ZANESVILLE, OHIO – Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville is being recognized for its department of radiology services.

The practice’s Musculoskeletal MRI scanner is among the first 500 in the nation to gain accreditation from the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Magnetic Resonance Laboratories (ICAMRL).

ICAMRL, a nationally-recognized accreditation commission, granted Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville the accreditation as a result of its superior operational and technical use, adherence to procedures and its diagnostic capabilities.

“Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville is committed to providing our patients with high-quality care using state-of-the art equipment,” said Karl Saunders, MD, president of Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville. “We believe in quickly diagnosing our patients’ concerns and getting them back to what’s most important—living life.”

The ICAMRL is a member of the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC), an organization that provides oversight and management services to each member of its accrediting bodies. The ICAMRL is one of the leading organizations for ensuring medical practices uphold quality diagnostic procedures.

About Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville
Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville is a full service, comprehensive, state-of-the-art orthopaedic center of excellence, with a mission dedicated to relieving pain and restoring an active lifestyle in each patient. Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville has a team of highly skilled, board certified orthopaedic surgeons and specialized health care professionals. For more information, visit www.orthozane.com

Media Contact:
Brynn Burton
Paul Werth Associates
Phone: (614) 224-8114
E-mail: bburton@paulwerth.com

Arthoscopy is a term you may have heard but don’t fully understand. The Ohio orthopaedic surgeons at OAZ explain this diagnostic procedure:

Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure orthopaedic surgeons use to visualize, diagnose, and treat problems inside a joint. In an arthroscopic examination, an orthopaedic surgeon makes a small incision in the patient’s skin and then inserts pencil-sized instruments that contain a small lens and lighting system to magnify and illuminate the structures inside the joint.

By attaching the arthroscope to a miniature television camera, the surgeon is able to see the interior of the joint through this very small incision rather than a large incision needed for surgery. The television camera attached to the arthroscope displays the image of the joint on a television screen, allowing the surgeon to look, for example, throughout the knee. This lets the surgeon see the cartilage, ligaments, and under the kneecap. The surgeon can determine the amount or type of injury and then repair or correct the problem, if it is necessary.

Arthroscopy is an extremely valuable tool for all orthopaedic patients and is generally easier on the patient than “open” surgery. Most patients have their arthroscopic surgery as outpatients and are home several hours after the surgery.

If you have questions about arthroscopy, contact the Ohio orthopaedic surgeons at OAZ.

Congratulations to Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville’s own Dr. William Allen, a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon, for finishing the Boston Marathon on April 19, 2010. Dr. Allen clocked in at 3:24:47, good for 373rd in his age group! Read more at the Zanesville Times-Recorder.

The Ohio orthopaedic surgeons at OAZ can offer help for elderly patients suffering from knee arthritis and impaired balance.

A study presented at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons shows total knee replacement can successfully relieve pain and improve function in patients with advanced knee arthritis.

The study measured accurately static and dynamic balance with a new computerized system called the Balance Master. The study found:

• Significant improvement in dynamic balance one year after surgery
• Significant progress in balance-determined motor tests
• Strong statistical correlation between the balance and the Oxford Knee Score functional questionnaire and the quality of life questionnaire SF-36

One year after surgery, the correlation between patients’ improved balance and their ability to walk and perform daily activities was stronger than the correlation between their reduced pain and their ability to walk and do daily activities.

Elderly individuals considering knee replacement should talk to their Ohio orthopaedic surgeons at OAZ about the rehabilitation process and ways to improve balance following surgery.

The Ohio orthopaedic surgeons at OAZ have potential good news to share about knee replacements.

It’s generally recommended that total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients avoid activities that cause high stress loads on the implant and may increase the risk of early failure. Such activities include high-impact aerobics, football, soccer, baseball, basketball, jogging and power lifting, among others.

However, according to a new study presented at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, TKA patients may be able to participate in high-impact sports without increasing risk of early implant failure.

It’s best to talk with the Ohio orthopaedic surgeons at OAZ about your personal knee replacement recovery.