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Orthopaedics
Orthopaedics is the branch of medicine and medical specialty dealing with the prevention or correction of injuries or disorders of the skeletal system and associated muscles, joints, and ligaments. Orthopaedic Surgery includes the preservation, investigation, and restoration of the form and function of the extremities, spine and associated structures by medical, surgical and physical means.
Orthopaedic specialists have the support and resources they need at Holy Cross for precise diagnoses and successful treatment of everything from bone and joint disorders to sports injuries. The latest medical techniques are utilized in a variety of procedures including total joint replacement and laser-assisted arthroscopic procedures. New computerized orthoscopic cameras and monitors assist our fine Orthopaedic staff in performing major repair surgeries with minimal incision size.
Computer-assisted navigation technology for total joint replacement is now available at Holy Cross Hospital’s state-of-the-art digital operating suites and from local Orthopaedic surgeons skilled in this surgical technique.
As our bodies age, the cushioning cartilage and viscous lubricants found in our joints can wear down. When that happens, our bones begin to grind causing extensive pain and discomfort more commonly known as “arthritis”. Generally the course of treatment for patients with these arthritic symptoms in their joints is to explore various non-surgical treatments with an orthopaedic physician.
However, these treatments will not alleviate the pain in every case. Joint replacement is one of the most common and successful operations in modern orthopaedic surgery. It consists of replacing painful, arthritic, worn or cancerous parts of the joint, with artificial surfaces shaped in such a way as to allow joint movement.
Today Holy Cross Hospital has invested close to $250,000 in order to offer computer-assisted navigation technology to our patients requiring total joint replacement. According to Dr. Jeb Reid, Sports Medicine Director and Orthopaedic Surgeon at Taos Orthopaedic Institute in Taos, “Computer navigation utilizes the most accurate computer technology to create 3-D bone mapping and accurately measures to the millimeter.”
Arthritis affects over 46 million people. That is nearly 1 in 5 adults, and is the leading cause of disability for Americans today. However, most Americans are uninformed about the modern treatment options that are available to them. To help educate the population of northern New Mexico, Holy Cross Hospital is partnering with Dr. Reid to offer free educational seminars on bone and joint health.
“Total joint replacement surgery has been around for decades,” stated Dr. Reid. “Joint replacement is a time tested and safe treatment for joint pain. Joint replacement frequently allows patients to get back to the activities of daily life that are lost to arthritis pain,” the experienced, professional orthopaedic surgeon who has performed the new surgical technique commented. “Don’t let joint pain limit your lifestyle any longer,” Dr. Reid added.
For additional details about the use of computer-assisted surgery, please contact Taos Orthopaedic Institute at (575) 758-0009. |
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