Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/344009
BATTLE-TESTED APPROACH TO HEALING MICHAEL J. LANGWORTHY, MD, was on the battlefield in Afghanistan when he received the call from Southcoast recruiting him to lead and reshape its orthopedic program. A Reserve Captain and Director of Advanced Trauma Life Support for the U.S. Navy, Dr. Langworthy served as the Director of the Navy SEAL orthopedic clinic in Coronado, California from 1998 to 2004. His vast military background and work, not only with trauma patients but also with those suffering the wear and tear of perform- ing physically rigorous jobs under extreme conditions, have informed his vision for orthopedic care at Southcoast. As Chief of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine at Southcoast, he places a premium on teamwork and attention to detail — and has a penchant for innovation. "As an orthopedic trauma surgeon treating civilians and soldiers injured in war, you develop an understanding of damage control surgery very quickly," Dr. Langworthy says. "Wars typically advance civilian trauma capabilities because of the many lessons learned." Dr. Langworthy's research and writings have led to an expansion of patient options for advanced bone care at Southcoast — the use of viscosupplementation for treating osteoarthritis, for example. "We are focusing on managing arthritis in active-duty military personnel," he says. "Also, we are investigating molecular tools to coat cartilage so arthritis that is already present does not progress further." Viscosupplementation, which involves injecting hyaluronic acid into affected joints, has been demonstrated to delay disease progression. The treatment also relieves pain and provides patients with better mobility. Particularly relevant for athletes, soldiers and others whose jobs put a premium on physical activity, viscosupplementation begins working soon after the injection and remains effective for up to one year following treatment. to our local communities. Our focus remains top-notch, patient-centric care close to home." These new additions add to a lineup of existing physicians, which includes Gi lb er t Sh api ro, M D; Ha r r y Von Ertfelda, MD; Matthew Baltz, MD; Ch r ist ia n D ee, MD; a nd Stephen Heacox, MD. Kevin Maguire, MD, a plastic surgeon who joined Southcoast last fall, will contribute with hand and reconstructive surgery. "We are very fortunate at Southcoast that we have a rich tradition of excellent orthopedic care," says Dr. Miller. "Many of the surgeons at Southcoast have been in the community for decades. Our new orthopedic surgeons will build on this strong foundation and help us provide even more specialty care in orthopedics for our patients." Advanced Technology for Knee and Hip Repair An innovative, patient-centered care model is just the start. Exceptional i n for m at ion te ch nolo g y, me d ic a l devices and procedures ensure surgery patients receive prostheses that fit with pinpoint accuracy. For partial knee replacements and selected hip replacements, Southcoast physicians are trained to use Blue Belt, a robotic orthopedic surgical tool that allows a surgeon to more easily manipu- late which sections of bone are removed and which sections are kept during an operation. They are also planning to integrate this technology with Google Glass, allowing surgeons to see the incision site via the robotic camera while performing surgery directly on the patient. When it comes to hip surgery, newly de velop e d pneu m at ic te ch nolo g y for modeling t he femu r to create an excellent fit for the prosthesis is now available at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bed ford, which is pa r t of Southcoast Health. "The surgeon machines the proximal femur for hyper-accurate fit, which helps with soft-tissue balancing and matching leg lengths," Dr. Langworthy says. "By providing just one Newton of pressure, this device ensures the surgeon does not fracture the femur during surgery." Despite these impressive innova- tions, Dr. Langworthy emphasizes that patients should come to Southcoast for all-around care, not just for the latest technologies or techniques. "From the moment they walk into their primary care provider's office to the time they undergo surgery and beyond, our patients experience seam- less medical care," he explains. "We are removing silos among primar y care, specialists and subspecialists, resulting in an excellent environment for patients and physicians alike." To learn more, visit www.southcoast.org. ■ COV ER FE AT UR E 8 | Greater Boston MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M