Zimmer Mseleni Outreach Programme Latest

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Second phase successful

THE SECOND phase of the programme has been successfully completed. This took place on 12 July 2006. Accompanying the team was Dr C McReady of Linksfield Hospital, Johannesburg.

The patient selected was diagnosed with OA of the right knee. Dr Willers and Dr Fredlund had decided to perform a total knee replacement on this patient to address this diagnosis. The choice of implant chosen was the Innex Total Knee Rotating Platform from Zimmer South Africa. Interoperative outcomes revealed a near complete restoration of joint kinematics with the use of the Innex Rotating Platform.

Dr Willers and Dr McReady also assisted in implanting a femoral nail in another patient. This procedure was a first for MseleniHospital.

Postoperative follow-up of the patients from surgeries performed from the first phase of this programme revealed good outcomes where restoration of joint mobility and reduction of pain were achieved. The following set of postoperative X-rays shows two total knee replacements and one total hip replacement performed on patients of the first phase. The choice of implants was the Innex for the total knee replacements and CLS Spotorno uncemented stem with the Metasul Durom acetabular combination for the total hip replacement.

  1. Postoperative X-ray of left hip – patient 1. The CLS Spotorno Stems, large diameter head and Durom acetabulum component.
  2. Postoperative X-ray of left knee – patient 2. The Innex Knee.
  3. Postoperative X-ray of right knee – patient 3. The Innex Knee.

Zimmer South Africa, in collaboration with Dr Willers and Dr Fredlund, intends to achieve equally successful completion of phases three and four of the Zimmer Mseleni Outreach Programme for the remainder of 2006.

As part of their global initiative to provide a continuum of care through highly innovative and technologically advanced products, Zimmer South Africa is committed to marketing the highest quality orthopaedic products through unparalled service and support.

Through the hands of skilled surgeons, Zimmer South Africa enhances patients’ quality of life.

The staff, patients and doctors at Mseleni are very grateful for the support and opportunities that the Zimmer Mseleni Outreach Programme has given them.

Background: Mseleni Provincial Hospital

Headed by Dr Victor Fredlund, MseleniHospital caters for the needs of the community of Mseleni, Zululand. This is a very rural area where the community’s medical demands place a high load on the hospital. Funding is via the Department Health and Welfare and this is also very limited. The number of patients requiring procedures in arthroplasty exceeds the financial budget that Mseleni can cater for. The majority of patients requiring joint replacement are at the end stages of osteoarthritis (OA) where mobility is severely compromised and patients have a high degree of pain.

Objectives of the programme

•As part of Zimmer’s global mission to invest in the continuous development and advancement of surgical skills and knowledge, thereby enhancing the quality of life for patients, Zimmer South Africa has donated in excess of R400 000 to the Zimmer Mseleni Outreach Programme for 2006 in the form of technologically advanced products for Total Hip and Knee arthroplasty.

•The contribution by Zimmer SA to uplift primary healthcare in the Orthopaedic unit of Mseleni is part of their commitment to improving the quality of life of the patients in the Mseleni region.

•Dr Willers welcomes any consultants wanting to gain more experience in joint arthroplasty to accompany him throughout the duration of the Zimmer Mseleni Outreach Programme.

•This programme has been structured in four phases:

  • phase 1 – 25/01/06
  • phase 2 – 24/05/06
  • phase 3 – 23/08/06
  • phase 4 – 25/10/06