Want to Watch a Live Webcast of a Total Knee Replacement?

On Thursday, November 13th, you can watch it live. One of the resources listed on this site is OR Live. The site is automated to add it to your Outlook calendar as well. Some of the procedures have available CME credit for physicians as well.

I have actually watched a couple of these and they are very informative as you hear and see the entire conversations and video as the procedures goes on. If you miss the live broadcast, it is recorded and available for watching later. There are surgeries listed using robotics, the DaVinci surgery machine as well. Take a look around if you have an interest. If you don’t like blood, you might want to pass, but I have learned quite a bit from the recordings I have watched, including on with a total hip replacement done recently. The surgeries are performed at different participating hospitals and some recordings can be found on OR You Tube as well.

The listing of the latest procedures announced can be found on the right hand side of the blog for a quick reference with links that go to the pages offering more information. BD

Buffalo Hospital will host a live webcast of a Total Knee Replacement surgery on Thursday, Nov. 13. The broadcast can be viewed at www.buffalohospital.org. Dana Harms, MD, board certified orthopedic surgeon, will perform the surgery and David Labadie, MD, board certified orthopedic surgeon, will provide commentary.

An artificial joint, made out of alloy and polyethylene (plastic), replaces the damaged knee. Total knee replacement (TKR) surgery may be necessary when knee conditions cause the cartilage to deteriorate to the point where there are no other options to relieve pain. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and knee joint injury typically create pain that may lead to a TKR. The procedure is very common, with more than 300,000 TKR surgeries being performed every year in the United States.

"Patients see their activity level increase quite a bit after a total knee replacement surgery," says Dr. Harms. "The surgery really maximizes knee function by decreasing pain."

Generally, a total knee replacement surgery takes about 90 minutes. Patients begin physical therapy the next day and spend about three or four days in the hospital.

http://www.or-live.com/unitedhospital/2152/index.cfm?source=rss