Fellowship training at Wellton Hospital

Fellowship training at Wellton Hospital

Yesterday on February 11th John Teodosio from the Philippines' had done his Joint Fellowship Training at Wellton Hospital for 6 months from August 2015 - February 2016.

Hi! I’m John Teodosio from the Philippines’ I had done my Joint Fellowship training here at Wellton Hospital for 6 months from August 2015 – February 2016.

First of all, I would like to say thank you to my Profession Dr. Song for giving me the opportunity to come here at Wellton. It is my great privilege & honor to be under Him and to be trained by a great mentor regarding Hip & Knee Arthroplasty. I was very honored to learn about his technique especially Minimal Invasive Surgery in Total Hip Arthroplasty with SER preservation. For 6 months I think I was able to learned a lot and exceed my expectations regarding this surgery. I was able to see how good the outcome is after the surgery and how satisfied the patients are. And for this I was very excited & eager to also do that surgery technique when I go back to the Philippines and start my orthopedic practice.

My whole stay at Wellton Hospital for 6 months was wonderful. Thanks to all the staff in the Hospital, the nurses, the PT’s, the OR nurses, especially to the HR department for feeling car of me and for the warm full welcome. You made me feel like I’m Home. You show me how hospitable Korean’s are. Thank You.

Once again, Thank You very much Dr. Song for teaching & guiding me. I will be forever grateful for your kindness and patience. I will not forget what I’ve learned from you. Thank You. Thank You from the bottom of my heart. Take care always & God bless!

From

Dr. John

(Philippines)

Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament is a disease that requires surgery for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament

Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament is a disease that requires surgery for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament

As you know, anterior cruciate often injured, it is related to sports, namely when offset lower leg forward.

Anterior cruciate ligament is inside of the knee joint. So it will not heal without surgery. And after the cruciate ligament rupture, the knee joint is not stable due to this the meniscus begins to deteriorate. And further it causes degenerative arthritis of the knee.

Knee joints MRI
ACL ruptured knee MRI (left picture), Healthy joint MRI (right picture)

There are two methods of operation for the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament

1) The use of your own ligament

2) The use of donor ligament

If you use a ligament from another part of your body, as the hip, then the period of rehabilitation will be much longer, and the pain will be for 6 months or more. For using a donor ligament, there is an only a little difference in the cost of operation, but better operation result.

The anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery is minimally invasive and is not a complex operation. You do not need a whole body anesthesia, but only spinal anesthesia.

It is also important to do well rehabilitation exercises after surgery to restore knee function, as well as to strengthen it.

After the operation, sometimes the patients do bad rehabilitation exercises for the knee, which may lead to re-rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament.

After 6 months of rehabilitation exercises you may bring back a healthy knee joint. But the reducing period of the recovery can be shortened and the pain symptoms after surgery can be reduced, it is all depends on you!

Handwriting Wellton hospital's patient from Russia (Arthroscopic surgery)

Handwriting Wellton hospital's patient from Russia (Arthroscopic surgery)

My right leg became ill. I had a pain in area of patella of knee joint and under of it. On the advice of friends, I sent images taken in Vladivostok to Wellton hospital for consultation. Then I get completely answer with a full schedule by the day, with the name of all analysis and procedures. After consulting with the relatives, I decided to take treatment in Korea, namely Wellton hospital. Hospital seemed to me as a modest building, but the quality of service and diagnostic equipment is very impressive. The survey was done promptly and in the evening an operation was done. The medical staff is friendly so I didn’t feel language barrier. The doctor is very attentive, thoroughly consulted. I’d like to say thank you to the translator consultant who organized everything beforehand and quickly. Hopefully my leg will be like new. I wish others opt for the Wellton hospital without doubt. Work is clearly done.

Thank you! I hope that I opted for the Wellton hospital not in vain.

Plekhanova G

Hospitalization period: From November 3, 2015, until November 6, 2015

Specialized Orthopedic Wellton Hospital well known for minimally invasive hip replacement with preservation of muscles and tendons.

Specialized Orthopedic Wellton Hospital well known for minimally invasive hip replacement with preservation of muscles and tendons.

Patient from Kazakhstan after pre-operative tests

 The patient from Kazakhstan received surgery for hip replacement with preservation of muscles and tendons. Hip replacement of Wellton hospital really worked on the basis of more than 10 years of operation and more than 3,000 cases. Every year the number of operations for hip replacement is increases.

4 hours after operation - first steps

The patient was admitted to Wellton hospital in April for total hip replacement surgery. On the same day, we conducted all the necessary pre-operative tests: X-rays, MRI, blood tests, urine tests, ultrasound of the heart and abdomen, and so on. On the next day, patient received total hip replacement surgery.  The patient did the first steps, in 4 hours after the operation. On the second day after the operation the patient was able to move using the walker, and on the fifth day after the operation could walk independently without walker.

5 days after operation - independent walking

 The patient was very satisfied with the operations of Dr. Ph MD Sang-ho Song and his professionalism and daily rounds.

Patient with a Dr MD Ph Sang Ho Song

Pick up & sending service

 Due to the unique method of total hip replacement of Wellton Hospital, the patient from Kazakhstan returned to everyday life. Considering that he was hospitalized just for 2 weeks in the hospital Wellton.

At home in Kazakhstan

Degenerative arthritis of the knee joint (osteoarthritis)

Degenerative arthritis of the knee joint (osteoarthritis)

Osteoarthritis 

Healthy joint and arthritic joints

What is osteoarthritis ?

