Rhea Medical Center

SURGICAL P ioneers When 60-year-old Margaret Bott of Spring City injured her left knee while water skiing 15 years ago, she never expected the injury to resurface years later. "ALTHOUGH MY ENTIRE leg turned black and blue after the accident, I never sought medical attention," says Margaret. "Then, about two-and-a-half years ago, I noticed soreness and swelling in my knee and scheduled an appointment with my family physician [Chris Horton, MD]. Dr. Horton was concerned about the swelling, and he recommended I see a bone and joint specialist." Taking Dr. Horton's advice, Margaret made an appointment with David R. Robins, DO, board-certified orthopedic surgeon at RMC. Delaying the Inevitable Dr. Robins confirmed that Margaret suffered from a torn meniscus and another tear on the left side of her leg. To repair her knee, Dr. Robins decided to proceed with an arthroscopic procedure. "Once we began the surgery, I could see her left knee had sustained significant damage due to her old injury," says Dr. Robins. "After the procedure, I let her know she would need to undergo knee PROVIDING INNOVATIVE CARE David R. Robins, DO, board- certified orthopedic surgeon at Rhea Medical Center, is one of roughly 20 surgeons across the country currently offering robotic- assisted knee replacement surgery. Dr. Robins has received extensive training and has performed more than 70 robotic-assisted knee replacement surgeries throughout recent years. Equipped with the appropriate education and technology, Dr. Robins continues to offer patients high-quality care. 4 RHEA MEDICAL CENTER | SPRING 12 David R. Robins, DO replacement surgery when she could no longer manage the pain." Because of her very active lifestyle, Margaret decided to postpone the knee replacement surgery for two years. "I'm extremely active and always have a busy schedule, so I didn't want the surgery to interfere with my life," says Margaret. "I was in the middle of working on my master's degree and was taking medication to relieve my knee pain. As the pain progressed, I realized I couldn't handle it anymore." Taking Action After discussing the advantages of robotic- assisted knee replacement surgery with Dr. Robins, Margaret agreed to be the first patient to receive the surgery at RMC. "I had performed robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery more than 70 times at other facilities, so I was confident in offering this procedure to Margaret," says Dr. Robins. "By utilizing robotic guidance, we are able to measure more precisely before making an incision. We no longer For the past 30 years, Margaret Bott has supervised the Rhea County School System's adult education program, which provides classes for GED preparation and instruction to improve work-force skills and promote literacy throughout the community. have to navigate as deeply into the femur, which reduces blood loss and swelling and minimizes other complications. This minimally invasive procedure is ideal for patients suffering from wear and tear in their cartilage." Following her successful surgery, Margaret is currently undergoing physical therapy and making vast improvements. "Today, I'm able to bend my knee 120 degrees, my balance has improved, and I'm no longer in pain," says Margaret. "I gave birth to my children, had my gallbladder removed, and underwent a hysterectomy at RMC, so I wouldn't have gone anywhere else for my knee replacement procedure. I can't say enough great things about the hospital and the quality of care they continually provide." TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ROBOTIC KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY AT RHEA MEDICAL CENTER, VISIT MCMINNORTHO.COM AND SELECT "ROBOTIC KNEE REPLACEMENT."

• Cover