Posted on 06/07/2011
On Friday 1st July, Benenden Hospital will host an innovative bilateral knee replacement operation. The Signature procedure is quite rare and there has only been in the region of 500 operations using this implant in the UK. Bilateral knee replacement operations using the Signature procedure are designed to provide minimal disruption to patients and greatly speed up recovery time, which has remained a long standing downside of knee replacement procedures.
Dr William Dunnet, a specialist consultant at Benenden Hospital will use a bespoke surgical procedure and implant, supplied by specialist orthopaedics company Biomet UK Healthcare Ltd and will replace both of the patient’s knee joints.
In cases where a bilateral operation is required, both knee joints have deteriorated to a stage where the healing of one knee replacement would depend on the opposite knee, making it imperative that both joints be replaced at one time.
On average, only five per cent of orthopaedic patients have both knee joints replaced simultaneously as recovery from the traditional operation can be uncomfortable and lengthy, meaning this type of operation is not common place. Using the Signature procedure however, ensures a faster and quicker recovery period, paving the way for more bilateral operations to take place for those patients who need it.
An independent hospital that supports the NHS, Benenden Hospital is one of the few hospitals in the UK with the capabilities to adopt and implement innovative techniques and technologies and provide the latest, most effective surgery, especially in the field of orthopaedic surgery. Benenden has internationally renowned experts in hip and knee replacement and a state-of-the-art orthopaedic unit, where knee and hip replacements are routinely carried out. Such operations are set to increase as medical experts aim to combat 21st Century diseases like arthritis, which are becoming increasingly common due to the lifestyles we lead today.
Known for its delivery of first rate care, Benenden Hospital caters to the clinical needs of both private and NHS patients across a breadth of treatments and specialist services delivered by dedicated, highly skilled clinical teams. Patients not only benefit from the level of care and expertise provided but also from ease of access to the Hospital and its staff and quality after care following treatment.
Talking about the bilateral knee replacement, Dr William Dunnet said: “It is quite rare for a patient to have both knee joints replaced simultaneously but Benenden Hospital has the facilities available to carry out this innovative, technologically advanced operation. Through use of the Signature knee system provided by Biomet and the new technique of computerised navigation tools, the patient will have both knees replaced in only two and a half hours, a fraction longer than it takes to replace one knee joint in the traditional way.”
Bernard Morel, Product Manager at Biomet UK, who are supplying the Signature implant, provided more detail on how technical the procedure is: “This procedure creates a pre-operative plan prior to surgery, the implant can be more accurately positioned and the operation is less invasive. Patient’s shapes differ on the inside as much as they do on the outside and through the use of magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, we create a three-dimensional joint reconstruction. There are 90 different size combinations available meaning we create a personalised positioning guide for total knee replacement.”
Benenden Hospital is recognised for its state of the art facility, with innovative and pioneering equipment, demonstrated in this case by the bilateral knee replacement operation. It is also commended for providing a clean, safe environment for all patients and has an excellent track record in infection control and patient satisfaction.