JUNE 2003
Joint Resolution
If hip or knee pain is taking away your quality of
life, see Dr.Ron LaButti.
By Scott Wigton
Is intense knee pain destroying your quality of
life? If so, you don’t need to live in agony any longer. You could be a candidate for surgery that will eliminate most of your pain and restore your knees to virtually normal function.
“Severe,disabling knee pain unresponsive to non-operative treatment is the primary indication for surgical
intervention when treating arthritis” explains Dr.Ron
LaButti, an orthopedic surgeon with Tulsa Total Joint Center and Central States Orthopedic
Specialists, Inc.
Dr.LaButti specializes in surgery of the lower
extremities, including total joint replacement of the knee and
hip. While some patients with knee pain respond well to non-surgical
treatments, including anti-inflammatory drugs, joint injections,
activity modification and physical therapy, others may require surgery to relieve their pain.
“Patients with pain from severe arthritis or deformities such as “bowed
legs” or “knocked knees” often are candidates for surgical procedures to correct the problem and reduce
pain,” LaButti says. “The type of surgery depends on the specific nature and severity of the
problem,” he says. The patient’s tolerance for rehabilitation and recovery time play a role in determining the type of procedure
chosen. Other factors including patient health, habits such as
smoking, and age are also considered.
Four common surgical procedures, each with its own benefits and
costs, include: Arthroscopy, Osteotomy, Unicompartmental Knee Replacement and Total Knee Replacement.
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery which involves washing out loose debris and trimming frayed or torn cartilage in the
knee. This is usually performed in patients with mild to moderate
arthritis, small amounts of deformity, and mechanical symptoms (locking or
catching) indicating torn or loose cartilage fragments. The results are mixed as far as pain relief is concerned and depends on numerous other factors.
In an Osteotomy, the surgeon actually cuts the bone and removes a wedge to realign the leg and relieve knee
pain. This procedure usually results in 85-90 percent pain relief and is very durable but involves a lengthy post-operative recovery period of up to 3-4 months and could include immobilization of the
leg. This procedure is usually reserved for younger, more active patients (40s and 50s),non-smokers and people without significant health problems such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or heart disease.
Unicompartmental Knee Replacement involves resurfacing only one part of the knee joint
with plastic and metal parts. This usually results in greater than 90 percent pain relief. One potential problem is that the parts may wear or loosen early
on, leading to more surgery. Some studies have shown better longevity of this procedure in older, thinner, sedentary people.
The most dramatic surgery is Total Knee Replacement. This is indicated for patients with severe, disabling pain due to moderately severe or severe irreversible damage in multiple areas of the knee joint. Using fabricated metal and plastic
parts, the surgeon completely resurfaces the knee joint. This usually eliminates 95-100
percent of the pain and can last up to 15 years.
“Picking the right patient for each procedure is
imperative,” says Dr.LaButti. “The patient has to meet the clinical criteria and be willing to undergo the procedure. ”Dr.LaButti routinely performs knee surgeries and
is prepared to help patients understand which procedure may work best for them.
“I confer extensively with each patient to help them understand how each procedure works and which procedure would bring them the greatest satisfaction and
functionality, depending on their lifestyle,” he says.
Don’t let knee pain ruin the joy of life. To learn more about knee
pain, joint replacement and Dr.LaButti, visit his website at www.hipandkneedoc.com.
For more information, contact Ronald S. LaButti, D.O.
Central States Orthopedic Specialists, Inc.
802 S. Jackson, Suite 405/583-4400
6585 S. Yale, Suite 200/481-2767
www.hipandkneedoc.com
This is reprinted with permission from Value News, Inc.
