for a shiny new toy or tool or the latest technology.”