Surgical day 3 is best described as “getting in the groove”. As the team gets to know each other better, knows their jobs and how to function inside the hospital, efficiency is improving and it is extremely gratifying to see patients standing up and test driving their bodies with their joints repaired and their deformities corrected.
After the energetic souls did their yoga and breakfast was served, Gavin again delivered a thoughtful and gracious message first thing in the morning. During the walk to the hospital, a pleasant wind brushed our skin and the clouds kept the temperature cool but comfortable for this group of Midwesterners. The local dogs greeted the team with snaggletooth grins during the walk to the hospital.
The pre-op tasks went smoothly, and rounds were a delight with many patients giving a “thumbs up” as they saw their surgeon. At this point, some of the patients that were operated on Monday had already gone home if they lived fairly close by or have moved to Casa de Fe (the Faith in Practice boarding facility) to continue their recovery before they made their sometimes lengthy journey back home.
A total of 16 cases were performed in five rooms with two rooms doing total knee replacements, two rooms doing a mix of total hip and total knee replacements and one room doing foot and ankle procedures. Dr. Klaasen started the day with a grossly unstable knee that required a rotating hinge knee followed by two more “routine” total knees. Dr. Lombardi also started with a patient who had a major knee trauma with gross instability and was able to greatly improve the anatomy with his reconstruction and also revised a patient who had received a hip device that was designed about 50 years ago that had become quite painful. Drs. Mike and Keith both saw a mix of hips and knees for orthopedic maladies that had been left untreated for many years. Drs. Herbst and Knecht continued to team up on the surgical procedures below the knee joint.
One critical portion of the process is the post anesthesia care unit (PACU). This is the area where patients go immediately after surgery, are revived from their anesthesia, and are observed, monitored and cared for until it is established that they are stable enough to move to a hospital bed. The Team HIM PACU team is so incredibly positive and experienced, and they are experts at delivering the universal language of smiles to greet patients as they regain consciousness to begin the miraculous journey of recovery and motion after their surgery.
One 50 year old patient has an especially intriguing story. At the age of 30, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and had it surgically repaired. Five years later he experienced a major auto accident and during the treatment process experienced an infection that was treated and eventually the infection was eradicated. Currently he works in a salt mine and was restricted to the type of role he could perform at his company, and also, severely restricted in his life with his activities. Dr. Klaasen was able to straighten his leg, restore his leg length and the knee replacement will allow him to expand his role at work and also greatly increase his ability to enjoy his life and family. He has spent the last 15 years walking with the help of crutches and now is very excited to greatly improve his lifestyle!!
Stay tuned for an update on the final day of surgery for Team HIM tomorrow!!
Respectfully submitted
John White
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