November 9, 2004

Local Surgeons Perform Minimally Invasive Surgery Methods

New Castle, PA - Total joint replacements are now being performed with minimally invasive methods at Jameson Hospital.  Timothy Graham, M.D. and Robert McGann, D.O. are performing these surgeries with special instruments that allow them to make smaller incisions for total hip replacements.  The standard 8-12 inch incisions can be replaced with 3-5 inch incisions allowing for decreased soft tissue trauma and shorter recovery.  For instance, partial knee replacement patients leave the hospital in forty-eight hours and begin outpatient physical therapy the week of surgery.  Techniques for total knee replacements using minimally invasive surgical approaches are being perfected.

Arthroscopy often done as an outpatient, allows orthopedic surgeons to insert a pencil thin telescope through one-centimeter incisions to look inside joints.  Arthroscopy has become a common procedure to evaluate both problems of the knee and shoulder.

Knee ligament reconstruction and cartilage surgery can be performed with ease using arthroscopic procedures.  Shoulder tendon and ligament repairs can be done solely or in conjunction with the use of arthroscopic surgery.

Rotator cuff surgery can now be done utilizing small incisions to allow for faster recovery with physical therapy.

Lawrence County Orthopedics specializes in diseases of the bone and joints.  Their well-trained orthopedic surgeons can handle all joint reconstruction, sports medicine, trauma, hand and shoulder surgery.  Dr. Graham, a member of the Jameson Medical Staff for 12 years and Dr. McGann, a member of the Jameson Medical Staff for five years, are both board certified.