O’Connor Hospital offers breakthrough technology for their joint replacement patients

Surgical System acts as a Global Positioning System to Better Align Implant with Patient’s Anatomy

San Jose, CA (January 25, 2007)— O’Connor Hospital orthopedic surgeons recently began using emerging technology that has taken joint replacement surgery to a new level.

O’Connor Hospital has acquired a surgical navigation system for their orthopedics program, one of only a few of its kind in San Jose. The computer-assisted surgical navigation system can improve outcomes for patients who are undergoing total joint replacement procedures. With the system, an orthopedic surgeon maps out anatomy using an infrared wireless device to send signals to the navigation unit. The system then displays the image in real-time on a screen to allow the surgeon a clearer view and greater precision in the placement of implant hardware.

“Precise measurements associated with use of computer-assisted surgery make it possible to more accurately align the implants during joint replacement surgery,” said orthopedic surgeon Jeff Anderson, MD. “We anticipate that implants placed using the navigation system will have a prolonged life expectancy compared to those placed traditionally, with less risk of misalignment.”

The new Stryker Orthopedic Navigation System also allows for the potential of having a smaller incision, meaning a less invasive surgery for the patient. Other possible benefits of having a navigation-guided joint replacement surgery, from a patient’s perspective, are shorter hospital stays, fewer post-operative complications and improved joint stability and mobility.

“More people are in need of total joint replacement surgeries, given the aging population and obesity rates in this country,” said Gayle Fox, RN, director of surgical services at O’Connor Hospital. “By using this system at O’Connor, we are achieving our mission of serving the community through providing a program that enhances patient quality and safety with superior technology.”

Additionally, O’Connor Hospital has a unit with 20 patient beds that are reserved for the care of orthopedic patients. Nurses, physicians, occupational therapists and physical therapists are members of a dedicated team specialized in the care of these patients. O’Connor’s unit offers a specially designed exercise room, and the opportunity for family and friends to participate as “coaches” in the recovery process.  For patients needing spine surgery, a special operating room table called the Jackson Spinal Table provides the most advanced technology today for positioning the patient during surgery.

O’Connor Hospital has begun the process of receiving Center of Excellence designation for its orthopedic program by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). The hospital is expected to meet the rigorous guidelines set by JCAHO, which ensures that programs like O’Connor’s offer the highest quality of care for patients needing specialized orthopedic treatments.

According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), nearly 500,000 hip and knee replacement procedures are performed annually in the United States. This figure is expected to increase as the population ages and arthritis affects more people. Currently, more than 70 million Americans suffer from some form of this degenerative disease.