Penn Medicine Announces New Advanced Care Hospital Pavilion and Trauma Center at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center

Penn Medicine recently announced plans to begin the second part of an expansion project that will transform and modernize the advanced care services provided at the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (PPMC) campus. In addition to the recently announced Penn Center for Specialty Care, the new Advanced Care Hospital Pavilion will provide the infrastructure and programmatic support needed for PPMC to become Penn Medicine’s Level-I Regional Resource Trauma Center.

To learn more about this exciting project, click here.

New Study Shows Added Benefits of Hip Replacement Surgery

Replacing a hip may do more than simply diminish pain. In a study presented at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), researchers from Exponent, Inc., an engineering and consulting firm, put forth data showing that hip replacement recipients with osteoarthritis face reduced risks of heart failure, depression, and diabetes rates.

The study reviewed over 24,000 patients with osteoarthritis of the hip over a seven year period, dividing them into two groups: those who had a total hip replacement and those who did not. The results were quite revealing, showing that those who underwent total hip replacement had a 52% lower mortality risk, a 40% lower risk of diabetes and a 31% lower risk of depression.

Results, as likely expected, are attributed to the increased mobility and pain relief that comes with a total hip replacement. The researchers also state that increased levels of activity could help alleviate depression.

The findings of the study come as no surprise to Charles Nelson, MD, chief of Joint Replacement at Penn Orthopaedics.

"Exercise is important for cardiovascular health, and people with hip replacement are able to retain mobility," he said. "It's an important part of trying to remain active and healthy."

Although many may be put off by the cost of having a hip replaced, the study shows that over a seven-year period, the cost of the procedure compared to other methods to deal with the pain, the difference in cost is not as large as many may think.

"Hip replacements are a very cost-effective strategy," Nelson said. "It allows patients to stay mobile and remain in the workforce."

Nelson feels the combo of the many benefits of hip replacement and the cost-effectiveness of the procedure has convinced him to recommend the procedure to all patients who are candidates for it.

"I definitely encourage patients who are at a point where they have severe disability to have a total hip replacement," he said. "It improves their quality of life and keeps them independent."

Learn if Joint Replacement at Penn Orthopaedics is right for you.

Seven Surgeons from Penn Orthopaedics Earn 'Top Doc' Honors

Each year, Philadelphia magazine recognizes the area's outstanding doctors in their annual Top Doctors list. The list is viewed as a "gold standard for those seeking the finest medical care in the Philadelphia area."

We are pleased to announce that seven surgeons from Penn Orthopaedics made the 2013 Top Doctors list:

Name	Specialty
David J . Bozentka, MD	Hand and upper extremity surgery, elbow surgery
Craig Israelite, MD	Knee Replacement,Hip Replacement,Arthroscopic Surgery,Trauma
Frederick S. Kaplan, MD	Bone disorders-metabolic, fibrodysplasia ossificans progressive (FOP), progressive osseous heteroplasia (POH)
John D. Kelly, IV, MD	Sports medicine, musculoskeletal disorders, rotator cuff surgery
L. Scott Levin, MD, FACS	Toe-to-Hand Transfer,Reconstructive Microsurgery,Hand & Upper Extremity Surgery, Plastic Reconstructive Surgery
Brian J. Sennett, MD	Arthroscopic Surgery,Cartilage Damage,Sports Injuries,Upper Extremity Trauma
Keith L. Wapner, MD	Foot and ankle surgery, tendon surgery, arthritis

The Top Doctors list recognizes not only doctors who excel in academic medicine and research, but also those with outstanding interpersonal skills. Philadelphia magazine selects physicians for its Top Doctors list through both a national and local nominating process completed by peer doctors.

Penn Medicine's department of orthopaedic surgery offers advanced, personally-tailored care and the latest treatment options for a variety of injuries and disorders within ten orthopaedic subspecialties. It is ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, making it one of the leading orthopaedic programs in the Greater Philadelphia region.

Learn more about Penn Orthopaedics.

Fractures in Smokers Take Longer to Heal

Another reason for smokers to kick the habit — the ability to heal.

A recent study done by the department of orthopaedic surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania looked at the differences in post-fracture healing and infection rates, between smokers and non-smokers when healing from a fracture or broken bone. The research supports early evidence showing that those who smoke cigarettes suffer longer healing times and an increased rate of post-operative complication and infection when sustaining fractures or traumatic injuries to a bone.

