Prosser surgeon among first in region to perform revolutionary joint replacement procedure

Dr. Timothy Rankin's new computer-assisted procedure offers patients a less invasive and more accurate surgical option than ever before.

Surgeon Timothy Rankin, of Mt. Adams Surgical Associate and Prosser Memorial Hospital, is now offering his patients an exciting new option in joint replacement surgery—computer-assisted surgery. Computer-assisted surgery (CAS) brings together the proven benefits of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) with computer-guided implant placement to virtually eliminate implant misalignments and significantly reduce overall recovery times.

"Like everything we do, the idea behind CAS is to give our patients the best result possible," says Dr. Rankin. "By using a variety of infrared cameras, digital imaging and tracking devices, the computer allows me to instantly track the precise position of the patient's leg, the implant, and my instruments at all times during the procedure—thus allowing me to position each patient's implant based on their individual knee or hip geometry." In the past, implant placement was determined through the use of intramedullary rods which are inserted into a patient's bone and used as a guide for the necessary cutting blocks.

During a typical knee replacement surgery, a surgeon will resurface the top of the tibia and the bottom of the femur using a combination of high-strength metal components that move against a new plastic insert that replaces the knee's cartilage. New advances in minimally invasive surgical instrumentation and procedures are now allowing doctors such as Dr. Rankin to perform this operation through incisions that are up to 70-percent smaller than in the past.

According to Dr. Rankin, CAS and MIS go hand-in-hand. "Doing an MIS procedure can be like getting into a room through a keyhole. The computer increases my visualization during the procedure which means I can make the smallest incision possible and still get precise alignment I need. A small incision means less muscle is cut and potentially less blood loss. This, in turn, can mean shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery times."

In addition, precise implant placement when paired with new advances in bearing surface materials can mean less wear on the joint components and therefore increased joint life. Dr. Rankin is among the growing number of doctors that are using Oxinium, a high-tech, low-friction implant material that has been shown in lab tests to reduce artificial joint wear by 85-percent.

Each year in the U.S., nearly 250,000 knee replacement and 350,000 hip replacement surgeries are performed, and experts are estimating that these numbers will continue to grow as our life expectancy increases and as more of us look to remain physically active later in life.

"Today's patients aren't content with simply relieving their joint pain," explains Dr. Rankin, "They are looking to improve their quality of life and regain their active lifestyle. And, they expect to do it with a smaller scar, a shorter hospital stay and a longer implant life."

Joint replacement isn't the first choice for patients suffering from pain caused by osteoarthritis, a disease that afflicts some 16 million people. Your doctor should look at a series of treatments options before considering joint replacement.

Dr. Rankin practices with Mt. Adams Surgical Associates and Prosser Memorial Hospital. To make an appointment or to receive more information, you can contact his office at 509-788-0485.

• Contact: Jason Jones