ORTHOPEDICS

Orthopedics is a medical specialty devoted to the diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and prevention of injuries and diseases of your body’s musculoskeletal system. This complex system includes your bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves, which allow you to move, work and be active.

A common myth about orthopedics is that once a patient is referred to an orthopedic surgeon, surgery is the inevitable avenue of treatment. In reality, Richland Hospital’s Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Thomas Beck, utilizes a variety of methods to treat injuries and diseases. These methods include: medication, exercise, therapy, or lifestyle changes. Only when it is the best strategy for the patient, is surgery recommended.

If you suspect that you have an orthopedic problem, make an appointment to get evaluated. Early diagnosis and treatment is associated with the best outcomes. Dr. Beck and The Richland Hospital are here to take care of you.

• Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury and Reconstruction
• Knee, Shoulder, Elbow, Ankle Arthroscopy
• Cartilage Repair/Transplant
• Ankle Instability Reconstruction
• Rotator Cuff Injury and Surgery
• Shoulder Instability and Reconstruction
• Elbow Loose Bodies and Spurs
• Elbow Epicondylitis and Surgery

A Total Hip Arthoplasty (THA), also known as a Total Hip Replacement, is a surgical treatment option for patients with hip pain and dysfunction. The hip joint may become severely worn by arthritis or other factors, making daily movement, such as walking and stair climbing, painful and difficult. When warranted, a THA may help to alleviate pain, increase strength/motion, and improve overall mobility. Patients should only consider a THA when other conservative treatments are no longer effective or when pain is severe enough to affect the quality of life and daily movement.

Partial Knee Replacement

Richland Hospital Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Thomas Beck, performs partial knee replacements using the Oxford™ Uni-compartmental Knee System. “Sometimes arthritis affects one side of the knee and not the other,” Dr. Beck said. “Using the Oxford Knee, I can save the healthy knee structures and encourage normal knee motion and function. This procedure is less invasive, removing 75% less bone than a Total Knee Replacement, making for a more rapid recovery.”

Total Knee Replacement

Dr. Beck utilizes the Signature™ System for knee replacement surgery which utilizes MRI technology to create custom guides for each patient’s knee replacement. “With the MRI and Signature™ personalized positioning guides, I have access to a greater level of detail and precision for personalized implant positioning,” Dr. Beck said.

Resurfacing Shoulder Replacement and Locking Plate Technology

Dr. Beck was the first orthopedic surgeon in Wisconsin to use the Stryker T2 Proximal Humeral Nail. He utilized the new technology to repair the fractured humeral head and neck in the shoulder of a patient suffering from osteoporosis.

Shoulder Resurfacing – The traditional treatment for shoulder arthritis has been shoulder replacement, which involves removing large amounts of bone and implanting a sizeable stem, round ball, and plastic socket.

Dr. Thomas Beck uses a special shoulder implant on patients who might not have been able to be treated without it. “In the past, depending on the severity of osteoporosis, the ability to treat a severe shoulder fracture was hampered if the bone was very frail,” he said. “If the bone could not remain intact to support the screws placed in the bone to repair the fracture, success was unlikely.”

A recent development in the treatment of osteoporotic fractures is the locking plate and nail. These devices are much more secure in weakened osteoporotic bone.

Dr. Beck uses the Copeland Resurfacing Device and resurfaces the existing arthritic bone with a metal cap. This saves a great deal of host bone, is less invasive, and has a quicker recovery time for the patient.

Foot & Ankle Problems

• Heel Pain
• Neuroma
• Ankle Injuries
• Bunions
• Ankle and Foot Sprains
• Posterior Tibial Tendon
• Dysfunction (Acquired Adult Flat Foot Deformity)

Other Joint Problems Include

• Avascular Necrosis
• Hip Dislocation
• High Tibial Osteotomy for Arthritis
• Knee Bracing

• Cast Immobilization
• Functional Cast or Brace
• Traction
• Surgical Fixation