John Alper was an active 51-year-old who loved running, racquetball and golf. Little did he know that he would soon be facing total knee replacement surgery.
“I guess all of that activity and walking a lot in my job caused my knees to eventually wear out,” he said. “I felt like I was walking around like an 80-year-old man.”
When the pain became too much to bear, John sought the expertise of the Texas Health Center for Diagnostics and Surgery’s total joint replacement team. The center has a program led by medical director Dr. Donald Hohman. In just four years, it has made a remarkable difference in the lives of hundreds of patients.
John ended up having both knees replaced. After both surgeries, he returned to work within 10 days. In a matter of weeks, he was back on the links, pain-free thanks to the Texas Health Center for Diagnostics and Surgery Joint Replacement Program.
Established in 2016, the program helps patients with all types of joint replacement surgeries. Developed in conjunction with Dr. Hohman, it focuses on providing patients with the essential knowledge necessary to be successful post-surgery.
To aid in the journey, a dedicated joint replacement coordinator works closely with patients throughout the process. This advanced orthopedic program places a strong emphasis on individualized education, empowering patients to become more involved in their plan of care. This includes helping patients to get up and moving quickly after surgery.
Like most patients, John only spent a single night in the hospital. When he went home, he felt safe knowing what to expect throughout the recovery process ahead.
“The team checks up on you a lot and makes sure you are doing your physical therapy,” he said. “In fact, they have someone come to your house the day after you get home to follow up. Because of their guidance and doing physical therapy three times a day, my recovery was accelerated. My knees feel great. I can get around and play golf every day if I want to.”
The program utilizes computer navigation and cutting-edge advances. Each patient enrolled in the Texas Health Center for Diagnostics and Surgery Joint Replacement Program is offered an advanced technological approach specifically crafted for them. This yields more predictable outcomes and reproducible results.
A specialized team is also in place to help get them through the operation in an efficient manner. Anesthesiologists help orchestrate a multimodal pain regimen that eliminates the need for narcotic pain medication, even post-surgery. Each patient is approached with an individualized plan, and when circumstances warrant, Dr. Hohman has the ability to plan surgeries with an advanced 3D protocol. This is especially beneficial for patients who have had previous spine surgery and may be prone to dislocation and postoperative complications. An optimal positioning system helps identify the best positioning for their implant.
“I’m not the type of surgeon that is satisfied with doing things the way they have always be done. I believe new technology gives us a way to do better for our patients. Each patient is an individual and has unique circumstances. This technology can help us determine what will work best for them,” said Dr. Hohman.
John is the perfect example of how patients benefit from customized surgery. Other than some occasional stiffness, he says his new knees feel like they have been there all along – only better.
“I wish I had done this earlier,” he says. “It is amazing to me that these doctors can go in and create a brand-new knee that specifically fits each person’s body. I have a new appreciation for what they can do, and a new appreciation for getting around without pain.”
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I needed a total knee replacement because had been living with a severe valgus deformity of my left knee for over 10 years after a catastrophic injury. I literally broke my leg backward at the knee. I ran around on my crooked leg until severe osteoarthritis took over making the deformity worse year after year.