Orthopedic Surgery
 PATIENT
TESTIMONIAL
Staying connected with the best orthopedic care
With
206 bones cushioned and connected by cartilage, tendons and ligaments, it’s the
body’s musculoskeletal system that makes the human body such a high functioning
machine. And it’s the Cape’s orthopedic surgeons
who help keep it that
way.
From injuries and broken bones to chronic instability and pain that takes
away from mobility and quality of life, orthopedic surgeons perform the
traditional and the minimally invasive procedures that restore function.
“We do an excellent job of care with a high level of
technical utilization,” said Richard Mannal, M.D., board-certified orthopedic
surgeon on staff at Cape Cod Hospital. “The age of the Cape’s population drives
the types of surgeries we do. Most commonly, we’re performing arthroscopic
knee surgeries and treating fractured hips.”
“Between the general
orthopedic surgeons and those with subspecialty training such as the hand surgeons, we have the
capability to take care of nearly everything orthopedic. We coordinate
with neurosurgery
on spine surgeries and
with plastic surgery on many of the hand surgeries as well,” said Robert
Wilsterman, M.D., board-certified orthopedic surgeon on staff at Falmouth
Hospital.
Considering traumas
he added, “almost anything you can break, we can
fix.” In addition to bone fractures, that includes ligament reconstruction,
cartilage repair and transplant, tendon and nerve repair, and reconstructive surgeries.
When it comes to fixing joint problems, sometimes arthroscopic surgery is the answer, especially
for sports injuries, such as instability repairs
and throwing injuries. Arthroscopy is now being used on knees, shoulders,
ankles, wrists and elbows.
About as big as a soda pop straw, the arthroscope allows for just two or
three small incisions instead of traditional open joint surgery. With a fiber
optic light source, watersource, and camera, it can be used diagnostically, to
evaluate the joint’s medical condition. It can also be used operatively, to
repair the joint through a second opening. It can be used to repair torn
cartilage or ligaments, to correct, tighten, or repair dislocations, and to
assist in managing complications in a fractured weight bearing joint.
“Arthroscopy is easier to recover from than an open joint surgery. There
is less blood loss, we can see better and there’s less healing time needed,”
explained Scott M. Harris, M.D., board-certified orthopedic surgeon on staff
at Falmouth Hospital. “The equipment continues to evolve and the
technique has become refined so we can do more things less invasively. Many
arthroscopic surgeries are handled in same-day surgery.”
When a total joint replacement is the
decided course of action, orthopedic surgeons on the Cape have the tools,
technology and experience to perform knee, hip and shoulder replacement
surgeries with more being done now using minimally invasive
techniques.
For orthopedic surgery, follow-up care and rehabilitation is critical, and
another area where Cape care shines. “We have dedicated surgical nurses
proficient in post-op patient management,” Dr. Harris said.
“We have a remarkable organization for total care,” agreed Dr. Mannal. “If the
follow-up care isn’t convenient, the patient isn’t going to do it. We have
fostered close relationships with nursing homes and can synchronize physical
therapy, all close to the patient’s home.”
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