Multiple computerized literature databases were used as part of the study, to gather and corroborate data from past projects that examined the effects of smoking on bone and soft tissue healing. In total, 6,480 patient cases (treated both surgically and non-surgically) were evaluated. This allowed researchers to find an association between smoking and healing time and any complications, such as post-surgical infection.

The results are quite compelling, according to Samir Mehta, MD, chief of the Orthopaedic Trauma and Fractured Service at Penn Orthopaedics. For all injury types, fractured bones in patients who smoke take nearly six weeks longer to heal than those in a non-smoker. Additional results show that fractured bones in patients who smoke are more likely to result in non-unions (non-healed fractures) than in non-smokers.

“Cigarette smoking is widely recognized as one of the major causes of preventable disease in the US, but there has been a lack of evidence showing other side effects of smoking, such as how it changes the way our bones heal,” said Samir Mehta, MD. “Our study adds substantial support to a growing body of evidence showing that smoking presents a significant risk to fracture patients. These risks need to be addressed with the patient both at the time of injury and when considering surgical treatment.”

The team of researchers believes that future studies are needed to assess the dose-dependent effects of smoking on fracture healing. Factors, such as the increase in smokeless tobacco products, raise new questions about the effects of nicotine. For now, though, it is safe to say that there is yet another negative side effect of cigarette smoking.

Lead author on the study is Jaimo Ahn, MD, assistant professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Penn Medicine. Other Penn authors include Mara L. Schenker, MD, John A. Scolaro, MD, Sarah M. Yannascoli, MD, and Keith D. Baldwin, MD. Results of the study were presented at AAOS by Dr. Schenker.

James Carey, MD, MPH, Discusses Louisville Guard Kevin Ware's Injury and Recovery

Throughout the course of a basketball season, it happens countless times. A player rises to take an open jumper and a defender leaps towards the shooter in an attempt to make a play on the ball. Nearly every time, both players either scramble for a rebound or run back down the court.

This seemingly harmless play, though, resulted in a gruesome injury last Sunday in the NCAA tournament Midwest Region final game between Louisville and Duke. Louisville sophomore guard Kevin Ware sustained an open fracture - the bone cut through his skin - when he broke his leg in two places. Ware's teammates and much of the large crowd on hand could barely stand to watch as doctors took him off the court.

James Carey, MD, MPH, director of the Penn Center for Advanced Cartilage Repair and Osteochondritis Dissecans Treatment, addressed the injury and the player's possible recovery time in a story that aired on 6ABC.

 

6ABC segment

Learn more about sports medicine at Penn Orthopaedics.

Penn Orthopaedics Surgeon Featured on CBS Talk Philly

Joint replacement, also called arthroplasty, is a medical procedure in which a damaged joint is removed and replaced with an artificial implant. With more than 1 million hip and knee replacements performed each year in the United States, the procedure has become one of the most common and successful orthopaedic procedures performed today.

Joint pain while performing daily activities, difficulty sleeping due to night pain and a failure of non-operative treatments likely means that an individual is a good candidate for joint replacement.

Penn Orthopaedics surgeon Gwo-Chin Lee, MD recently sat down with CBS Talk Philly co-host Ukee Washington to talk about joint replacement surgery.



Learn if joint replacement at Penn Orthopaedics is right for you.

Penn Orthopaedics Presents a CME-Certified Course on Advanced Joint Disease

Penn Orthopaedics is hosting a CME-certified course: Developments in the Management of Advanced Hip, Knee and Shoulder Disease. Learn from Penn Orthopaedic specialists about the latest treatments and research for arthoplasty techniques.

Date: Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Time: 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Location: Caffe Aldo Lamberti, 2011 Route 70 West, Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Course Director: Eric L. Hume, MD
Faculty presenters include Andrew F. Kuntz, MD and Craig Israelite, MD

The focus of this program will be to learn about the latest developments in the management of advanced hip, knee and shoulder disease. Using a format of lectures, case studies and question and answer segments, the faculty will address important challenges and potential solutions in managing patients with advanced joint disease. Topics will include current research, diagnoses and latest treatments. Additional topics will include indicators and risk benefits for joint arthroplasty and implant selection.

This course is designed for primary care providers, physicians, allied health care providers, nurses and other providers of joint care.

Registration Fees

• $30 for practicing physicians
• $20 for nurses, fellows, residents and other healthcare providers

Payment Method

• Payments will be accepted at the event in the form of check or cash only.
• We regret that we can neither accept credit card nor advance payment. 

To register, please contact Samirah Lawson at 610.902.5691 or email

Accreditation: The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Designation of Credit: The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania designates this live activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. The University reserves the right to cancel or postpone any course due to unforeseen circumstances.