Surgical Procedures

Microdiscectomy

Microdiscectomy Yardley A microdiscectomy is a surgical procedure that removes part of an impinged intervertebral disc in order to relieve pain, weakness and numbness throughout the body. It is usually reserved for patients with severe symptoms that do not respond to more conservative treatments, and significantly affect the patient's quality of life. This procedure is performed in a hospital setting under general anesthesia.

The microdiscectomy procedure is most effective in relieving lower back and leg pain caused by lumbar disc herniation, although it may be performed in the cervical and thoracic spine as well. In some cases, microdiscectomy can be performed laparoscopically, in which surgical instruments and a camera are inserted through several tiny incisions. The camera allows the surgeon to magnify the view of the affected area and precisely remove the disc with no damage to the surrounding area. This procedure is considered safe for most patients, although there is a risk of infection, blood clotting or nerve damage.

If you are interested in learning more about our Microdiscectomy procedure, call 267-757-0560 today to schedule an appointment.

Hemiarthroplasty

Hemiarthroplasty is a surgical procedure that replaces one half of the shoulder joint with a prosthetic while leaving the other half intact. This procedure is performed to treat severe or persistent cases of osteoarthritis in the shoulder in which the humoral head (considered the "ball" of the joint) is most affected while the glenoid ("socket" of the joint) is still in good condition.

Surgery is usually considered a last resort treatment for arthritis, as conservative treatments like rest and anti-inflammatory medication are often effective in managing symptoms, especially for younger patients. This procedure is most often performed on patients in the more advanced stages of arthritis.

Once the damaged head of the upper arm has been replaced, patients will notice significant symptom relief, as the bone ends will no longer rub together and cause the painful friction associated with osteoarthritis.

Although this procedure is effective in relieving pain and other symptoms for most patients, there are certain risks and complications associated with any type of surgery. Some of the complications associated with hemiarthroplasty include shoulder stiffness, instability, infection and nerve damage.

If you are interested in learning more about Hemiarthroplasty procedure, call 267-757-0560 today to schedule an appointment.

Shoulder Arthroscopy

Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical technique that involves several small incisions into which a fiber-optic device (arthroscope) and tiny surgical instruments are inserted. Orthopedic surgeons can diagnose and treat many different shoulder conditions with arthroscopy, while patients can benefit from less tissue damage, shorter recovery times, less scarring and less post-operative pain. This technique also avoids cutting any muscles or tendons in order to gain access to the affected area.

Shoulder arthroscopy is often performed to confirm a diagnosis after a physical examination and other imaging procedures have been performed. Some conditions can also be treated during the same procedure by inserting a few additional instruments into the joint area.

Arthroscopy can be used to treat many conditions affect the shoulder joint. Shoulder arthroscopy, also known as shoulder scope, can be used to treat:

Rotator cuff tears
Labral tears
Impingement syndrome
Biceps tendonitis
AC joint arthritis

If you are interested in learning more about Shoulder Arthroscopy, call 267-757-0560 today to schedule an appointment.

Knee Arthroscopy

Knee Arthroscopy Yardley Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows doctors to examine tissues inside the knee. It is often performed to confirm a diagnosis made after a physical examination and other imaging tests such as MRI, CT or X-rays. During an arthroscopic procedure, a thin fiberoptic light, magnifying lens and tiny television camera are inserted into the knee, allowing your doctor to examine the joint in great detail.

For some patients, it is then possible to treat the problem using a few additional instruments inserted through small incisions around the joint. Sports injuries are often repairable with arthroscopy. Knee injuries that are frequently treated using arthroscopic techniques include meniscal tears, mild arthritis, loose bone or cartilage, ACL and PCL tears, synovitis (swelling of the joint lining) and patellar (knee cap) misalignment.

Because it is minimally invasive, arthroscopy offers the patient many benefits over traditional surgery. These include:

No cutting of muscles or tendons
Less bleeding during surgery
Less scarring
Smaller incisions
Faster recovery and return to regular activities
Faster and more comfortable rehabilitation

If you are interested in learning more about Knee Arthroscopy, call 267-757-0560 today to schedule an appointment.

Rotator Cuff Tear

The rotator cuff is the thick band of muscles and tendons that covers the top of the upper arm and holds in it place, providing stability and a full range of motion to the shoulder joint. It is made of four muscles and their associated tendons. These tendons can become partially or completely torn as a result of a rotator cuff tear.

A rotator cuff tear most often occurs as a result of overuse of the muscles over a long period of time. As a result, this condition is most common in patients over the age of 40. It may also occur as a result of a traumatic injury.

Patients with a rotator cuff tear often experience pain when lifting or lowering their arm, muscle weakness and atrophy. These symptoms may appear suddenly after the cuff is torn, or develop gradually after long-term wear. Your doctor can diagnose a rotator cuff tear after evaluating your symptoms and performing an X-ray or MRI exam.

Many rotator cuff tears can be treated through non-surgical methods that focus on relieving pain and restoring function to the shoulder. These may include:

Rest
Use of a sling
Anti-inflammatory medication
Steroid injections
Physical therapy

Surgery may be recommended for tears that cause severe pain or that do not respond to more conservative treatments. The type of surgery performed depends on the size and location of the tear, but often involves trimming torn edges or suturing the tendon back together. Many of these procedures can be performed arthroscopically. Patients will need to undergo physical therapy after surgery to ensure that the shoulder heals properly.

If you are interested in learning more about any of our surgical procedures, call 267-757-0560 today to schedule an appointment.

Lumbar Microdiscectomy

A lumbar microdiscectomy is performed to relieve pressure on nerve roots caused by a severe herniated disc in the lumbar spine. The lumbar spine is the lower area consisting of the bottom five vertebrae. A herniated disc may cause lower back pain and pain or numbness in the legs and feet. Surgery may be needed if symptoms include severe leg pain, weakness or numbness in the extremities and impaired bowel or bladder function.

A lumbar microdiscectomy is a minimally invasive procedure. A microscope is inserted through a tiny incision in the lower back to view the pinched nerve. Surgical instruments are then inserted through other tiny incisions to remove only the portion of the disc that is applying pressure on it, as well as any disc fragments that may have broken off.

If you are interested in learning more about Rotator Cuff Tear, call 267-757-0560 today to schedule an appointment.