Research Highlighted in Wall Street Journal

October 13th, 2015

A recent article published by the Wall Street Journal highlights research done by OCRI.   The study referenced in the article was co-authored by OCRI Senior Research Scientist, Dr. Susan Odum, and OrthoCarolina Hip & Knee surgeon, Dr. Bryan Springer, and was originally published in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.

The article in the Wall Street Journal draws attention to research and patient experiences with simultaneous bilatleral knee replacements versus patients who have had one knee replaced at a time.  The article states:

Last year, a large study comparing the two types of surgery indicated that bilateral patients were at increased risk of both minor and major in-hospital complications as well as death. The study, published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, included hospital claims data on 24,574 simultaneous bilateral surgeries and 382,496 unilateral procedures.

Surgeon Bryan Springer, a co-author of the study and fellowship director at OrthoCarolina Hip and Knee Center in Charlotte, N.C., says while complication rates are generally low for all knee surgeries, he is “extremely selective” about recommending bilateral surgery. “If you pick your patient appropriately you can do this operation very safely,” he says. Dr. Springer performs bilateral surgery with a team, starting the second knee while the first incision is being closed; if there are safety concerns after the first, he won’t proceed with the second.

Click here to view the full article.