RK & CATARACT
EYE SPECIALIST
Dr. Sheldon Gonte specializes in:
• RK surgery
• Sutureless cataract surgery
• Glaucoma treatment
• Diabetic laser treatment
• Cosmetic eye surgery
• Pediatric eyecare
• Eximer laser treatment for nearsightedness
FREE consultations for LASER SKIN REJUVENATION
which gently and safely treats unwanted facial lines
Joint replacement surgery opens up to a younger crowd.
Personalized care given to each patient
Dr. Sheldon Gonte, MD
RUTHAN BRODSKY SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
Second location now open in West Bloomfield
Sterling Heights: 810-268-4400 40600 Van Dyke, Suite 12
West Bloomfield: 810 932 5300 5813 W. Maple Road, Suite 137
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Board Certified Ophthalmologist, Experienced Laser Surgeon
DONALD E. GALE, D.D.S.
353-2200
DENTURE
CENTER
HARVARD ROW MALL
21774 WEST 11 MILE RD.
SOUTHFIELD, MI 48076
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QUALITY DENTURES AT AFFORDABLE PRICES
30 YEARS' EXPERIENCE
MP,
Specializing in
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Removal for Men & Women
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lissa Dishell knew some- from the procedures. Numbers weight on uninjured parts of the
thing was different. are likely to increase within the knee joint.
"I felt taller. My friends next five years when baby
All of these options buy the pa-
said I looked taller. It's boomers reach their mid-50s.
tients time and enable them to
true," said Ms. Dishell, a resident
Even so, most orthopedic sur- postpone the actual joint re-
of Franklin. "I must have grown geons are cautious and conserv- placement for as long as possible.
because I. had to let down the ative when deciding to accept a
Dr. Sidney Goldman, an or-
hem of my slacks soon after the patient as a candidate for knee-
thopedic surgeon at the Birm-
surgery on my knees." replacement surgery. Drug ther-
ingham Orthopedics and Sports
That happened two years ago apy in place of invasive surgical Medicine Clinic, recommends
when Ms. Dishell was 58. She procedures still tends to be the
trying conservative treatments
had suffered intense and con- first choice for treatment for such as rest, ice or heat, muscle-
stant pain for several years. The many physicians.
strengthening exercise and non-
agony forced her to leave behind
Procedures that might help steroidal, anti-inflammatory
her zest for the outdoors, includ- from time to time include arthro-
drugs to control pain and lessen
ing long walks with her husband scopic smoothing of rough sur- inflammation before considering
and children.
faces, abrasion arthroplasty (this
any surgical procedure.
"I was 35 when I PHOTO BY DANIEL LIPPITT
can sometimes
"When someone's life is limit-
first started having
stimulate ed significantly, it's a good sign
trouble with my
growth of new that it may be time for joint re-
knees. The condi-
cartilage lin- placement, " Dr. Goldman said.
tion was diagnosed
ing) as well as "The best of worlds would be if
a few years later as
fracture and the patient's life expectancy were
deteriorating carti-
realignment of equal in years to the life ex-
lage," she says.
some bones to pectancy of the new prothesis."
"Doctors wouldn't
place more
But for those who can't wait,
do knee replace-
ment surgery on
me at that age be-
cause the results
were considered too
risky."
RUTHAN BRODSKY SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
By the time Ms.
Dishell reached her
50s, however, joint
hile many doctors hold out on replacing
replacement
joints in favor of more conventional drug
surgery for the
therapy, new techniques may put off that
knee and hip with Dr. Arthur
surgery further.
a prosthesis be- Friedman plays
Medical history was made last March at Massachusetts General
came a relatively tennis on his
Hospital when Dr. Bertram Zarins, an orthopedic surgeon, performed
routine surgery.
surgically
the first knee surgery in the United States using the patient's own
For orthopedic repaired knees. cartilage cells.
surgeons in the ear-
The results from this type of surgery may lead to a time when it
ly 1970s, the proce-
will be possible for someone to have his own healthy cartilage trans-
dure had been considered a last planted to the damaged surface of his knee.
resort for elderly patients who
The group that would benefit most from this procedure would be
suffered crippling arthritis. The those who are relatively active and under 50 years of age.
objective was to get these pa-
The procedure performed in Boston was nearly identical to the one
tients out of wheelchairs and of- peeormecl in Sweden for the past seven years.
fer an additional seven to 10
Three weeks before the operation, the surgeon uses an arthroscope
years of somewhat improved mo-
to harvest a tiny slice of cartilage from a healthy part of the knee.
bility.
These cells are taken to a lab, allowed to multiply'and injected into
Because artificial joints wore
the dam aged area
out or came loose, someone
The Swedish transplants have quickly reduced pain, swelling and
younger would probably require
locking of the knee. Three or more years after the operation, many
a second or even third surgery.
patients have formed cartilage almost as strong as the original and
Times have changed.
are using their knees normally.
According to the American
Since this procedure may take a while to develop in the United
Academy of Orthopedic Sur- States, the experts advise patients to follow present recuperation
geons, more than one-third of guidelines carefully and maximize the life of the new joint. Some of
people who have joint (knee or these suggestions include:
hip) replacement surgery are un-
* Discussing the expectations for joint replacement with a physi-
der the age of 65. The numbers
cian before surgery
indicate that close to 150,000 to-
* Understanding the benefits of physical activity after surgery and
tal-knee replacement surgeries
following appropriate guidelines
are performed yearly. Improved
* Acknowledging the risks ofhigh-impact activities on prostheses
knee prostheses and surgical
* Participating in no-impact and low-impact sports
techniques have enabled people
* Avoiding high-impact activities
in their 50s and 60s to benefit
* Seeking follow-up care. 0
Techniques May Stretch
Pre-Replacement Therapy
ELECTROLYSIS
Victoria Palace R.E.
Better Bionics
With New Knees
0441 4070
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