Keeping Ocala residents moving

Keeping Ocala residents moving is the local orthopedic community’s ultimate goal. Whether it is taking care of a fractured knee, a hand affected by carpal tunnel syndrome, or replacing a hip that has been badly damaged by the effects of arthritis, conducting minimal invasive surgeries using the latest innovations will normally lead to a shorter and less painful recovery. In that respect, much is to be said of the orthopedic doctors and surgeons in the area who, without a doubt, keep up with the latest advancements in the field - some of them finding themselves among the leading orthopedic surgeons in the State of Florida.
Although the orthopedic branch of medicine is mostly associated with the care and treatment of bones, it also includes the care and treatment of soft tissues such as tendons and ligaments. During the early days of orthopedics, practice was dedicated more toward correcting birth defects in children such scoliosis and what is commonly known as club foot. However, through the years the orthopedic specialty gradually expanded to treat all other bone related issues making great advancements which have resulted in less invasive surgeries thereby shortening the recovery time.

Making hip replacements easier

For instance, one of the greatest advancements in the field has been in total hip replacement surgery. Anterior approach to hip replacement surgery has revolutionized the way hip replacement surgery is performed today. Anterior approach hip replacement means just that – accessing the hip from the front. The hip is accessed through incisions, smaller in length than those normally used on posterior procedures, made in intervals between muscles thereby limiting the amount of injury caused to these muscles during surgery. This approach is an alternative to the traditional hip replacement surgery (still being performed today) where the hip is accessed from the back. “The Anterior Approach is a minimally invasive hip replacement surgery which results in a less painful and shorter rehabilitation time for patients,” said Dr. Joseph R. Locker of The Orthopaedic Institute in Ocala. Dr. Locker has been practicing the Anterior Approach in Ocala for more than seven years and for the past four years Dr. Locker has shared this knowledge as orthopedic surgeons from throughout Florida have come to observe him perform this procedure.
Not only are there better surgical techniques in total hip replacement procedures, but also the materials of the implants being used significantly increase the longevity of these implants and increase the success of the surgeries. For instance, with its anatomic cup the new Mobile Bearing Hip Replacement is designed to provide the patient with more freedom of movement without compromising stability. The Anterior Approach surgery is performed using a high-tech operating table specifically designed for this purpose. In addition, the operating room is equipped with side-by-side TV screens showing X-ray views of both hips allowing the doctor to precisely complete the hip replacement procedure.

Working on knees and shoulders

Aside from the most commonly known total joint replacements – the hips and the knees, there are now many new procedures available when it comes to total joint replacements. “We now even offer elbow joint replacement, replacement of the small joints of the hand, and ankle replacement,” said Dr. Nirav Gupta, Twin Palm Orthopedics, adding that shoulder replacement “has become a very hot topic in orthopedic surgery today.” For instance, in cases where patient’s muscles are no longer capable of raising the arm, there is a new type of shoulder replacement surgery called the Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement Arthroplasty. The difference between the conventional shoulder replacement surgery and this “reversed” procedure is that the ball and the socket are reversed in the implant used in this procedure. Switching the ball and the socket gives the shoulder a mechanical advantage, particularly to patients who have severe arthritis. “This is very revolutionary – this is an implant that is helping patients who previously had limited to no arm motion, have full arm motion again,” said Dr. Gupta.
In addition, according to Dr. Frank Cannon, Ocala Orthopedic Group, great strides have been made in knee surgery using computerized technology called Computerized Fixation Devises which lets the surgeon determine more precisely (within half of a degree) the degrees of alignment necessary during a surgical procedure to correct the knee.
“We now even offer elbow joint replacement, replacement of the small joints of the hand, and ankle replacement”

Got your back!

If back pain is what is keeping you from participating in all those activities you enjoy so much, then there are great news for you. According to Dr. Troy D. Lowell, Ocala Orthopaedic Care, it is now possible to more easily diagnose and correct the condition causing your back pain - if your back pain is actually originating in the sacroiliac joint or SI joint. The SI joint is located between the spine and the pelvis. The procedure to diagnose and treat the problem is as simple as injecting a numbing medicine (that can last up to 24 hours) in that particular joint and if the pain desists, then the joint is treated with a simple procedure consisting of making a one inch incision and putting three metal bars across the joint, thereby stabilizing it. When it comes to a herniated disk on the neck, depending on the individual circumstances, some patients may be candidates for a new disk replacement procedure. With this procedure it is now possible to replace the herniated disk with a new metal disk which allows the patient to retain full motion of the neck, unlike the results you get when the disks are actually fused to take care of the problem.

Taking post-surgery rehab to a whole new level

Ocala certainly has it all when it comes to complete state of the art specialized orthopedic care. Not only are the surgeons among the best in the state, Ocala also enjoys the benefits of having several facilities with the best there is available for post-surgery physical rehabilitation. From individualized therapy, to intensive group therapy, these facilities have it all. Some of the facilities even offer pre-operative education for their patients, which helps tremendously in reducing the anxiety that is so common when having surgery. The advancements in orthopedic surgery, together with the latest techniques in physical rehab therapy have certainly made a significant difference in the patient’s ability to more quickly regain their strength and endurance after surgery. Having the freedom to move around and take care of ourselves is often taken for granted but when that freedom is diminished or completely lost due to an accident or a chronic medical condition, it is important to know what is available that will help remedy the situation. Fortunately for area residents, as Dr. Lowell states it “we are blessed in Ocala in that our surgeons are very well educated and very well trained,” thus insuring area residents that the treatment and care they receive is nothing but the best.

“We are blessed in Ocala in that our surgeons are very well educated and very well trained”

Word Origins
“Orthopedics is the branch of medicine that specializes in diseases of and injuries to bones. French physician Nicholas Andry coined the term "orthopedia" in his 1741 book on the prevention and correction of muscular and skeletal deformities in children. He united the Greek word "orthos," meaning straight, with "pais," meaning child. The term orthopedics has remained in use, though the specialty has broadened beyond the care of children.” http://www.scienceclarified.com/Oi-Ph/Orthopedics.html