Osteoarthritis, known as wear-and-tear arthritis, is a condition in which the natural cushioning between joints – cartilage – wears away. When it happens, the bones of the joints rub more closely against one another with less of the shock-absorbing benefits of cartilage. The rubbing results in pain, swelling, stiffness, decreased ability to move and, sometimes, the formation of bone spurs.

The most common cause of osteoarthritis of the knee is age. Almost everyone will eventually develop some degree of osteoarthritis. However, several factors increase the risk of developing significant arthritis at an earlier age.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis

·         pain that increases when you are active, but gets a little better with rest

·         swelling

·         feeling of warmth in the joint

·         stiffness in the knee, especially in the morning or when you have been sitting for a while

·         decrease in mobility of the knee, making it difficult to get in and out of chairs or cars, use the stairs, or walk

·         creaking, crackly sound that is heard when the knee moves

How is osteoarthritis of the knee diagnosed?

The diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis will begin with a physical exam by your doctor. Your doctor will also take your medical history and note any symptoms. Make sure to note what makes the pain worse or better to help your doctor determine if osteoarthritis, or something else, may be causing your pain. Also find out if anyone else in your family has arthritis. Your doctor may order additional testing, including:

·         X-rays, which can show bones

·         magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans

MRI scans may be ordered when X-rays do not give a clear reason for joint pain or when the X-rays suggest that other types of joint tissue could be damaged. Doctors may use blood tests to rule out other conditions that could be causing the pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis, a different type of arthritis caused by a disorder in the immune system.

Treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee joint

In early stage of osteoarthritis of the knee joint the conservative treatment such ad injection and drugs can only slow down the destruction of the knee joint but not cure it. When the joint is wears out again after several years the joint replacement of the knee joint is recommended.

Total knee replacement

The total replacement of the knee joint of Wellton hospital is very famous for minimal invasive surgery. Usually traditional hospital does 20cm and more incision for total knee replacement, but Wellton hospital’s incision is 9-10cm.

Joint replacement surgery, or arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure in which joints are replaced with artificial parts made from metals. Joint replacement surgery is usually reserved for people over age 65 with severe osteoarthritis. Guarantee of the prosthesis is more than 15 years.

Avascular necrosis (AVN)

Avascular necrosis (AVN)

Avascular necrosis (AVN), also called osteonecrosis, bone infarction, aseptic necrosis, and ischemic bone necrosis, is cellular death (necrosis) of bone components due to interruption of the blood supply. Without blood, the bone tissue dies and the bone collapses. If avascular necrosis involves the bones of a joint, it often leads to destruction of the joint articular surfaces. 

While it can affect any bone, about half of cases show multiple sites of damage, avascular necrosis primarily affects the joints at the shoulder, knee, and hip. The classical sites are: head of femur, neck of talus and waist of scaphoid.

Symptoms of Avascular Necrosis

In its early stages, AVN typically cause no symptoms; however, as the disease progresses it becomes painful. At first, you may experience pain when you put pressure on the affected bone. Then, pain may become more constant. If the disease progresses and the bone and surrounding joint collapse, you may experience severe pain that interferes with your ability to use your joint. The time between the first symptoms and collapse of the bone may range from several months to more than a year.

Treatment

The surgical treatment for femoral head avascular necrosis is total hip replacement (arthroplasty).

Arthroplasty is a surgical procedure to restore the integrity and function of a joint. A joint can be restored by resurfacing the bones. An artificial joint (called a prosthesis) may also be used. 

MIS THR of Wellton hospital with persevering muscles and tendons allows patient to walk in 4 hours after operation, in 5 days independent walking.

Farewell of Dr. Denis Afanasyev from Moscow, Russia

On September 15, 2015, Denis Afanasyev, finished his International Fellowship program of Wellton Hospital

Dr. Denis Afanasyev came to Wellton Hospital from Moscow, Russia as a part of Wellton International Fellowship Program (WIFP) in August 18, 2015. He spent last 1 month in Korea and participated in various meetings and conferences with other surgeons and observed Orthopedic cases, outpatient consultation, daily rounds and rehabilitation programs at Wellton Hospital.  He was impressed with the most advanced surgical techniques and rehabilitation program for hip replacement & knee replacement.

I want to express my deepest gratitude and sincere thanks to Dr. Song, and to all staff of the Wellton Hospital for the opportunity of International Arthroplasty Study. The technique of arthroplasty of hip joint and knee joint is perfected. In my practice course, for the first-time I have seen minimally invasive posterior approach for hip joint replacement. The advantages of this approach are indisputable. It is less blood loss during surgery, decreased pain, the ability to walk with a support on the operated joint the day after surgery.

I’m very interested in Dr. Song’s minimal invasive arthroplasty technique of knee joint. Awesome excellent knowledge of the biomechanics motion of the knee joint of the doctor, allows correctly orient the components of the endoprosthesis. The result is the maximum range of movement on the next day after surgery with minimal pain. In the training course by Dr. Song I got the answers to the question of how to get the maximum amount of knee flexion, and to avoid the effect of extrusion liner to the front as a result of the increased load on the posterior part.

Deserves respect a clear coordination of work of the team of Dr. Song, from the operating sisters and ending with marketing department.

I hope that many of the positive things which I have seen in Wellton Hospital will help me to improve work of my clinic in Russia in the future.

I understand that Dr. Song has done a very difficult and long way to achieve such a high level of joint replacement surgery. Many thanks to Dr. Song for sharing with me his invaluable knowledge and skills!