Patient John Andonian (left) and Stuart Gordon, M.D., Co-chief, of the Section of Orthopedic Surgery, Taylor Hospital

RIDLEY PARK, Pa. – Working as a letter carrier for 30 years had no doubt taken a toll on John Andonian’s body. So when he started feeling pain in his knees a few years ago, he figured it was the onset of arthritis.

“I thought maybe my knees were turning arthritic,” says Mr. Andonian, 70, a resident of Folsom, Delaware County. “After all, I had walked more than 5 miles a day for more than 30 years. There had to be some damage.”

Mr. Andonian made an appointment with Stuart Gordon, M.D., co-chief of the Section of Orthopedic Surgery at Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park, Pa. After a few tests, his diagnosis was in.

“Dr. Gordon said, ‘I have good news and I have bad news,’” Mr. Andonian says. “The good news was that the problem wasn’t in my knees. The bad news was that it was in my hip. It had degenerated very badly and needed to be replaced.”

“After Mr. Andonian’s test results came back, we discussed his options and decided he would be a perfect candidate for a new procedure called minimally invasive posterior-incision hip replacement surgery,” Dr. Gordon says. “The surgery is done through a much smaller incision than it was in the past – just 3 to 3 ½ inches as opposed to the 8 inches needed just a few years ago. Because Mr. Andonian’s hip was so degraded, and because he’s such a high-energy, motivated person, I knew this procedure would fit his needs.”

Minimally invasive posterior-incision hip replacement surgery has revolutionized the way surgeons perform hip replacements. The incision is more than 60 percent smaller than the one needed for previous procedures, and nearly 50 percent less tissue and muscle is involved in the new procedure. Bleeding and post-operative complications are also significantly reduced, and the relative quickness of the surgery – about 45 minutes – reduces the risk of deep vein thrombosis, a potentially harmful clotting condition.

“With this new breakthrough, we can do a very complicated and intensive operation like a total hip replacement with a small incision, resulting in faster recovery times, a decreased rehabilitation period, and a quicker return to activities of normal living,” says Dr. Gordon, a Rothman Institute-trained surgeon who performs minimally invasive hip and knee surgery at Taylor Hospital. “On average, patients who undergo this procedure are out of bed and walking the next day, are discharged from the hospital two to four days after surgery, and are off the walker and on to a cane in just one to two weeks. Most patients can resume activities like driving in just three or four weeks. Patients who opt for this procedure also need fewer narcotics and pain medications, which means less nausea, less sickness and more comfort overall.”

Those results are similar to the ones experienced by Mr. Andonian.

“After my surgery, I was moved to the second floor (medical/surgical unit) at Taylor Hospital,” Mr. Andonian says. “I was able to walk up and down the hallway by the end of the day. A few days later, they moved me to the fourth floor (rehabilitation unit) and less than a week after my surgery, I was home.”

Mr. Andonian says his recovery was hastened by the constant support of his wife and family and by the exceptional care of Taylor’s nursing staff.

“Everyone was great,” he says. “I constantly felt encouraged and motivated to get up and move around, which helped keep my hip loose and sped up my recovery time.”

Like most patients undergoing minimally invasive posterior-incision hip replacement surgery, Mr. Andonian’s prognosis is overwhelmingly positive.

“Mr. Andonian’s surgery and recovery went beautifully,” Dr. Gordon says. “He is a very motivated, high-energy person who had high expectations of how his surgery and recovery would go. Because of that, his prognosis is wonderful. His new hip will last a lifetime, and while he will have certain activity restrictions – for example, no running or jumping – he can perform most activities of daily living with no problem.”

Mr. Andonian agrees.

“I’ve been mowing the grass, walking through the mall – no problem at all,” he says. “I don’t even have to go to Dr. Gordon’s office for a checkup until 2006. I’m very grateful to Dr. Gordon and everyone at Taylor Hospital – they gave me my life back.”

About the Procedure

At Taylor Hospital, about 150 patients per year will undergo minimally invasive hip or knee replacement surgery. Most patients are well-qualified for the surgery, although those clinically defined as medically obese may not be candidates.

“The difference between this new procedure and the old way of doing things is very dramatic,” Dr. Gordon says. To illustrate the difference, he shows his patients the following chart: 
 

	Previous ‘open’ procedure	Minimally invasive posterior-incision hip replacement procedure
Incision size	8“	3 to 3 ½”
Tissue involvement	Major	50% reduction in tissue involvement
Time in surgery	60 minutes	45 minutes
Time using walker	6 weeks	1-2 weeks
Hospitalization time	1-2 weeks	2-4 days
Need for pain medications	Strong, lasting several days	50% reduced, lasting 1-2 days

“At Taylor, we are proud of the fact that our patients are treated like people, not like numbers,” Dr. Gordon says. “Some hospitals see surgery as an assembly line. As a community hospital, we get to know each of our patients on an individual level. The entire surgical experience is very private and comfortable and customized to the individual patient.”

Hip Replacement Surgery         

All of Taylor’s procedures are guided by the latest medical evidence and performed with state-of-the-art technology and medications to allow patients to recover comfortably and quickly.

“When you’re having hip problems, every step is painful,” Dr. Gordon says. “You can’t enjoy your life with that kind of pain. After having surgery at Taylor, you can be assured that you’ll leave with comfort, confidence and the knowledge that you will be able to enjoy your life again. We improve your form, and that allows you to improve your function. Your quality of life improves dramatically.”

About Surgical Services at Taylor Hospital
 
At Taylor Hospital, we provide the personal care and the attention our patients find so comforting while offering the benefits of state-of-the-art technological advances in surgery.

• A Highly Experienced Team

Taylor Hospital surgical teams have decades of experience, specializing in a full range of inpatient and outpatient procedures, from general surgery to advanced laparoscopic and laser surgeries. Surgeons on staff at Taylor are board-certified and are assisted by perioperative registered nurses, many of whom are Certified Operating Room Nurses (CNOR). Other members of your surgical team include anesthesiologists, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA), registered nurses, surgical technicians and physician assistants. The entire surgical team works together to offer our patients individualized treatment before, during and after surgery.

• The Most Advanced Technology

Taylor Hospital’s surgical suites are equipped with the most advanced technology to deliver anesthesia and monitor patients throughout their surgical experience. In addition, patients benefit from our state-of-the-art video, laparoscopic, laser and bipolar cautery equipment.

• Anesthesia Tailored to Your Personal Needs

Anesthesiologists are key members of your surgical team. Taylor Hospital anesthesiologists have years of experience with anesthetic agents and recognize that each patient has a unique set of medical requirements. As a result of this patient-centered approach to care, every Taylor Hospital patient meets with an anesthesiologist prior to surgery to discuss his or her medical history and a plan of care. This discussion enables the anesthesiologist to tailor anesthetic and pain management techniques to each patient’s specific needs. In addition, Taylor Hospital anesthesiologists and staff work very closely with patients who have pain management problems.

Taylor Hospital is a member of the Crozer-Keystone Health System. We’re 5 hospitals, 2,600 doctors and nurses, and 7,100 caring people with 1 vision. Crozer-Keystone. Something to feel good about.

For more information about surgical services at Taylor Hospital, call 1-800-CK-HEALTH (1-800-254-3258).