Hip And Knee Doc

Stem Cell Treatments For Osteoarthritis- Are They Really Beneficial?

Stem cell is an undifferentiated cell of any multicellular organism which can give rise to more identical cells which can further produce other types of cells via cell differentiation.

Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy
It is clinically proven that stem cells possess regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties. They dampen the harmful responses of the immune system while preserving its ability to fight against invading pathogens, inhibit the inflammation caused due to osteoarthritis, stimulate the proper blood flow, potentiate the formation of new blood vessels, help in the development of cartilage around the joints and repair tissue damage.

Hence, with the help of stem cell treatment you can get relief from the highly inflammatory condition of osteoarthritis and your knee mobility can improve too as the damaged cartilage and tissues around the joint get repaired.

Another advantage of a stem cell treatment is its non-invasive nature. This procedure is performed through intra-articular injection. i.e. direct injections into the joints without any incisions. This way you’re saved from all the negative aspects of a surgical procedure, which include blood loss, chances of infection because of bacterial accumulation on the surgical wound, local or general anesthesia and immense recovery time.

Procedure of Stem Cell Therapy
The most commonly used stem cells are allogenic mesenchymal cells. These stem cells are not embryonic or fetal in nature. They are complete adult stem cells, which are generated from human umbilical cord after healthy births. Before using these cells for stem cell treatment they are properly screened for all genetic and infectious diseases and only completely healthy cells are approved for the transplant. A licensed physician or orthopedic surgeon via intra-articular and intravenous injections injects the cells into the patient’s joint.

During the procedure you’ll remain completely conscious and experience minimal pain in your joints. The post-treatment progress in the functionality of the joints is also monitored in a timely manner with regular follow-ups.

The selection of the right doctor or orthopedic surgeon is extremely important in obtaining the maximum benefits of the stem cell therapy. This is because only a few selected medical practioners can perform this procedure with maximum efficiency, precision and safety.

If you’re considering Stem Cell Therapy then give Dr. LaButti a call. Patients from from all over the Midwest and United States travel for his expertise, including Alaska, Puerto Rico, Iowa, Colorado, Texas, Kansas, New Mexico and Arkansas. His office is located at Advanced Orthopedics of Oklahoma, CityPlex, 2408 E. 81st Street, 2nd floor, Tulsa, OK 74137. There are also affordable hotels across the street from the office and plenty of shopping and restaurants.

Get up! Get going! Get back to you! Call 918-514-3009 to schedule your appointment.

Preoperative Care for Joint Replacement Surgery

If you’re undergoing a joint replacement surgery, preoperative care is mandatory to ensure maximum safety and efficacy of the procedure. Given below are some important instructions which you must follow before opting for a knee or hip replacement surgery.

• If you happen to be a smoker, massively cut down on smoking or quit it altogether. Smoking disrupts the blood circulation, delays the healing of wounds and increases the overall recovery time.
• If you’re obese, the extra weight will put increased stress on your replaced joint. Hence, your surgeon may recommend a short weight reduction program before the surgery.
• In case you drink beer, wine or any other alcoholic beverage, completely stop its consumption at least 48 to 72 hours before the surgery.
• Your surgeon may also recommend body-strengthening exercises before you undergo the surgery. Such exercises toughen up your upper body due to which it becomes easy for you to use crutches or walker right after the surgery.
• Your surgeon may also recommend some isometric exercises for strengthening the leg muscles. Make sure you regularly perform these exercises in order to gain the required physique before the surgery.
• Eat a nutritious, well-balanced diet with maximum vitamins and minerals.
• Before the surgical procedure, the doctor will perform a number of preoperative tests which include blood tests, chest x-ray, electrocardiogram (ECG), and urine testing, in order to make sure that you’re not suffering from any kind of infection or disease that may affect your surgery.
• If you’re consuming certain medications for any medical condition, your surgeon may ask you to stop taking the medicines or they may recommend a substitute medicine until the surgery. Medicines like insulin, corticosteroids, and anticoagulants need to be adjusted before and after the surgical procedure.
• Before the surgery, your surgeon may also make you meet the anesthesiologist in order to discuss the type of anesthesia that’ll be used in your surgery, the amount of time in which you’ll gain back consciousness, and more.
Dr. Ronald LaButti is one of the top knee and hip surgeons in Tulsa, Oklahoma who received best of the best award from 2011 – 2016 as a knee and hip surgeon. Patients come from all the United States to receive care from Dr. LaButti and is trusted by other physicians to treat their family. Dr. LaButti is board-certified in orthopedic surgery and is fellowship-trained in orthopedic surgery and is considered an expert in hip and knee joint replacement surgeries. He’s one of the most reliable choices if you want further details regarding the necessary preoperative care before undergoing a joint replacement surgery or searching for an authentic hip and knee doc for a hip or knee replacement surgery.

Get up! Get Going! Get back to you! Call 918-514-3009 to schedule your appointment today.

All about Total Knee Replacement (TKR)

The knee is the largest joint of the body and healthy knees with perfect mobility are required to perform almost every physical activity. Different types of arthritis i.e. osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis can limit the mobility of the knee joint and cause chronic pain in the knee. In such cases, the orthopedic surgeon may recommend a Total Knee Replacement surgery.

