Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
By Heidi Smith, Contributor
For people with chronic, severe knee pain, technological advances make robotic-assisted knee replacement a viable option for many patients with arthritic joint conditions. Jacob Pennington, D.O., is an orthopedic surgeon with specialized training in robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery, which he performs at ShorePoint Health Port Charlotte. He also performs surgery at ShorePoint Health Punta Gorda.
Q. Does everyone who has knee pain from arthritis require a joint replacement?
A. No. Patients may find relief through more conservative approaches, such as weight loss, physical therapy, activity modification, anti-inflammatory medication, and injections.
Q. What is the next step if nonoperative treatment fails to relieve a patient’s pain?
A. A total joint replacement is usually the next step. Multiple factors go into the decision to proceed with a joint replacement, including the patient’s history, physical exam, x-rays, and sometimes MRI, to ensure that they will have an excellent outcome with a total joint replacement.
Q. What is involved in robotic-assisted surgery?
A. The patient undergoes a preoperative CT scan, which is loaded into the robot’s software. In the operating room, I use a special probe to map out the knee. This is then interpreted by the robot and matched to the preoperative CT scan. The result is a highly reliable, three-dimensional model of the patient’s knee that is seen in real-time during surgery. The robotic arm is used to make the required cuts on the bone.
Q. What are the benefits of using the robot system, compared to traditional methods?
A. The major benefit in using the robot is precision. It allows me to move the implant to the best position for each patient’s anatomy. This ensures the patient will have a stable, well-functioning, and pain-free knee.
Q. What is the typical recovery time?
A. Two to three months. For most patients, this starts with outpatient surgery, meaning they go home the same day. Patients use a walker or cane for two weeks. They can use these tools less as they feel more stable. Patients also undergo physical therapy, which can hasten their return to an active lifestyle and also helps us monitor their progress. Most patients can return to favorite activities like walking, bike riding, golf, and the like within six to eight weeks. Some patients are able to become even more active, returning to racquet sports, skiing, and hiking.
Q. What do you find most satisfying about helping patients with this procedure?
A. When a patient has been in miserable pain for many months and even years, then to see them smiling and active again, it’s a terrific feeling. It’s very rewarding to know I’ve changed the course of their life for the better.
Orthopedic surgery program at ShorePoint Health Punta Gorda earns high marks
The orthopedic surgery program at ShorePoint Health Punta Gorda is the only program in Florida that has achieved certification from the Joint Commission in five orthopedic specialties: joint replacement of total hip, knee and shoulder, plus spinal fusion and laminectomy, which is a type of surgery used to relieve pressure on the spinal cord. The Joint Commission is a nonprofit organization that accredits healthcare organizations and programs in the United States.
To achieve Joint Commission certification, the program must meet rigorous standards that are reviewed periodically through on-site inspections and extensive analysis of patient treatment protocols and outcomes. The Punta Gorda hospital’s orthopedic program includes an interdisciplinary team of highly qualified medical professionals including surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, physical therapists, and occupational therapists.
Jacob Pennington, D.O.
Fellowship-trained Orthopedic Surgeon
in Joint Reconstruction of the Hip and Knee
SharePoint Health
ShorePointOrthopedics.com
(941) 628-7713
