MDNews - Mid Hudson

Dr. Lombardo visits with a patient during multidisciplinary rounds in one of the newly renovated orthopedic suites. perform physical therapy in the hospital without resorting to narcotics. For patients who need additional pain control, multiple modes are available, including on-demand narcotics delivered orally or intravenously. Intravenous Tylenol is also available. With this combination of effective pain-management approaches, patients are typically able to move from bed to a chair the morning after surgery and begin physical therapy soon afterward. Once out of the hospital, Dr. Stamer explains, the level of pain experienced and pain tolerance vary by individual and type of surgery. Knee surgery involves more pain than hip surgery, he specifies, because patients have to work against scar tissue to bend the knee. One aspect of patient empowerment at VBMC involves helping patients understand that some pain is involved in joint replacement and that medications are available for them to manage their pain to a level suitable for going about daily tasks and completing ongoing therapy. "Part of the preoperative process is helping patients understand what to expect so they are not surprised by normal surgical pain," Dr. Renaldo adds. "After surgery, we help patients come up with realistic goals for pain control so they can function independently at home." By one to two months after surgery, most patients are pain-free and extremely satisfied with the outcomes of their procedures. Advanced Techniques for knee replacement Dr. Stamer performs minimally invasive knee replacement surgery, which results in less tissue trauma to patients than open surgery. During the years, even complex surgeries such as joint replacements have evolved into minimally invasive procedures in most cases. "Knee replacement is really a resurfacing or removal of the arthritic surface of the knee," Dr. Stamer explains. "Entering through small incisions, we remove the arthritic tissue and place implants on the three bones' surfaces with a plastic — polyethylene — spacer in between. There is very little damage to the surrounding muscles, and patients experience much less postoperative pain and faster recovery than with open surgery." Hip surgery for Increased Mobility At VBMC, physicians are skilled in both anterior- and posterior-approach hip replacement. While Dr. Stamer emphasizes that both approaches have the potential to produce excellent results, anterior-approach hip replacement gives added stability and protection for patients in danger of dislocating their hips due to a stroke or other condition that causes spasticity. Other patients, such as those undergoing revision surgery, may not always be candidates for anterior hip replacement. But for those who have not "Vassar Brothers Medical Center offers comprehensive care here in the Hudson Valley for a wide range of patients, from children to elderly people, in any state of health. As specialists in orthopedic care, we individualize treatment to our patients. It is great to know that other specialties are available for consultation, especially for orthopedic patients who have other health issues." — nicholas J. Renaldo, mD, orthopedic spine surgeon, Orthopedic associates of Dutchess County a patient care technician works closely with a patient after total joint replacement surgery. the team focuses on safely getting patients moving as quickly as possible. MDNEWs.COM ■ MD News Mid Hudson |9

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