Lecture series reviews advances in joint replacement
Hip and knee replacements are among the nation’s most common surgical procedures with over one million joint replacements annually. Thousands of these are no doubt performed right here in Southwest Florida. And while these procedures may have become somewhat routine, there are advances being made to better the patient experience.
Readers interested in learning more about these advances should plan to stop by the next Well-Informed series lecture on Wednesday, Dec 9. from 5 to 6 p.m. at Hyatt Place Coconut Point in Estero.
The lectures is brought to you by Lee Memorial Health System.
“Patients undergoing these surgeries know these procedures can come with some pain and weeks of physical therapy before they regain full use of their hips and knees and head back out to the golf course or tennis courts, ” says Edward Humbert, D.O. with Joint Implant Surgeons of Florida. “But thanks to advances in hip and knee replacement techniques, this doesn’t have to be the case. There have been a lot of advances in joint replacement that minimize pain and recovery time.”
Dr. Humbert will discuss four of the innovative techniques he’s using to get patients up on their feet, pain-free faster than ever:
– Hip resurfacing: An alternative to traditional hip replacement, hip resurfacing involves reshaping a damaged hip ball and placing a metal “cap ” over it. Patients who opt for hip resurfacing instead of traditional hip replacement may have less risk of dislocated joints. Younger patients who may live longer than prosthetics typically last may prefer resurfacing as well, because it can be easier to perform a traditional replacement later if needed.
– Custom joint replacement: A new knee replacement option for patients who prefer custom-fit prosthetics instead of artificial knees that are mass-manufactured, which could offer an even closer “match ” to patients’ pre-problem joints.
– Partial knee replacement: Another alternative to total knee replacement for patients experiencing less of a joint problem that repairs only one side of the knee, resulting in the removal of 75 percent less bone and cartilage. Patients often recover faster and have less pain compared to total knee replacements.
– Anterior hip replacement: A minimally-invasive replacement procedure that leaves vital hip muscles and tendons intact and undamaged, lessening recovery time and pain.
Lee Memorial Health System’s Well-Informed lecture series is free of charge and open to all. Seating is limited and reservations are requested.
For reservations or more information call 433-8505 or visit: www.healthybonitaestero.com.
Edward Humbert, D.O. is one of the country’s leading and most experienced joint-replacement surgeons. With training in hip and knee surgery, he specializes in minimally invasive techniques as well as complex revision surgery. He has also been extensively trained in partial knee replacement that may offer reduced post-op recovery and similar results to total replacement.
Dr. Humbert earned a master’s degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Akron and earned his medical degree, completed his residency along with a hip and knee surgery fellowship at Ohio University. He implants more than 800 replacement joints each year, totaling more than 5,000 over the course of his career.
Lee Memorial Health System (LMHS) is a community-owned health system in Lee County, Florida. It employs more than 8,500 people and is the fifth largest public health system in the United States. LMHS operates four acute care hospitals and two specialty hospitals, as well as outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers and primary care and specialist physician offices. .
Additionally, LMHS is the operator of the area’s only Trauma Center and Children’s Hospital, serving community residents from Tampa to Miami. Visit www.leememorial.org for more information.