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Some of you reading this newsletter are patients whom we are treating conservatively with non-surgical methods, some of you have already gone to surgery. Some of you have or do qualify for same-day outpatient hip or knee replacement, which I perform at
Seaside Surgery Center.
Some of you do not, for various reasons. For those of you who will have your joint replacements in a hospital setting, that hospital will be Landmark Hospital of Southwest Florida, where I am Chief of Surgery, and also the Medical Director for The Joint Care Center (JCC). JCC has just launched a new website and I encourage you to follow this link to learn about the benefits of surgery in a hospital facility focused on orthopaedic procedures.
Wherever your surgery is conducted, we look forward to restoring you to an active life without pain, "...because living with pain isn't really living!"
If you know someone who could use this info, please
forward
this newsletter using the link at the bottom.
Best wishes,
Robert J. Zehr, M.D.
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Does your knee replacement need replacing?
As people live longer and more people receive knee replacements at younger ages, it is expected that an increasing number of those implants will wear out and/or fail for some reason. In these cases, a second operation will be necessary to replace or revise the failed first replacement and this procedure is referred to as revision knee replacement. The increasing demands placed on these implants by patients in terms of longevity and durability; and expectations of patients to maintain their active lifestyles even with a knee replacement has presented a considerable reconstructive challenge to the surgeon.
In almost all cases the presenting symptom of failure of a knee implant is PAIN! This is especially true if the implant is coming loose or there is an infection around the implant. Associated symptoms include
stiffness of the joint or a persistent limp caused by the failing joint.
Unfortunately, it is estimated that 10% - 15% of
total knee replacements that function well and have no observable or discoverable problems still have persistent pain. In other cases, the knee feels like it wants to give out or has a general feeling of being unstable. Again, sometimes a prosthetic knee will have strange feelings or pain even if it is mechanically working correctly.
Each of these symptoms should be evaluated to help determine if the knee replacement has something wrong with it or is functioning as expected. A variety of tests are available and often many of them are necessary to sort out the issues that have
left the primary knee replacement dysfunctional. Many of the common causes for failed total knee which would lead to the need for a revision of part or all of the implant are discussed on our website.
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Pumpkin - a Halloween treat that's good for your joints
Every year at this time we share some pumpkin fun and facts in this newsletter, on our blog, or on our Facebook page. That's because pumpkin is a Halloween treat that is actually good for your joints!
Did you know that pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snakebites? False claims aside, pumpkins are good for you! They are low in calories, fat and sodium and high in fiber. They are
good sources of Vitamin A, Vitamin B, potassium, protein and iron. And protein and iron are good for your bones!
Iron helps certain enzymes and local regulators function properly so that we can form the optimal bone matrix or structure for bone strength.
Proteins are our bodies' building blocks. We use protein to build tissue during growth and to repair and replace tissue throughout life. We also need protein to help heal fractures and to make sure our immune system is functioning properly. Getting enough protein is particularly important for elderly people. Studies show that elderly people who have not been getting enough protein and who break their hip are more likely to suffer poor medical outcomes.
So enjoy that pumpkin and have a safe Halloween!
Curious about pumpkins? Read more about this beneficial veggie on this University of Illinois "Pumpkins and More"
website.
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Remember the "Cardiac Cards"?
Football fans "of a certain age" will remember then-St. Louis Cardinals quarterback Jim Hart, who led the team in 199 games from 1966 - 1983. Jim still holds the career passing yardage record for the now-Arizona Cardinals with 34,639 yards. Jim also holds a special place in our hearts at ZCO, as he and his wife Mary (his college sweetheart!) are dear friends and enthusiastic supporters of the ZCO team! Jim recently shared his story of knee replacement surgery in a video testimony you can
watch here. In fact, we have 6 new video testimonials posted.
And if you're a college football fan, you may see one of our new TV commercials on FOX4 (or just
watch them here and
here).
Our website is full of testimonies like Jim's - patients who are living pain-free lives. You can
read them here
. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send us photos and stories for our office "Frame of Fame." We invite you to share your success story too, just hit "Reply!"
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