"Dr. Cobb gave me back my quality of life"
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| Dr. Michael Cobb performs less invasive knee replacement surgery at Jackson-Madison Co. General Hospital. |
“Every step I took, every time I stopped and turned, every time I climbed a step, I was reminded,” says Sloan. Her knee was in such bad shape that she felt pain whenever she walked; moving in bed would wake her up at night.
At 51, Sloan is leading a new life. She had a total knee replacement done by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Cobb of West Tennessee Bone & Joint Clinic. He performed a new surgical technique that uses a small incision for a total knee replacement that even gave her a faster recovery.
“Dr. Cobb gave me back my quality of life,” says Sloan, who is medical staff coordinator at Haywood Park Hospital in Brownsville.
“The small incision total knee replacement procedure offers patients a smaller incision, less blood loss, shorter hospital stay, shorter recovery period and less pain,” Dr. Cobb says. “Most importantly, it gives patients a quicker return to normal life.”
Traditionally, a total knee replacement involves using large instruments, flipping the kneecap over and cutting the quadriceps tendon. With the smaller incision approach, however, Dr. Cobb does not need to flip the kneecap. Because less cutting is needed during the surgery, there is less damage to healthy tissue. Patients also have a much smaller scar from the surgery.
Dr. Cobb, who is board certified in orthopedic surgery, uses special instruments when he performs the minimally invasive surgery.
Physicians at West Tennessee Bone & Joint also offer a minimally invasive surgery for total hip replacement with similar results.
Even with the less invasive knee surgery, patients will have to go through rehab to regain movement, Dr. Cobb says. “While results vary, patients will typically have a 90 percent motion restored by four weeks and further recovery in two months.”
Not everyone is a candidate for the minimally invasive total knee replacement surgery, Dr. Cobb says. He does not recommend it for large, muscular men, obese patients, and people who have numerous scars from previous surgeries.
Having the surgery is the best thing she could have done, Sloan says. Her problems started when she was a 16-year-old junior at Alamo High School, and playing a scrimmage basketball game against Parsons/Riverside. She tore the ACL in her knee. After several surgeries, she tried to return to basketball play her senior year, but her knee was too weak.
Through the years, it got weaker, the pain got worse and arthritis set in. Though she knew she needed a new knee since she was 35, she waited to have the surgery until she turned 50. Her new knee has a life of about 20 years.
She had the surgery on April 8, 2004, a Thursday. That Monday she started her rehab. After two more days in the hospital, she went home and continued her rehab as an outpatient. She was working part-time in three weeks and full-time her fifth week.
“I am pain free for the first time in as long as I can remember, Sloan says. “I climb the stairs without support. I walk for exercise. I can even do moderate jogging on a treadmill.”
Her praise of Dr. Cobb and the clinic are complete. “He was absolutely wonderful to me. His staff was encouraging and supportive. I knew I was important to them and that made a big difference in how I approached my surgery and recovery.”