ORANGE CITY, Fla., April 17, 2019 – Nearly 60 community members attended AdventHealth Fish Memorial’s free community luncheon titled, “Advancements in Rapid Recovery for Hip Replacements,” on April 3 at the DeBary Golf and Country Club.
Led by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Nathan Turnbull, guests learned about hip pain and the cutting-edge treatment options available, as well as the advancements in Rapid Recovery.
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Over 70 million people in the U.S. have some form of arthritis and osteoarthritis is one of the most common types of this joint disease. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition caused by the breakdown cartilage and changes to the bones in the joints.
“There are a number of treatment options when it comes to osteoarthritis,” said Turnbull, a physician with Florida Orthopaedic Associates. “To start, there are conservative measures, such as medications; health and behavior modifications, such as exercise and weight loss; and bracing and assistive devices; and injections. Only after conservative treatment measures fail is surgery considered.”
When the joint pain becomes severe and it interferes with daily activities, patients often begin to consider surgery.
“Typically, a patient makes the decision for surgery when the good days outnumber the bad days,” Turnbull added.
A total hip replacement can help patients with hip osteoarthritis. This reconstructive procedure relieves pain, restores function and returns patients to the independent activities of daily living.
“In order for optimal recovery after a joint replacement, we use the Rapid Recovery protocol,” said Turnbull. “Rapid Recovery is a process that starts before surgery and continues throughout recovery.”
The Rapid Recovery process at AdventHealth Fish Memorial begins with a joint replacement class that provides education and counseling about the surgery, as well as the expected recovery process after surgery.
As part of the hospital’s Rapid Recovery program, a combination of medications is administered prior to surgery to decrease pain. During surgery, a special long-acting injection is given. To complete the Rapid Recovery process, patients participate in an accelerated therapy program and are typically up and walking within a few hours of surgery, often able to go home the day after surgery.
Another factor that helps provide a faster, less painful recovery for patients is that orthopedic surgeons are opting to use the anterior approach for hip replacements.
“The anterior approach is tissue-sparing and does not cut the muscles,” said Turnbull. “It helps to stabilize the new joint immediately and allows for a faster recovery with less pain.”
With the anterior approach, an incision is made on the front, or anterior, of the leg rather than the side or back of the leg. This allows an orthopedic surgeon to work between muscles and tissues without detaching them from the hip or thighbones. This approach is the latest in hip replacements and uses a high-tech table and imaging equipment for precise positioning of the implant.
“This is an exciting time in my field, as there have been tremendous advancements in both hip and knee replacement surgery recently,” Turnbull said. “Thankfully I work at a hospital that gives me the resources and provides me with the equipment I need to offer the latest, cutting-edge techniques to my patients.”
About AdventHealth Fish Memorial
AdventHealth Fish Memorial in Orange City has 175-beds and is one of the six hospitals in Flagler, Lake and Volusia counties that composes the AdventHealth Central Florida Division - North Region. Formerly known as Florida Hospital Fish Memorial, the organization’s parent company changed the name of all wholly-owned entities to AdventHealth on Jan. 2, 2019. Based in Altamonte Springs, AdventHealth is a connected system of care. With more than 80,000 team members, AdventHealth is one of the nation’s largest faith-based health care systems with nearly 50 hospitals and hundreds of care sites in nearly a dozen states. With the mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ, AdventHealth Fish Memorial provides whole person care to heal the body, mind and spirit. For more information about AdventHealth Fish Memorial, visit http://AdventHealthFishMemorial.com.
Photo Caption:
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Nathan Turnbull led AdventHealth Fish Memorial’s free seminar on “Advancements in Rapid Recovery for Hip Replacements.”