News & Media
AUGUST, 2008
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FATIMA HOSPITAL
SURGEON INTRODUCES ALTERNATIVE TO KNEE REPLACEMENT
SURGERY |
(North Providence, RI) An orthopedic surgeon at
Our Lady of Fatima Hospital has performed Rhode Island's
first resurfacing of an arthritic knee, introducing a
radically new alternative to knee replacement surgery
for area residents.
A.Robert Buonnano, M.D., recently performed the procedure
on a patient suffering form chronic degenerative arthritis
of the knee. Using a patented surgical technology called
"arthro resurfacing, Dr. Buonnano employed a less
invasive procedure to resurface the damaged part of
the patient's knee in a surgery that is far less expensive
than traditional knee replacement surgery.
The new procedure avoids cutting of bones in the knee
area, as well as removal of ligaments and cartilage
that support the knee. "This new procedure is far
less invasive, resulting in a faster recovery and preservation
of mobility for the patient", stated Dr. Buonnnano.
"It is a procedure that can also be done in an
outpatient surgical setting, meaning that the cost of
the procedure to our health system is substantially
less."
The new procedure is recommended for younger patients,
typically between the ages of 40 and 60 years old, who
suffer from early stages of chronic degenerative arthritis
of the knee.
At present, Fatima Hospital is the only hospital in
the state to offer the procedure. Dr. Buonnano will
be providing training later this year to surgeons around
the state who wish to adopt the procedure.
"Dr. Buonnano's new groundbreaking work is just
the latest indication that Fatima Hospital's surgery
program continues to make great strides and is an extremely
valuable resource to Rhode Island", stated John
M. Fogarty, President and CEO of St. Joseph Health Services
of Rhode Island, the corporate parent of Fatima Hospital.
The new procedure marks the latest in a series of orthopedic
resurfacing techniques, which have earlier included
resurfacing of arthritic hips, shoulders and great toes.
The clinical trials for the new procedure, which has
just earned approval from the Food and Drug Administration,
were performed by Brown University's medical school.
A local medical technology company, ArthroSurface of
Franklin, Massachusetts, developed the procedure.
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