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ALBANY SURGEON S INTRODUCE UNIQUE ALTERNATIVE TO TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT Innovative Birmingham Hip Resurfacing™ System preserves bone and joint stability for young, active patients Albany, NY. (April 24, 2007) – Drs. J. David Abraham, Fred Fletcher, and Frank Congiusta of Northeast Orthopaedics are among an exclusive group of surgeons in this country who have been trained in the remarkable new Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) technique. Rather than replacing the entire hip joint, as in a total hip replacement, hip resurfacing simply shaves and caps a few centimeters of bone within the joint. The Birmingham Hip’s bone-conserving approach preserves more of the patient’s natural bone structures and stability, covering the joint’s surfaces with an all-metal implant that more closely resembles a tooth cap than a hip implant. This approach reduces the post-operative risks of dislocation and inaccurate leg length, and because the all-metal implant is made from tough, smooth cobalt chrome, it has the potential to last longer than traditional hip implants. “This is one of the most exciting procedures I’ve seen in years,” explains Dr. Abraham. “I see hip resurfacing as the ideal solution for many of my young, active patients who suffer from hip pain. As my patients are getting younger and younger, and are staying physically active much later in life, I’ve needed an alternative to total hip replacement that accommodates their age and lifestyle. The Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System is that alternative.” The Birmingham Hip implant is intended for patients suffering from hip pain due to osteoarthritis, dysplasia or avascular necrosis, and for whom total hip replacement may not be appropriate due to their increased level of physical activity. For this reason, most surgeons feel it will be ideal for patients under age 60 who live non-sedentary lifestyles. To make an appointment to see if this new procedure is right for you, contact Northeast Orthopaedics at 518.453.9088 and press “3” for our appointment staff. About the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing implantWhile the BHR implant closely matches the size of a patient’s natural femoral head (hip ball), it is substantially larger than the femoral head of a traditional total hip replacement implant. This increased size translates to greater stability in the new joint, and it decreases the chance of dislocation of the implant after surgery. Dislocation is a leading cause of implant failure after total hip replacement. Total hip replacement involves the removal of the entire femoral head and neck. The Birmingham Hip resurfacing technique, however, leaves the head and neck untouched. It is this neck length and angle that determines the natural length of a patient’s leg after surgery, and since it is not removed and replaced with an artificial device during the resurfacing procedure, there is a greater likelihood of maintaining accurate leg length. The Birmingham Hip implant is an all-metal ball and socket joint. Traditional hip replacements use a metal ball and a plastic socket. As would be assumed, this plastic socket wears down over time, and may need to be replaced surgically. In fact, it is a leading cause of follow-up surgeries. All-metal total hip replacements reduce joint wear by 97-percent compared to total hip implants containing these plastic sockets. ### Birmingham Hip Resurfacing is a trademark of Smith & Nephew, Inc.
ALBANY, NY – In an effort to bring comprehensive spine care to patients in the Capital Region, Northeast Orthopaedics, LLP is pleased to introduce Dr. Luke Rigolosi, MD. Dr. Rigolosi, a board certified Physiatrist, joins Northeast Orthopaedics after completing a Fellowship in Interventional Pain Management through Sinai of Baltimore. In 2004, he completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Kessler Institute, part of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. “We are pleased that Dr. Rigolosi has decided to bring his unique talents to the Capital Region,” said Alan Okun, Practice Administrator for Northeast Orthopaedics. Dr. Rigolosi is a board certified Physiatrist, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of problems associated with the neuromuscular system, with the goal of restoring function to patients. “Physiatrists treat the whole patient, not just the symptoms,” Okun said. “It’s an approach that produces not only cost effective results, but also a high degree of patient satisfaction.” Dr. Rigolosi, the newest member of the Northeast Orthopaedics team, serves as the first Physiatrist in the Capital Region community to focus on offering a minimally-invasive approach to pain management. He has extensive experience in a wide variety of X-ray guided procedures including epidural steroid injections, radiofrequency neuroablation and percutaneous disc decompression.
