John Krebs, MD, and William Stanfield, MD, Are the Only Northeast Ohio Orthopedic Surgeons Performing MAKOplasty Robotic Partial Knee Replacement
MAKOplasty® partial knee resurfacing lets active baby boomers with arthritis in only part of the knee get back faster to their favorite activities -- even running. Surgeons use robotics to replace just the damaged part of the knee, preserving the knee's alignment and stability -- and helping avoid the need for future surgery. Some patients are back on the golf course just five weeks after surgery.
Sheffield Village, OH (PRWEB) May 22, 2009
Northeast Ohioans with osteoarthritis in only part of the knee have a new treatment option -- a state-of-the-art surgical procedure that spares the healthy part of the knee and allows for faster recovery than knee replacement surgery.
The Center for Orthopedics (CFO) in Sheffield Village, Ohio now offers minimally invasive MAKOplasty® partial knee resurfacing. A robotic arm gives orthopedic surgeons visual, tactile and sound feedback as they remove the damaged portion of the knee and precisely replace it with a partial knee implant. The procedure is FDA-approved and is normally covered by insurance.
CFO board-certified orthopedic surgeons William Stanfield, MD, and John Krebs, MD, are two of only three surgeons in Ohio -- and the only ones in northeast Ohio -- with the advanced training to perform MAKOplasty partial knee resurfacing.
"Eighty-five percent of people with knee arthritis have it in only one part of the knee -- usually the inside component," says Dr. Krebs.
"MAKOplasty can replace just the inside component of the knee -- or replace the patellofemoral joint in patients with arthritis between the kneecap and the thigh," explains Dr. Stanfield.
Sixty-six-year-old Bob from Grafton, Ohio, had MAKOplasty on Feb. 18 and was back to playing golf by the end of March. Before his surgery, arthritis in his left knee made it impossible for him to enjoy his favorite sports -- or even walk down stairs -- without pain and weakness. "It felt like my knee was going to buckle," he recalls.
Bob was shocked when his family doctor diagnosed him with arthritis. "I'm an active guy," he says. "I've been playing tennis for 20 years and golf for even longer than that. And I've umpired high school baseball since 1979."
When physical therapy and injections didn't help Bob's arthritis pain, his family doctor referred him to Dr. Krebs. Bob recalls, "Dr. Krebs looked at my x-rays and said, 'Everything in your knee looks great, except for the right side.' Then he told me I was a candidate for a partial knee replacement."
"In arthritis patients, the articular cartilage -- the tough tissue that covers the ends of the bones at the joints -- wears thin," Dr. Stanfield explains. "That's what we replace with a MAKOplasty."
"MAKOplasty leaves the normal 2/3 of the knee in place -- including all the ligaments," says Dr. Krebs. "This preserves the alignment and stability of the knee. And thanks to robotics, the precise placement of the knee implant minimizes wear and tear on the replacement components."
"MAKOplasty can stop the progression of arthritis because it puts a stable surface on an area that would continue to wear down if you did nothing to it," Dr. Krebs explains. "I believe partial knee resurfacing can prevent arthritis from progressing to the point where you would need a total knee replacement. MAKOplasty could be the only knee surgery you ever need."
"Active patients like Bob whose partial-knee arthritis is keeping them from running, playing tennis and doing the things they love are perfect candidates for MAKOplasty," says Dr. Krebs. "After MAKOplasty, they're able to do everything they could do before -- without the pain."
"MAKOplasty patients don't have a lot of scar tissue or post-operative pain." Dr. Krebs explains. "The incision is small and recovery is fast."
These days, when Bob isn't on the golf course, he's officiating at high school baseball games. "I've umpired 18 games so far this season," he says.
Dr. William Stanfield to speak about MAKOplasty at May 27 Arthritis Expo
On May 27, Dr. William Stanfield will speak about MAKOplasty at the 2009 Lorain County, Ohio Arthritis Expo and Wellness Fair. The fair will be held from 10:00 a. m. to 3:00 p. m. at Lorain County Community College's Spitzer Conference Center at 1005 Abbe Road North in Elyria, Ohio. Admission is free; pre-registration is required. Call 800-245-2275 ext. 192 or click here to register.
The Arthritis Expo will also feature CFO's Robert Berkowitz, MD, speaking about lumbar (lower-back) arthritis, and Daniel Zanotti, MD, speaking about arthritis shoulder pain.
For more information on MAKOplasty, visit http://www. center4orthopedics. com/makoplasty.
The Center for Orthopedics in Sheffield Village, Oberlin and Westlake, Ohio offers complete bone and joint care by five advance-trained, board-certified orthopedic surgeons. Call 440-329-2800 or visit http://www. center4orthopedics. com for more information.
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