New knee surgery offered at Western Baptist

Sammy Horner couldn’t even walk without pain before having a new knee replacement technique less than two weeks ago at Western Baptist Hospital.

Horner, 62, of Dyer, Tenn., could tell a difference within days. He has amazed his family and physical therapist with his quick recovery.

“I was able to walk leaving the hospital,” Horner said. “It’s amazing. I have just a minimal amount of pain.”

Horner is one of the first patients to have the OtisKnee Custom Fit Knee replacement in western Kentucky.

Orthopedic surgeon Burton Stodghill, M.D., who has used the new technique already on several patients in the last month, said it allows surgeons to match the fit and placement of the total knee implant to the patient’s unique anatomy.

 It is an option even for patients who cannot have a traditional knee replacement. “It cuts the operation time in half,” he said. “It decreases the risk of infection and blood loss, and the patient recovers faster.”

With traditional knee replacements, surgeons must decide during the operation where to cut the bone and how much to cut. The OtisKnee technique requires an MRI prior to surgery for precise measurements of the knee. Those images are used to determine the implant size and placement and to make cutting guides for the surgeon.

 “It takes a lot of the guess work out,” Dr. Stodghill said. “We see positive results every time.”

Horner is a believer. Before his retirement, he spent years walking on concrete as a maintenance worker in an automotive plant. An old injury, combined with arthritis, left him with excruciating pain and walking stiff-legged.

“His physical therapist can’t believe how well he’s doing,” said his wife, Dianne. “It’s just been fantastic.”

Horner now looks forward to life without that pain. “I’m looking at getting back to a normal functioning knee,” he said. “I like to do a little gardening and work in my shop. I’m looking forward to the normal life.”