Office Opened May 9, Scheduling Appointments Now Albany, New York (May 9, 2005): Northeast Orthopaedics, LLP (NEO ), the Capital Region’s leading provider of orthopaedic medicine and surgical services, opened a new office in Delmar on Monday, May 9, 2005. The office is conveniently located at 3 Normanskill Boulevard. To schedule an appointment, patients may call 689-5366 or 453-9088. “Our Delmar office will offer the Bethlehem community and surrounding areas even greater access to NEO’s specialty orthopaedic health care,” said Practice Administrator Alan Okun. “NEO is looking forward to providing orthopaedic services, including on-site radiography, and being an integral part of community life in Delmar.” A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Tuesday, May 10 to commemorate the official opening of the office. Northeast Orthopaedics’ managing partner Dr. J. David Abraham, Alan Okun, Lynne Sanchez, Clinical Supervisor, and Julie Stafford represented Northeast Orthopaedics and gave a tour of the new office. Local dignitaries, including Bethlehem Town Supervisor Theresa Egan her administrative assistant, Kim Ryan, and Bethlehem Chamber of Council President Marty DeLaney were also on hand. Physicians practicing in the Delmar Office include Drs. Joseph Fay, Suheil Khuri, J. David Abraham, Christopher DeCamp, Richard Katz, and Matthew Zmurko. James D. Alfandre, MD, of Loudonville, NY and David J. Dixon, MD of Loudonville, were inducted February 23, 2005, as Fellows of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons during ceremonies at the Academy’s 72nd annual meeting in Washington, D.C. Drs. Alfandre and Dixon are two of 549 new Fellows inducted. The Academy has 27,959 members worldwide. Dr. Alfandre is a partner in Northeast Orthopaedics with offices throughout the Capital Region of New York. He is board certified in orthopaedic surgery and completed a fellowship in sports medicine. He is a member of the NYS Medical Society and the Arthroscopy Association of North America. He is also the team physician for the Columbia High School and Rensselaer High School football teams and works closely with Top Form, a group of local sports trainers. Dr. Dixon is also a partner in Northeast Orthopaedics and is board certified in orthopaedic surgery. He has completed a fellowship in orthopaedic foot and ankle. He is a member of the NYS Medical Society and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society. His practice encompasses general orthopaedics with a specialty focus on foot and ankle problems. An orthopaedist is a physician with extensive training in the diagnosis, and nonsurgical and surgical treatment of the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves. The Academy is the largest medical association for musculoskeletal specialists. Its members have completed medical school plus at least five years of specialty study in orthopaedics in an accredited residency program, passed a comprehensive oral and written exam, and been certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. The 27,959-member American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons ( www.aaos.org) or ( http://orthoinfo.aaos.org), is a not-for-profit organization that provides education programs for orthopaedic surgeons, allied health professionals and the public. An advocate for improved patient care, the Academy is participating in the Bone and Joint Decade (www.usbjd.org), the global initiative to raise awareness of musculoskeletal health, stimulate research and improve people’s quality of life. President Bush has declared the years 2002-2011 National Bone and Joint Decade in support of these objectives.
Albany, NY (February 2, 2005) – Albany orthopedic surgeon J. David Abraham has performed at St. Peter’s Hospital what only a handful of surgeons across the country—and none yet in the Albany area—have been able to offer: Computer-assisted, less-invasive, total knee replacement surgery. The procedure, developed by global medical device maker Smith & Nephew, combines fluoroscopic images and a proprietary computer and camera system to track the precise locations of bones relative to the instruments used during surgery. The application enables Dr. Abraham to make computer-guided cuts to within 1mm and 1-degree of perfect alignment, a rarity in knee replacement surgery. During a traditional procedure, the surgeon relies upon cutting blocks, personal estimates of proper joint alignment, and the general feel of the joint in the determination of implant placement. “Implant alignment during knee replacement surgery is vital,” explains Dr. Abraham. “This procedure not only enables a higher degree of accuracy, but by eliminating certain steps required in traditional knee surgery, it is also a much less invasive technique.” In addition, real-time images of the instruments and the knee implant itself can be superimposed over the patient’s bones on the computer screen. Surgeons using the software can therefore determine the fit and alignment of the new implants before ever making the first cut. Computer-Assisted Surgery relies on the computer system, cameras, software, specialized surgical instruments and physician training. “The computer doesn’t perform the surgery,” Dr. Abraham underscored. “It is a navigation tool that helps the surgeon align the artificial joint in the bone with a near-perfect degree of accuracy.” The new technique offers numerous patient benefits, including:
“This is the future of orthopedic surgery,” says Dr. Abraham. “Fortunately, residents in the Capital Region can stay close to home to receive this standard of care today. Contrary to common assumptions about cutting-edge procedures, patients at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany are getting the most advanced procedure available anywhere in the country.” Every year in the United States, 350,000 total knee replacement surgeries are performed. Dr. Abraham’s patients not only benefit from the advanced technology of computer assisted surgery but also from Dr. Abraham’s use of a remarkable new technique that reduces the length of the surgical incision by as much as fifty percent. "Patients benefit tremendously from this brand new mini-incision surgery," explains Dr. Abraham of Northeast Orthopaedics, "A smaller incision means less trauma to soft tissue--that means there's less post-operative pain and a faster return to physical activity. It gets them back on their feet much more quickly." For more info on Computer-Assisted Surgery, click here.
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