Knee Replacement Record - How Fast Is Your Surgeon?
An orthopedic surgeon has set a record in India by performing 24 knee replacements in a single day. A recent report on CNN discussed his achievement and interviewed one of his patients. What does this record mean? Do we want our surgeons to be fast, and perform as many surgical procedures as possible?
I think it is important for patients to understand there is a difference between surgery that is quick because of skill, and surgery that is quick for the sake of speed. There is a big difference! Surgery should be done in an efficient manner--one where the surgeon uses movements wisely and skillfully so as not to waste time to prolong an operation. However, there is no way, I believe, for a single surgeon to perform 24 knee replacements in a day, without sacrificing quality.
Efficiency in the operating room is important, but must be balanced with quality. This is true of just about any type of work where experience allows you to be efficient, but experience should also tell you not to be rushed. Do you care if your surgery is done fast? Do you worry when a family member has been in the operating room longer than expected? Leave your thoughts...
Seems to be a bit mad that one surgeon considers this to be ethical and possible.
I would not want to be any later than 5th in a surgeons diary for theatre.
I wonder how times he left something in the patients such as sponges, excess screws, etc.
This is why you do your homework by asking PTs, RNs, etc. what they think of the doctor. And by going to your states’ regulation website if possible to see what actions the doctor has had against him/her. That’s a big part of how I picked the orthopedic surgeon who performed my ACL/meniscus surgery. It is pathetic that a doctor felt that “the most” was a claim to fame.
I find this frightening……..am due for knee replacment in November – and would not want a surgeon who’s aiming for the “Guiness book of records”!
This is just sick and wrong. I feel sorry for anyone later than the third or fourth in line. This guy can’t possibly be paying adequate attention when he has one eye on the clock, not to mention the physical fatigue. While my orthopaedic surgeries have been less serious than a knee replacement, I can tell you that I don’t ever want a tired, distracted surgeon getting anywhere near me with his 10 blade!
This Doctor should be banned from the medical profession. There’s no way I’d want him performing any surgery on me!!!
Time is “Money”
I would want to be told if I was to be herded like cattle through a total replacement procedure. I had two partials done at the same time two years ago and am happy with the results. My doctor took time before the procedure to discuss what was going to occur and answer any questions. This doctor going for the record should be ashamed that the record was his interest, not his patients.
Diane,
I think that is very well said. When the priorities of the doctor take place of the priorities of the patient, things have gone wrong.
I too was shocked that this was billed as some sort of achievement. Seems to me like a step in the wrong direction.
I don’t think it is possible to define how much is too much, at least as far as number of surgical cases. But I think if the story is about the doctor and not the patients, that makes it clear this was too much.
More thoughts?
Jonathan Cluett, M.D.
Guide to Orthopedics
http://orthopedics.about.com
I have mixed feelings. First I would congratulate the guy for that many knees in one day. Second I would ask his success rate. If no complications or revisions were revealed, I would ask to shadow him and learn his techniques and protocol. Don’t hate unless outcomes were less then stellar.
NO, there is no way I would want this doctor to do surgery on my knees. I have had both my knees replaced. There is stress and physical fatigue on the Doctor.
I had knee replacement surgery a few months ago. I was the first one in the morning and that is how I wanted it – that way, the surgeon is fresh and alert, AND there is no chance that he would have had some other long surgery before mine! I don’t know who, in their right mind, would take part in a stunt like that (the doctor OR the patients, unless they were not informed). But then again, I would never have major surgery done anywhere but in the United States!!!
Forget the Indian doctors. These are the same guys who transplant organs that come in from the back alleys in baggies.
It’s YOUR joint, do YOUR research. Stay home, Find a surgeon in America, the orthopedic capital of the world, who specializes in YOUR type of surgery, and is a well-known, well qualified surgeon. All surgeon’s records can be looked up on-line. It makes sense that if a surgeon has done hundreds of successful joint surgeries, he/she is probably a good bet.
Sisao Tresed