Lee Memorial Lecture “Gets Inside” Arthroscopic Joint Surgery

Jan. 21, 2010 - PRLog -- Southwest Florida’s sunny, warm climate makes nearly every day a great day for a ball game, tennis match, round on the links or jaunt on the water, but not if you’re suffering from painful injuries like torn ligaments and tendons to worn cartilage and bone spurs.  John Kagan, M.D., will discuss ways to treat these ailments at Lee Memorial Health System’s Well Informed lecture on Tuesday, Feb. 2 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Place Coconut Point, 23120 Via Villagio, in Estero.

“Though it was introduced several decades ago, arthroscopy is still one of the best ways to treat these injuries,” says Dr. Kagan, a Fort Myers orthopedic surgeon. Arthroscopy is a minimally-invasive surgical technique. Doctors insert a small camera, called an arthroscope, into a joint to see what’s causing trouble and pain. Then, they can use other small instruments to repair, reconstruct, cut or shave bones, cartilage or muscles to correct the problem. Because the surgeon can see the joint and only use tools at the point they are needed, incisions can be very small and take less time to heal.

“In addition to less scarring, patients who have arthroscopic procedures often have fewer complications and less pain than those whose surgeries are done using traditional methods,” Dr. Kagan says. “These procedures are very safe, so patients should definitely consider having arthroscopic surgery when the option is available.”

Aside from injuries common among athletes, arthroscopic procedures can also be used to treat ailments like carpal tunnel syndrome.

Dr. Kagan will discuss arthroscopic procedures in more detail at Lee Memorial Health System’s upcoming Well Informed lecture.

Date:   Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010
   
Time:   5 – 6:30 p.m.
   
Location:   Hyatt Place Coconut Point, located at Coconut Point mall
23120 Via Villagio, Estero, FL 33928
   
Reservations:   239-433-8505 or www.HealthyBonitaEstero.org


About John Kagan, M.D.
John Kagan, M.D., has extensive experience in Sports Medicine and Adult Reconstructive Surgery. He is trained in the latest techniques in minimally-invasive joint replacement, repair and resurfacing, ligament reconstruction and computer assisted surgery.  Dr. Kagan performs more than 1,500 surgeries each year. He earned his medical degree from the University of South Florida, completed a straight surgical internship at the University of Florida’s Shands Teaching Hospital, and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Alabama. Dr. Kagan is also very involved in the Fort Myers community and has served as team physician for the Fort Myers High School Green Wave, Florida Everblades and Minnesota Twins during spring training.

About Lee Memorial Health System
Open since 1916, Lee Memorial Health System is the fifth largest public health system in the United States and the largest community-owned health system in Southwest Florida. With more than 9,000 employees, LMHS is made up of four acute care hospitals and two specialty hospitals, as well as outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers and primary care physician offices.  An award-winning health care system, LMHS provides regional programs, such as our Trauma Center and Children’s Hospital, which serve our community members from Tampa to Miami. Visit www.LeeMemorial.org for more information.