With the ever-increasing number of older people in our country, its not surprising that more and more Americans are dealing with arthritic conditions in their knees and other joints. Although there are several things that can be done to delay the need for knee replacement surgery, traditionally, once the decision has been made to replace one or both of a patient’s knees — which happens more than 600,000 times per year nationwide (according to the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality) — the only ways to perform knee replacement surgery previously was to remove either the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in that knee, or both the ACL and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), even if the ACL, in particular, was still a relatively healthy ligament.
Today, however, there is another choice, a revolutionary new procedure called the Vanguard XP Preserving Knee, that is being performed at Florida Hospital Tampa (3100 E. Fletcher Ave., at Bruce B. Downs {BBD} Blvd.) by Ira Guttentag, M.D., of Florida Medical Clinic (FMC)’s Orthopaedic Division.
Dr. Guttentag is one of a select few orthopaedic surgeons nationwide (the only one in the Tampa Bay area and one of only two in Florida) who is now utilizing this revolutionary new Vanguard XP implant procedure that preserves healthy ligaments — including the ACL. Dr. Guttentag says that this new knee implant procedure improves the range of motion and increases joint stability and natural movement in patients who do have healthy enough knee ligaments.
“The technology available now allows us to save (both) ligaments (when replacing a knee joint), and that’s a very significant achievement,” Dr. Guttentag says. “I’ve found that patients who have undergone this ACL-preserving surgery have attained quicker functionality and ability to return to their normal lifestyle with the new knee implant versus that of a traditional knee replacement.”
He adds that, “(Eligible) patients can now undergo a total knee replacement that looks, feels and functions like a normal knee and should allow them to get back to their regular levels of activity as quickly as possible.”
Some Info About Arthritis
Your knees are the largest joints in your body and, as anyone who has struggled with chronic knee pain can attest, living with damaged or injured knees can cause significant pain, muscle weakness and a dramatic reduction in the ability to maintain an active lifestyle. The most common causes of chronic knee pain are typically one of the three specific types of arthritis: Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Post-Traumatic Arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of your bones wears down over time. Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling, typically in your hands and feet. Post-Traumatic Arthritis is the wearing out of a joint that has had any kind of physical injury.
Dr. Guttentag, who is originally from New York but who received his M.D. degree from the University of South Florida here in Tampa, has extensive surgical experience in the areas of sports medicine and knee and shoulder reconstruction. His is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons, and is Board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. In addition, for the last 14 years, he has been the lead team physician and medical director for the Tampa Bay Lightning National Hockey League team and he also is the orthopaedic surgeon for the Tampa Bay Storm Arena Football League team.
For more information about Florida Medical Clinic or Dr. Guttentag, including a video about the Vanguard XP procedure, visit FMCSportsDoc.com or call 979-0440. — Submitted to & modified by New Tampa Neighborhood News.
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