Patient Testimonial
Tom, EVOLUTION® Medial-Pivot Knee Recipient
Long time Little Rock resident Thomas H. suffered from osteoarthritis in his knees for more than five years. The 61 year-old father of six works as the executive director of engineering at the Peabody Little Rock hotel and enjoys an active life that includes golfing, home remodeling and regular workouts at the gym. Although Thomas tried to manage the pain in his knees with prescription pain medications, they provided only temporary relief and he was hesitant to use them as a long-term solution. By 2010, the pain in his left knee was so intense that it prevented him from playing golf and other activities that required walking for extended periods.
“In February 2010 I was at an air show and after walking just half a mile, the pain was unbearable. That is when I knew I needed to consider surgical options,” said Thomas.
While the thought of an invasive surgery was intimidating, Thomas researched several local surgeons. Ultimately, a friend who had previously undergone a knee replacement referred him to Dr. Lowry Barnes at Arkansas Specialty Orthopedics in Little Rock. Dr. Barnes explained the process of a total knee replacement and after further researching the procedure, Thomas decided to schedule the surgery.
In March 2011 Thomas checked into St. Vincent Hospital in Little Rock and was implanted with the EVOLUTION® Medial-Pivot Knee System, a next-generation technology from Wright Medical. Wright’s EVOLUTION® knee is comprised of a ball-in-socket mechanism that mimics the stability of the anatomical knee and its curved shape allows the knee to freely bend and rotate. It is designed to eliminate the “sliding” feeling that is common with other knee systems and is designed for less-invasive surgery, meaning smaller incisions and minimal soft-tissue damage.
Dr. Barnes noted, “The EVOLUTION® knee has helped many of my patients make a speedier recovery, which includes significant mobility, less pain and a general feeling of normalcy.”
Thomas went into surgery in the early morning and an hour later he woke up in his hospital room. “I was out of bed that afternoon and able to walk around the nurses’ station with the help of crutches,” he said.
His recovery involved three days of physical rehabilitation at the hospital and then he was released to go home. After about two weeks of adjusting his pain medications and additional knee strengthening exercises, Thomas returned to work. “The two weeks post-surgery were the most difficult, but then everything settled in and I was back lifting weights at the gym just a month after the operation. Dr. Barnes and I were very impressed with my quick and smooth recovery process.”
Today, two months after receiving his new knee, Thomas is able to maintain a full-time workout schedule at the gym and is golfing regularly. “I no longer have to rely on the prescription pain medications to manage the pain in my knee; that mobility is an enormous step forward,” he said. “I am fit and healthy, and the feeling of being virtually pain-free is unbelievable.”
Thomas and his wife just returned from a trip to Disney World and SeaWorld with two of their young grandchildren who require a lot of walking and they successfully played 18 holes of golf—a feat that Thomas doubts he would have been able to conquer with the pain that he was in before knee replacement.
Wright Medical’s EVOLUTION® Medial-Pivot knee replacement implant is designed to restore natural stability and motion to the knee. It is comprised of a ball-in-socket mechanism that mimics the stability of the anatomical knee and its curved shape allows the knee to freely bend and rotate.
The EVOLUTION® Knee is designed to help reproduce normal motion by more closely replicating the knee’s natural anatomy, which helps provide stability. It is designed to eliminate the “sliding” feeling common with other knee systems, which may improve patient confidence associated with use of the knee. The system is comprised of implants and instruments designed to accommodate less-invasive surgery, which means smaller incisions and less soft tissue damage for surgeons who choose to use less-invasive techniques.
Dr. Barnes is a surgeon who contributed to the development of the EVOLUTION® Medial-Pivot Knee System, a next-generation technology from Wright.
Only a physician can tell you if these products and associated procedures are right for you and your unique circumstances.
Please consult with a physician for complete information regarding benefits, risks and possible outcomes.
These results are specific to this individual only. Individual results and activity levels after surgery vary and depend on many factors including age, weight and prior activity level. There are risks and recovery times associated with surgery and there are certain individuals who should not undergo surgery.
