Our Region’s Most Advanced Orthopedic Care

Our region’s most technologically advanced orthopedic care is closer than you think.   Susquehanna Health offers its orthopedic surgeons state-of-the-art options to provide leading edge care to patients across the region.  As a result, our patients receive the most advanced orthopedic procedures, ranging from joint replacements and revisions, sports injuries and spine surgery. 

Computer Navigation

Susquehanna Health is among the first in the region to offer this specialized technology that puts computers in operating rooms.  Computer navigation equipment acts as an extension of the surgeon’s eyes and hands because it provides real time 3-D images of the hip and or knee joint during implant alignment for a joint replacement.  Computer navigation is beneficial for individuals who have had previous fractures or bones that did not heal straight.  With traditional surgery, it was often difficult, to perform a knee or hip replacement surgery for these patients.  

Digital Imaging Ensures Accurate Diagnosis

A wide variety of the newest digital imaging is available to our surgeons, including MRIs, CT Scans and X-Rays, enabling them to make an accurate diagnosis in the bones or joints with non-invasive techniques instead of having to open up a patient’s knee to determine the problem.  Add to this the convenience of Picture Archival and Communications System (PACS) that records high-resolution images of X-rays, MRIs and CT scans into a digital file. The patient care team can securely access these files from any computer workstation in the hospital or from remote locations such as doctors’ offices.

Minimally Invasive Surgery Techniques

Minimally invasive orthopedic surgery involves surgical techniques that enable the procedure to be performed through a smaller incision, requiring much less cutting of normal tissue. This smaller incision means less trauma to the underlying muscles and soft tissues resulting in a smaller scar and often times less post-operative pain.  Minimally invasive approaches such as Arthroscopic techniques and mini incisions can be successful for repairing rotator cuff tears of the shoulder.

Technologically Advanced Implant Materials

In this age of modern science, orthopedic implant technology for total joint replacement is better than ever.  SH follows this technology very closely to offer its patients the most advanced orthopedic implants possible.  Orthopedic implants are complex, and the materials used to make them—biomaterials--are highly developed.  Biomaterials include Titanium, cobalt-chrome, polyethylene and Trabecular Metal™ material.  Whether you are considering a first time joint replacement or a revision of a prior joint replacement no single implant technology works best for everyone—orthopedic surgeons evaluate each patient and carefully consider the type of implant that will work best for that person’s unique situation. 

Gender Specific Knee Implants

A leading orthopedic implant manufacturer recently pioneered research to learn just what makes a properly fitting knee implant for women.  The research showed it was not just about size, it was also about shape.  Following this research, a gender specific implant was created based on three distinct and scientifically documented shape differences between women’s and men’s knees:  a thinner profile for women so the knee replacement feels natural, not bulky, more natural movement, allowing the implant to move more like the natural knee and a contoured shape proportioned to fit women's anatomies. These implants are available to our orthopedic surgeons.