In recent years, Jeanes Hospital has become a hub of new health care technology for Northeast Philadelphia and Montgomery County. Most recently Jeanes became the host hospital for an innovative new tool used by surgeons for knee replacement patients. William Markmann, MD, a private practice orthopedic surgeon who operates at Jeanes, is helping to pioneer the use of the tool in our region. Baby Boomers' need for new knees is a call to action for new technology like Tru-Match, which uses a three-dimensional computerized scan of the patient's leg and creates customized surgical guides that help surgeons achieve consistency in the placement and positioning of the replacement joint.
"While the advent of total knee replacement was truly a revolution in the care of patients with severe knee arthritis, there has been a continued evolution to improve and perfect the procedure," said Dr. Markmann. "Custom fit knee replacement is one more step in that evolution, allowing the surgeon to perform a replacement customized to the patient’s anatomy while being less invasive, hopefully allowing quicker recovery, less pain, fewer complications and a longer-lasting result."
Dr. Markmann explained that this technology helps ensure more precise alignment of the knee replacement, and therefore reduces the chances of uneven wear and tear. The technicalities are riveting: specialized software is used with a CT scan to create a 3D model of the knee and the progression of damage. The image is sent to DePuy Orthopaedics in Indiana, where personalized guides are fabricated and delivered to the surgeon. The guides help position and place the knee implant.
Dr. Markmann has launched the use of the customization technique in our region, said manufacturer DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. In fact, DePuy informed Jeanes Hospital that to-date, he has performed about a tenth of the knee replacements using this technology across the country.
DePuy has indicated that they are being very conservative in their commercial release of this technology, so they can allow close monitoring of the early surgical outcomes. Having recently topped only 100 cases, the results have been very favorable across the industry thus far. Dr. Markmann confirmed positive outcomes for his cases at Jeanes Hospital.
"Being at the forefront of this kind of advanced technology is another way for Jeanes Hospital to serve our community," said Linda J. Grass, CEO at Jeanes. "Partnering with progressive members of our medical staff, like Dr. Markmann, gives us the opportunity to lead the region in new opportunities. That's why patients choose Jeanes - to get sophisticated care with a personal touch."
Eighty years after its founding, Jeanes Hospital is welcoming high acuity technology to its continuum of care and expanding vital programs that make once-elusive services more accessible close to home.