RWJ Hamilton Physician is First in State to Perform Breakthrough Custom Fit Knee Replacement Surgery
John R. Schnell, MD, Fits Patient With New, Improved Set of Knees Using Latest Technology

HAMILTON, NEW JERSEY – John R. Schnell, MD, a board certified orthopedic surgeon at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton), is the first surgeon in New Jersey to perform a totally customized double knee replacement surgery.

John R. Schnell, MD, a board certified orthopedic surgeon at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton

"Custom fit knee replacement with OtisKnee^TM is one of the most significant technological advances in the field of joint replacement," says Dr. Schnell. "This new technique allows the surgeon, before surgery, to match the size and placement of the implant to the patient's normal (non-diseased) anatomy. The surgery can then be done accurately and quickly, with less on-the-spot decision-making required by the surgeon."

The most common cause of chronic knee pain and disability is arthritis. First performed in 1968, there are now more than 500,000 total knee replacement surgeries done each year in the United States.

Pre-Surgical "ShapeMatching" is Key to Custom Fit
Several weeks prior to having the replacement surgery, patients have a pre-operative MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of their knees. The results of the MRI are sent to OtisMed Corporation, a California-based company that developed custom fit knee replacement with OtisKnee. From the MRI, the company's computer software creates a 3-D image of the patient's knee and virtually corrects the deformity to return the knee to its pre-arthritic state. Next, a computerized 3-D image of the implant to be used in the patient's surgery is then "shape-matched" to the anatomically correct virtual knee model. This helps determine the correct implant size and placement, based on the patient's own normal (non-arthritic) knee anatomy. Last, using all of this information, special cutting guides are created for the surgeon to use during the procedure. These patient-specific cutting guides show the surgeon exactly where to make bone cuts so that the knee replacement is customized for the individual patient.

New Technology, Custom Fit Offers Most Precise Placement and Best Feel
According to OtisMed, a recent study showed that "out of 180 normal (non-diseased) knees, 98% were knock kneed or bow legged by a few degrees." When you take into account additional factors such as age, weight, lifestyle, gender and ethnicity, no two knees are the same. Noting that just a few degrees of variation in the size and placement of the implant can have a significant impact on the immediate and long-term success of the surgery, Dr. Schnell says, "With custom cutting guides, surgeons can set the rotation and alignment of the implant specifically to the patient's pre-arthritic dimensions. This will give patients knee replacements that have the best feel, natural wear, and the most precise fit."

Patients Report Dramatic Reduction in Pain, Quicker Return to Activity
The vast majority of patients who have custom fit knee replacement surgery experience a dramatic reduction of knee pain and are able to resume their pre-arthritic level of activity more quickly than with traditional knee replacement surgery. OtisKnee patients spend, on average, three days in the hospital and are able to walk without the help of a cane or walker as early as two to three weeks after surgery. Within six weeks, most patients are able to resume activities such as driving, gardening and golfing. To preserve their new knees, patients are advised to avoid certain activities such as jogging and high-impact sports for the rest of their lives.

RWJ Hamilton offers a comprehensive program of care for orthopedic patients that begins with our preoperative education program and continues until you get back to your normal routine. Visit www.rwjhamilton.org to call HealthConnection at (609) 584-5900.

More About RWJ Hamilton
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton) is the only New Jersey hospital to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Located in Hamilton Township, NJ, the hospital is part of the RWJ Health System and Network and is affiliated with the University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey-RWJ Medical School and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

The RWJ Hamilton Health Care Corporation serves communities within a five-county area and includes an acute care hospital, the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Hamilton, three affiliated medical groups, seven Lakeview Child Centers, and the RWJ Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness, home of a medically-based fitness center and the hospital's extensive community education program. Over 1,900 hospital employees and 650 medical staff physicians share RWJ Hamilton's passion for Excellence Through Service. For more information, visit www.rwjhamilton.org.