Aching Knees? Get Help!

Fremont, CA, April 17, 2012- Knee pain caused by arthritis often can be relieved by nonsurgical treatments such as medications, physical therapy and knee braces. For more severe pain, patients may get short-term relief from injections of cortisone or hyaluronic acids. When there is dramatic loss of cartilage, however, the patient may be a candidate for either partial or total knee replacement.

To help people in the community learn more about osteoarthritis and the latest advances in knee replacement surgery, Washington Hospital is sponsoring a free Health & Wellness seminar featuring orthopedic surgeons Dr. John Dearborn and Dr. Alexander Sah, co-medical directors of the Center for Joint Replacement at Washington Hospital. The seminar is scheduled for Friday, April 20 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Conrad E. Anderson, M.D. Auditorium in the Washington West Building at 2500 Mowry Avenue in Fremont.

Total or Partial Knee Replacement?
Dr. Dearborn, who performs more than 600 minimally invasive total knee replacement surgeries each year, notes that the choice between partial and total knee replacement depends on the patient’s specific needs.

“Total knee replacement would generally be performed if the cartilage is badly damaged on both sides of the knee and under the kneecap, or on one side of the knee and under the kneecap,” he explains. “Partial replacement would be an option for patients with cartilage damage on only one part of the knee.”

At the seminar, Dr. Dearborn and Dr. Sah will discuss several emerging technologies that hold promise for reducing the time required for knee replacement surgery, minimizing surgical risks and providing more “personalized” knee replacement implants.

“The quality of knee replacement surgery outcomes depends largely on the surgeon’s experience and skills, but great technology can make a skilled surgeon even better,” says Dr. Dearborn. Center for Joint Replacement Ranked #1 in California by HealthGrades HealthGrades, a leading, nationwide health care ratings, information, and advisory services company has named Washington Hospital's Center for Joint Replacement (CJR) as the number one joint replacement program in California. CJR has now been ranked among the top 10 in California for six years in a row and has been ranked among the top five percent in the nation for five years in a row. "We are delivering this high level of care in a personal way," says Dr Dearborn. "When we get rated number one in California, I think our entire patient care team - from myself to the nurses and therapy staff is doing a great job."

HealthGrades uses proprietary, objective provider ratings and expert advisory services, to compile its ratings. HealthGrades produces its ranking and ratings in a report released annually. To learn more about the Center for Joint Replacement, visit www.whhs.com/joint.

To learn more about advances in knee replacement surgery, join Dr. Dearborn and Dr. Sah this Friday from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Conrad E. Anderson M.D. Auditorium located at 2500 Mowry Avenue (Washington West) in Fremont. To register, call (800) 963-7070 or visit www.whhs.com.

About Washington Township Health Care District: Washington Township Health Care District is governed by an elected board of directors. Unlike a municipal or county hospital, Washington Hospital’s operating expenses, research, community programs, and employee salaries are funded by revenues generated through providing patient and other health care services. Washington Hospital Healthcare System includes a 359-bed acute-care hospital; the Taylor McAdam Bell Neuroscience Institute; The Gamma Knife® Center; Washington Radiation Oncology Center; Washington Outpatient Surgery Center; Washington Outpatient Rehabilitation Center; Washington Outpatient Catheterization Laboratory; Washington Center for Joint Replacement; the Institute for Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery; and Washington West, a complex which houses Washington Women’s Center, Outpatient Imaging Center, Sandy Amos R.N. Infusion Center, Washington Urgent Care and additional outpatient hospital services and administrative facilities.