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Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center announces comprehensive joint replacement surgical program

by jmaloni

Press release

Fri, Aug 23rd 2013 11:40 pm

New care pathway will include pre-surgical education component, innovative surgical technique and post-surgery rehabilitation

Area residents now have an attractive new option for the alleviation of joint pain.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center and Excelsior Orthopaedics have teamed up to provide a comprehensive joint replacement program that encompasses a continuum of care from pre-surgical education to post-surgical rehabilitation services - all under one roof.

Medical direction for the program is provided by Dr. Nicholas Violante, a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon and Niagara Falls native who specializes in hip and knee arthroplasty.

"Our total joint replacement program includes a minimally invasive approach designed to provide patients with the utmost in convenience and high quality care," Violante said. "I am proud to be able to offer this level of care here in my home town."

Patients undergoing hip replacement will benefit from Violante's expertise in the use of an innovative procedure in which the incision is made from the patient's front or anterior rather than a lateral or posterior approach.

"The anterior approach for total hip replacement allows me to work between muscles and tissue without the need to detach them from the hip or thigh," Violante said. "That reduces tissue trauma and provides the potential for faster recovery, reduced pain and accelerated rehabilitation."

The anterior approach is best performed using a specially designed operating table. Memorial recently purchased such a table at a cost of $115,000 to complement its orthopaedic surgical services.

The comprehensive joint replacement process begins with a phone call to Excelsior's Summit Healthplex office to schedule an initial appointment. In addition to Violante, the Excelsior Orthopaedics Niagara County team includes Dr. Stephen D. Rycyna, a general orthopaedic surgeon specializing in lower extremity treatment, specifically arthritis; and Dr. Timothy J. McGrath, a hand and shoulder specialist.

If non-surgical interventions are unsuccessful in addressing a patient's joint pain, hip or knee replacement surgery may be scheduled. But before that surgery takes place, the patient is required to attend a pre-operative education class.

"This class is very important and covers such topics as how to prepare for surgery, what happens in the hospital and what to expect after surgery," Violante said. "Nursing, respiratory, physical and occupation therapy and discharge planning representatives will be there to answer questions and assist patients with their needs."

Following surgery, physical therapy commences while the patient is in the hospital. If needed, therapy can be provided post-operatively on a subacute basis at Memorial's Schoellkopf Health Center. Memorial also provides outpatient rehabilitation services, including physical therapy and aquatic therapy.

"This coordination of care is a key to providing our patients with successful outcomes," said Memorial President and CEO Joseph A. Ruffolo. "From the day patients make their first phone call until they re-establish function through a carefully planned and implemented rehabilitation program, our combined joint replacement team works in a cohesive manner to maximize the quality of care for joint replacement patients."

For information or to schedule an appointment, call 716-250-6540.

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