Blog Archive
In this blog post, I would like to share one of our Patient’s personal journeys as a person reclaiming their health and finding solace in the face of adversity. From the initial diagnosis to the arduous treatment process, and finally, the triumph of recovery, this is her story of resilience,...
ASCs are becoming the future of healthcare. Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and inpatient hospitals may offer identical services, however one of the many things that may vary between the two. A few of the major benefits of choosing ASCs over the traditional hospital are a more successful recovery (lower infection...
What is Outpatient Physical Therapy? The goal at our practice is to take care of personal care of each patient who has a hip or a knee replacement and to do so seamlessly from the moment of their first visit until they are fully rehabbed and happy with their outcome....
After a major surgery, like a hip or knee replacement, some patients record having trouble sleeping. This is very annoying but is not uncommon. Typically, the worst part of this problem occurs at the midpoint of your recovery. You sleep well right after surgery due to good pain control and...
For those who require a total hip or partial or total knee replacement, Dr. Karas carefully evaluates each individual patient on a case-by-case basis. This ensures he is choosing the surgical approach that will render success in the new joint for that patient. Deciding to have a joint replacement is...
When you work with our team you will be lucky enough to work with our team nurse, Sheila Sanders. Sheila has extensive experience as a nurse including pre-operative education, post-anesthesia care, pain management, general surgery, concierge nursing and home health medicine, general orthopedics, joint replacement surgery, and nursing management. With...
A successful surgery depends on more than just a good surgeon. Upon leaving the hospital it is important that our patients remember that it will be up to their hard work with and without a physical therapist to achieve excellent results from their new joint. One thing that is unique...
What to expect from your incision/dressings and how you can expect it to recover: What might surprise you about your surgery is how small the incision site may be. While there are variations among patients based on an individual's anatomy, the incision can be as small as four inches. After...
Robotics in Arthroplasty Rush University Medical Center is as much a part of the history and evoluation of arthroplasty surgery as is any other institution in the world. The late Jorge O. Galante, the first chairperson of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Rush (then Rush St. Luke's Presbyterian) in...
Joint replacements can help you get back to an active life and reduce pain you’ve had leading up to the procedure. While the procedure alone is extremely important and helpful, your care should not end there. Physical therapy can help ensure a successful joint replacement that lasts. Learn more by...
Joint pain affects millions of Americans. Though you can develop joint pain from many causes, including injuries and infections, arthritis is most often the culprit. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 million Americans experience severe joint pain from their arthritis. No matter the cause, you may...
Two decades ago, the first robotic surgery system received approval from the FDA. In recent years, the number of robotic-assisted procedures has increased as technology has gotten more advanced and more specialists have opted for training. In 2017 alone, over 693,000 robotic-assisted procedures were performed in the United States. However,...
Based on data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, more than 600,000 people in the United States have knee replacement surgery each year. Though routine and common, a hospital stay may be required following the procedure. But with advances in surgical procedures, it’s possible to go home the...
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting over 30 million adults. It’s commonly thought of as the “wear and tear” arthritis or degenerative joint disease. Young people can get it, but it most often affects middle-aged and older adults. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage, which covers the ends...
Think about the various movements your body makes in an average day. Everything you do — whether it’s going for a walk, standing in line at the post office, climbing the stairs, folding laundry, carrying a bag of groceries, or typing a quick email — is made possible (and easy)...
When you’re dealing with health issues, especially orthopaedic issues, it can be hard to know what to do. Not only can all the medical jargon get confusing, but there can be a lot of factors involved, depending on your condition and treatment options. At Chicago Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Vasili...
Arthritis is not a single condition. This term covers more than 100 types of joint diseases that affect nearly 40 million Americans, including 250,000 children. Arthritis develops when you lose cartilage cushioning your joints. As this tissue deteriorates, the bones forming your joints begin to rub together, which can lead...
Trying to decide if you should have a knee replaced is hard. But what if you need to have two knees replaced? Should you have them both done at the same time? That decision can be even harder. Fortunately, you don’t have to decide on your own. Vasili Karas, MD,...
Whether you blew out your knee in a rough game of rugby or you’re suffering from the effects of osteoarthritis, you know that knee pain can stop you from doing everything you love. If conservative treatments, such as lifestyle changes, physical therapy, and medications, haven’t worked for you, your doctor...
Joint problems can be incredibly frustrating — not only does the pain have an impact, but joint problems also place considerable limits on your life. The fact is that 15 million adults in the United States report severe pain due to arthritis, and many more are immobilized by joint pain...
Since osteoarthritis causes mobility limitations in about 80% of cases, joint replacement surgery has enormous potential to relieve pain and restore normal living for millions of Americans. Combine this with an aging population, and it’s expected that well over 3 million joint replacements will be performed annually by 2030. While...
We Chicagoans are becoming ever more active and are enjoying athletic activities, not just in our 20-30s, but well into "middle age". All too often, patients in the 40-50 year age range are told they are "too old" for arthroscopy but "too young" for knee procedures such as arthroplasty. I...
As baby boomers move into their senior years, the benefits of medical advances over the course of their lives assure that they’re looking at good health longer than any generation in history. Extended life and health come at a cost, however. Wear-and-tear shows up in active, aging joints. Hip and...
Most knee and hip replacement procedures successfully provide patients with many years of pain-free mobility. However, knee and hip replacement surgeries sometimes fail due to a variety of factors. In some cases, replacement parts can become damaged over time or reach the end of their lifespan. In any of these...
Maybe you’ve mentally prepared yourself for joint replacement surgery by thinking about eventually being able to walk or move without pain. But have you prepared your home? Your mobility may be limited while you heal from joint replacement surgery, which means things you take for granted, like getting into bed,...
Before deciding on undergoing hip replacement, one of my patients recently asked me if I use the same team every time I perform an arthroplasty. This was an insightful question that many people overlook. The core of the question was about communication. Do you communicate well with the multidisciplinary team involved...
If you’ve just had a total or partial knee replacement or you’re scheduled to get a new knee, you might be wondering what to expect after surgery. Many people are curious about the immediate post-operative recovery as well as what they can anticipate in the days or weeks after getting...
Last weekend I had the privilege, not only to attend but to present, at the American Academy of Hip and Knee Surgeons annual meeting. I presented a study that was a collaboration between Chicago Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, and Colorado Joint Replacement out of Denver...
The purpose behind a total knee or total hip replacement is to restore your mobility and get you get back on your feet again. Vasili Karas, MD, of Chicago Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, uses cutting-edge techniques to reduce trauma to the surgical site and lessen recovery time. Dr. Karas offers...