TOTAL JOINT REPLACEMENT SURGERY for the hips and knees has recently experienced new surgical advancements.

"These new enhancements take total joint replacement surgery into the future," said Dr. Joseph Dunlap of Pee Dee Orthopedic. "And, they are proving to be very beneficial to the patients." The advancements provide patients with faster recovery time from surgery, and more stability and longer life of the prosthesis.

"Total joint replacement surgery is a quality of life operation," said Dr. Dunlap. "It is important that we are able to provide the latest advances in surgery for our patients and to help improve their quality of life."

In 2002, Pee Dee Orthopedic conducted more than 250 total joint replacement surgeries.

Spine surgery is performed when a patient is experiencing a great deal of pain or is having neurological problems, such as numbness or weakness in the arms or legs. Dr. Rakesh Chokshi, Spine Surgeon with the Pee Dee Spine Center, a division of Pee Dee Orthopedic, says the new advancements in spine surgery include minimally invasive surgery, bone graft material for spine fusion, and instrumentation of the spine to stabilize and align the spine.

Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive treatment option for patients with painful compression fractures of the spine. Dr. Chokshi has been performing this type of procedure on his patients for the past few years. "Kyphoplasty provides near instant relief for almost 90 percent of patients with compression fractures from osteoporosis," said Dr. Chokshi.

In the area of spine fusion surgery, bone morphogenic protein has improved the fusion rates and outcomes of fusion surgery. "This bone forming protein, used in place of a bone graft, is very beneficial in the treatment of bone fractures and bone defects," said Dr. Chokshi. "Upon contact with the patient's tissues, it stimulates the cells to produce additional bone, thus providing a solid bony fusion." The benefits of this protein include less postoperative pain for patients, fusions that are more reliable and an abundant supply of graft material.

Instrumentation of the spine for spine deformity, curvature and fractures is another new surgical advancement. This surgical process goes hand in hand with spine fusion. It stabilizes the spine by using metal pieces such as screws, rods and bolts. To help those patients with neck and low back pain, the latest advancement is cervical and lumbar disc replacement. "Normally, patients experiencing severe neck and low back pain will undergo fusion surgery," said Dr. Chokshi. "With the development of an artificial spinal disc, these patients now have the choice of disc replacement."

Cervical laminoplasty is a new procedure that is gaining popularity. When the patient has spinal cord compression in the neck, this procedure allows for the patient to maintain motion of their neck.