The Kennedy Center for the Hip and Knee is nationally and internationally recognized as a leader in total knee replacement. Dr. McLaughlin has presented his long-term results using titanium total knee replacements at multiple national medical meetings.
After 16 years, over 95% of the Kennedy Center’s knee replacements are going strong. The titanium implants used at the Kennedy Center have been successful with any type of patient: young, old, highly active and those who are overweight. With new and improved bearing surfaces, Dr. McLaughlin believes that most knee replacements should last 20-30 years.
Over the years, the Kennedy Center has continually introduced new and improved procedures for knee replacement surgery including smaller, less invasive surgical techniques. Perhaps most important is the Kennedy Center’s pain management program. The Kennedy Center surgeons, working with the pain management specialists at Mercy, have developed sophisticated pain control programs that are tailored to each individual patient. Our goal is a fast recovery, less pain and a knee replacement that will last most patients a lifetime.
Most people have heard about ACL tears in athletes, but injuries requiring ACL surgery or ACL repair can happen to any active person.
While most ACL injuries do happen during sports activities, common accidents like falling off a ladder, falling down stairs or being in an auto accident can also tear the ligament, requiring ACL repair.
The ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, is one of the four primary ligaments that support your knee and is necessary to keep your knee stable. When the ACL tears, people often hear a “popping” sound or feel a “pop,” experience swelling in the knee within 6 hours and find it painful to put weight on the injured knee.
If you think you’ve torn your ligament and need ACL repair, call the experts at the Kennedy Center for a comprehensive evaluation. An MRI will help our team of doctors make a determination of your condition and develop a plan of care to meet your unique needs.
In ACL reconstruction, a tendon is taken from another part of your body or a donor graft is used to replace your own ACL and restore knee stability. In most cases, ACL reconstruction at the Kennedy Center is done using arthroscopic surgery which minimizes trauma and shortens recovery time.
Both single and double tunnel anatomic ACL reconstructions are available at the Kennedy Center.
Reconstructing your ACL is a complicated surgery and demands the highest level of competence and experience from your surgeon. Our doctors have performed thousands of ACL surgeries over the years with outstanding results.
Leading the way in innovative technology, The Kennedy Center now offers knee resurfacing to appropriate patients.
Typically, patients come to The Kennedy Center complaining of knee pain after exercising, being on their feet all day or walking up and down stairs. Knee resurfacing was specifically designed for younger, active people with early stage osteoarthritis.
The procedure employs a minimally invasive technique to resurface only the damaged part of a patient’s knee and thus makes it far less invasive and expensive than traditional knee replacement surgery. Knee resurfacing is designed to be very bone and cartilage sparing so it will not “burn a bridge” should additional surgery be required years later.
At The Kennedy Center for the Hip & Knee, our surgeons have the experience to evaluate your medical condition and develop a plan of care tailored to you and your lifestyle.
Partial knee replacement is a minimally invasive procedure that replaces only one side of the knee joint. A partial knee implant can preserve the healthy bone, cartilage and ligaments, potentially preventing or delaying the need for total knee replacement.
Partial knee replacement is designed for younger people with osteoarthritis or avascular necrosis who require a knee replacement but are typically too young or too active to be candidates for a total knee replacement. This procedure is also appropriate for older people who have a single area of the knee that is arthritic. Partial knee replacement using the Oxford or Prelude knee systems gives younger patients the option for a more active life with less pain and more mobility.
Patients have a shorter hospital stay, have less blood loss during surgery, experience less pain, and most patients can return to work or recreational activities faster.
Patellofemoral Knee Resurfacing is a procedure that resurfaces the worn patella (kneecap) and the trochlea (the groove at the end of the thighbone) to reduce or alleviate arthritis pain. The surgery is best for patients with patellofemoral joint arthritis who are too young or too active for a total knee replacement.
The benefits of this procedure include reducing trauma to healthy bone and tissue during surgery, smaller incisions, less blood loss and less post-operative pain than in a total knee replacement. The patellofemoral implant is much smaller than a total knee implant and does not interfere with the surrounding healthy knee structure.
The meniscus is cartilage that cushions the space between the thigh bone and the shin. The meniscus is important because it acts as a shock absorber, lubricates the knee joint and helps balance weight evenly across the knee.
Causes of Meniscus Tears:
If the Kennedy Center specialists determine that you have a torn meniscus, they typically recommend arthroscopic surgery to resect or repair the torn cartilage. During a resection, the surgeon will remove the torn tissue and save the healthy meniscus. During a meniscus repair, the surgeon will sew the torn tissue together to allow it to heal.
If your knee doesn’t feel better after several days of rest, elevation and ice, you should contact an orthopedic specialist for an evaluation to prevent further damage to the surrounding healthy knee.
The Kennedy Center at Ascension Mercy Hospital now offers healthy patients with a good support system the option of going home the same day after a total knee replacement.
This is exciting news for many patients. We’re confident that healthy patients receive the finest care because the Kennedy Center uses the same dedicated surgical suites and surgical teams for both our inpatient and outpatient joint replacements.
The Kennedy Center surgeons utilize muscle sparing techniques and advanced pain modalities. This means that many patients are good candidates for Same Day Total Knee Replacement.
Mercy Medical Center is the only 5-star hospital in a 50-mile radius. They offer the highest level of care available and we’re proud to partner with them in providing excellent care to every patient.
This procedure offers patients the ability to recover in the comfort of home. But those who are unable to go home on the day of surgery can be confident that they can stay overnight and go home the next day.
If you’re interested in outpatient total knee replacement surgery, let us know at the time of your doctor’s appointment.
Jeffrey McLaughlin, MD
Medical Director
Hip & Knee Replacement
Davis Tsai, MD
Knee Replacement, Knee Resurfacing, Sports Medicine,
Shoulder and General Orthopedics
David M. Bingham, DO
Hip Replacement, Knee Replacement, Orthopedic Trauma Surgery and General Orthopedics
