Richard Rosa, MD Performs the First, Individualized, Total Knee Replacement Surgery in New Jersey

Oct. 27, 2011 - PRLog -- Richard Rosa, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon with The Joint Institute at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, is the first physician in New Jersey to implant the iTotal CR total knee replacement. The iTotal CR knee replacement, manufactured by ConforMIS, is the first FDA-cleared total knee replacement system that is specifically manufactured for an individual patient. “There have been a number of advancements in the field of Knee Replacement Surgery over the last decade, but this is the most exciting breakthrough that I have seen in years.  To have the ability to put in a completely personalized knee replacement, which has been created for my specific patient, is transformational,” states Richard Rosa, MD.  

The ConforMIS approach begins with data from a CT scan. The patient gets a scan and that data is sent to the company, which generates a virtual model of the patient’s knee, and then designs an implant and surgical guides for that specific patient, personalizing each element to fit that patient perfectly.   The customized replacement is then sent to the hospital in time for the surgical procedure.  The advantages to this implant include:
o      Personalized design. The design draws from the patient’s own anatomy, preserving the natural shape of the knee.
o      Individualized fit. The implant is made to fit an individual patient precisely without the sizing compromises common with traditional systems. Standard total knee replacements require the surgeon to cut the bone and ligaments to fit the implant.
o      Custom solution. These implants are made to work for patients who have early stages of osteoarthritis. Because they allow the surgeon to treat just the diseased compartment of the knee with a custom solution, the patient saves a tremendous amount of bone as well as other tissue such as the ligaments. In the end, it’s a much less invasive surgery.
o      Natural feel. The implants give the individual back their natural anatomic shape and preserve as much of their native ligaments as possible so the knee has the potential to feel like their normal knee.

Charley Goskowsky was the first patient in New Jersey to receive the iTotal CR, knee replacement. When Mr. Goskowsky began seeing Dr. Rosa five years ago his knees weren’t ready to be replaced.  Over the years they continued to deteriorate as Mr. Goskowsky worked as an electrician and spent a significant time on his knees.  Unfortunately, he was also overweight and needed to lose weight prior to the surgery.  Determined to lose the weight and with the pain so intense and he could no longer do the things he loved to do, he had lap-band surgery. On the day of his knee replacement surgery, he had lost 90 pounds since the placement of his band.  His knee replacement surgery was successful and felt great. Although still recovering from the procedure, Mr. Goskowsky stated, “I am more than happy.  I cannot wait to dance with my fiancé, take my daughter to New York to see a show and just walk the dog.”

Dr. Rosa is the one of only 20 surgeons nationwide and the only one in New Jersey trained to use this implant.  For more information about this knee replacement, contact The Joint Institute at Saint Barnabas Medical Center at 973-322-9908 or http://www.barnabashealth.org/hospitals/saint_barnabas/ms...

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Saint Barnabas Medical Center is a 597-bed, acute care teaching hospital. For more information call 1-888-SBHS-123.