Total Knee Replacement (TKR)

In Total Knee Replacement surgery, the diseased portions of the patient’s bone are removed in order to reshape the remaining bone for perfect accommodation of the knee implant. During this surgical procedure, the artificial knee is built inside the patient’s leg to create the most compatible artificial joint.

Steps of Total Knee Replacement Surgery

  • First of all, the surgeon makes a precise incision in the front area of the knee to gain proper access to the kneecap or patella. This incision is about eight to ten inches long.
    Once the patient’s knee is open, the orthopedic surgeon rotates the kneecap outside the knee area in order to view the specific knee area where the surgical procedure is to be performed.
  • Now the surgeon will measure the bones and make small cuts with their special surgical instruments.
  • The first resurfacing is done on the femur or the thighbone. The surgeon cuts the injured cartilage and bone from the patient’s diseased femur and then the femur is expertly resurfaced to fit the femoral component which is the first part of the patient’s artificial joint.
  • After proper resurfacing of the femur, the metal femoral component is attached to the end of the femur. The surgeon uses special bone cement to seal the femoral component into place.
  • The next bone which is resurfaced is the shinbone or tibia. The surgeon removes the damaged cartilage and bone from the top of the patient’s tibia and reshapes the tibia so that it fits the plastic and metal tibial components.
  • Now the tibial tray i.e. the bottom area of the implant is fitted to the tibia’s top and it’s properly secured into place by using the bone cement. Then the surgeon will place a polyethylene insert (medical-grade plastic) between the femoral component and the tibial tray that works like a buffer. This polyethylene provides support during the bending and flexing of the knee.
  • Next, the surgeon will flatten the patient’s patella and fit an extra plastic component to ensure a perfect fitting of the implant. This plastic piece is usually cemented to the underlying bone.
  • In order to ensure the optimum working of the artificial implant, the surgeon will perform bending and flexing of the knee. The surgeon may give final finishing touches to the sizing, alignment, and positioning of the implant. Then the incision is closed with staples or stitches and properly bandaged.
  • The patient’s leg is then put on a CPM i.e. Continuous Passive Motion machine which gently bends and flexes the knee for a certain time while the patient is on bed rest.

Total knee replacement surgeries have proven to be highly effective in restoring the natural mobility of the knee and providing relief from chronic knee pain. Picking the right surgeon the first time can make all the difference in your outcome! Dr. LaButti is an expert in hip and knee replacement surgery and is a board certified orthopedic surgeon and fellowship trained in total joint replacement. Dr. LaButti has been voted “Best of the Best” by Oklahoma Magazine 5 years in a row . Dr. LaButti also performs MAKOplasty for partial knee replacements, navigation and computer assisted surgery.

Get up! Get going! Get back to you! Call to schedule your appointment today at 918-514-3009.

Precautions to Take After Total Knee Replacement Surgery

After going through a total knee replacement surgery, there are certain precautions which you must take in order to avoid any post-surgery complication or damage and dislocation of your replaced knee.

Wound Care

Since total knee replacement is an invasive procedure, you’ll have staples or sutures on your wound. You must never try to cut these sutures at home. These sutures will only be removed by a practiced clinician after 2 weeks of the surgery. You may worsen your wound if you try to cut the sutures yourself. Don’t soak your wound in water before it’s properly dried and sealed. However, you can keep bandaging your wound to keep it clean and dry.

Prevention of Blood Clot

There are chances of blood clot formation during the first few weeks of recovery. Therefore, your orthopedic surgeon may prescribe certain anticoagulants like Aspirin and Warfarin to prevent the clot formation. You must complete the anticoagulant therapy as recommended by your doctor. Also, you must stay vigilant regarding any sign of blood clot formation in your treated leg. These signs include:
  • Excessive pain in the calf.
  • Redness, irritation, and tenderness below or above the treated knee.
  • Increased edema i.e. swelling in your ankle, calf, or foot.
If you suffer from any of these signs, contact your doctor on an immediate basis to get a timely treatment.

Physical Activity

Right after your surgery, your replaced joint may not be able to bear your total body weight. Your surgeon will guide you regarding how much weight you can easily put on your knee which won’t cause any damage, injury, or dislocation of your joint. As your replaced knee joint gains strength with time, you’ll be able to put your complete body weight on it without suffering from any harm. However, during the initial weeks, it’s advisable to use a cane, or crutches to walk around. Other instructions regarding proper body posture and physical activity include:
  • Don’t twist or cross your legs.
  • Do sit in chairs which have seats as high as your treated knee.
  • Don’t keep standing for extended periods of time.
  • Don’t keep sitting for more than one hour at a time.
  • Don’t sleep on the body side which had the surgery.
  • Do climb one stair at a time.
  • Do avoid excessive kneeling.
Dr. Ronald LaButti is one of the top knee and hip surgeons in Tulsa, Oklahoma who received best of the best award from 2011 – 2016 as a knee and hip surgeon. Dr. LaButti is board-certified and fellowship-trained in total joint replacement and is an expert in all types of hip and knee replacement surgeries. Dr. LaButti is one of the most reliable choices if you want further details regarding the necessary precautions to take after a total knee replacement surgery or searching for an authentic hip and knee doc for a hip or knee replacement surgery. Get up! Get going! Get back to you! Call to schedule your appointment today at 918-514-3009.