The path to middle age has taken its toll on active baby boomers. Arthritis followed by knee replacement surgery could become the norm for many of the 78 million middle-aged Americans. Now a new technique offers hope for active years ahead.
Ahmed Ali is finally back on his feet, crouching and clicking, kneeling and directing. His glamour photography business depends on his knees.
"My knees are like my lifeblood," he says. "If they don't work, I don't work." But knee pain nearly put an end to his work.
Emirates Hospital's Orthopedic Surgeon Khalid Naaman, M.D., had a solution for Mr. Ali -- computer-assisted knee surgery that can last up to 30 years. Standard surgery usually lasts less than 20 years.
"Instead of guessing where the mechanical axis or points of reference are, the computer tells us , accurately where they are, and it's accurate to within one or two degrees,". He says the surgery is more expensive but worth it. "I really like the accuracy component of it. I can be absolutely confident that every one of my patients has the potential to have the same exact result." New Approach: Computer assisted knee surgery helps surgeons precisely align the artificial joint in the bone. This increases the long term effectiveness of the knee replacement because there is no guessing. Before the surgery, a model is developed using an instrument that outlines the contour of the knee. An infrared camera reads signals from the instrument. The computer then develops a model of the knee. This image is projected onto a monitor and helps guide the surgeon's artificial implant to the bone.
Easer Recovery: The computer-assisted knee surgery eliminates the need for a rod that is inserted up the length of the femur. Previously, the rod was used to determine proper knee implant alignment in relation to the hip joint. Now, this data is generated by the computer. Because of this, patients have a reduced risk of fat embolism. That is important because if fat travels through the blood stream, it can become lodged in the heart or brain and cause heart
failure, dementia or stroke. Furthermore, the quality and accuracy of the virtual image provided by the computer enables smaller incisions while still achieving the same successful outcome.
Due to the smaller incisions, a faster surgery is possible. It also takes less time to recover, which shortens a patient's hospital stay. Physical therapy time is reduced because of the precise incisions the surgeon can make. The new, computer-assisted surgery can last for up to 30 years without the need for another replacement.
After his surgery, Mr. Ali says he's able to work a full day and even do more physical activity. "We started riding bikes. We're back exercising. We're walking on a regular basis," he says. "The weight is coming off."
Mr. Ali says with his new knees -- and his new regime -- he plans on being able to work another 30 years.
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, about 267,000 total knee replacement surgeries are performed each year in the United States. The computer-assisted surgery is now available at Emirates Hospital, Dubai - UAE.
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© Press Release 2006
