PIONEERING KNEE SURGERY PERFORMED AT SAINTS MEDICAL CENTER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Lowell, MA, April 3, 2008: Orthopedic surgeons at Saints Medical Center are pioneering a new minimally invasive option to treat painful arthritis. When total joint replacement of the knee is too extreme and other treatments do not provide adequate relief, this could be the answer for some.
Scott Sigman, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Saints Medical Center, recently performed one of the country’s first patella resurfacing surgeries. This is a promising new treatment for patients with early disease of the patello-femoral joint, the area where the kneecap and the lower thigh bone work together. Normally, the kneecap or patella moves as you bend and extend your leg. When the patella does not move as it should, damage to surrounding cartilage can occur.
“The kneecap is frequently the source of pain and discomfort due to trauma, inflammation, misalignment or arthritis – all common conditions that may lead to a decrease in physical activity levels,” said Dr. Sigman. “When pain occurs and the quality of life declines, that’s when most people decide it is time to see an orthopedic surgeon.”
Dr. Sigman believes replacing the entire joint is not always the best answer to healing a painful knee. “Total joint replacement can sometimes be too much surgery for minimal damage,” he observed. “Depending on the degree of cartilage injury, some patients may be candidates for physical therapy, realignment or arthroplasty. When these methods fail to alleviate pain and replacing the joint is not completely necessary, this less invasive procedure is a good option.”
A major benefit of resurfacing surgery is that it can be performed as a “same day” surgical procedure that does not require an overnight hospital stay. Less pain and trauma means faster rehabilitation and a faster recovery time in returning to a normal lifestyle.
Early results for this leading-edge procedure at Saints are extremely encouraging. For more information about patella resurfacing surgery and other orthopedic services call the Saints Orthopedic Center, at
978-446-2793.
Saints Medical Center is a nonprofit, full service, acute care community hospital serving Greater Lowell and the Merrimack Valley since 1839. A 181-bed licensed medical center, Saints provides advanced health services to 315,000 residents in 25 towns. With nearly 400 physicians and 1,500 employees, Saints Medical Center is well known for outstanding medical care and patient-centered facilities including our Cancer Center, Family Birth Unit, Orthopedic Center and Cardiovascular Services. Saints also offers convenient community-based care at several ambulatory sites and is dedicated to promoting health and wellness in the community. We have clinical affiliations with the leading Boston academic medical centers and are proud to be one of the top-rated hospitals in Massachusetts according to the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
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