Orthopedic Surgery
We live an active lifestyle in Alaska. Sometimes we play a little too rough and push our bodies a little too hard. Over time, this can lead to painful joints and tendons that limit mobility and prevent us from participating in the activities we love. At Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, the team of orthopedic specialists care for the parts that keep you moving. If you have a bone or joint that isn't working the way it's supposed to, we offer a spectrum of orthopedic services that can help you get back to the life you enjoy.
From injury prevention to total joint replacement and rehabilitation, the orthopedic program at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center brings together skilled surgeons, specialty-trained nurses, therapists and technicians with technology to improve your quality of life.
All the surgeons are board certified and many are fellowship trained in a variety of subspecialties, including sports medicine, orthopedic trauma, shoulder, elbow, hand, wrist and spine.
Total hip and total and partial knee replacement surgeries are two procedures surgeons frequently perform using minimally invasive techniques, including robotic-assisted surgery.
Hip Replacement Surgery
The primary function of the hip is to support the weight of the body and retain balance when standing or when walking or running. The hip is an important part of the body and, if you have severe physical joint damage, your doctor may recommend hip replacement surgery.
Surgeons at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center practice an advanced form of hip replacement surgery called anterior hip surgery. It involves a very minimal three to five inch incision that does not cut major muscle groups. This is very important for faster recovery. It also uses a special imaging technology that allows the doctor to see the surgical area without a large incision.
For more information or for a referral, please call: (907) 861-6807
Robotic Partial Knee Resurfacing
Mat-Su Regional Medical Center is the only hospital in Alaska to offer partial knee resurfacing using robotic arm technology. This advanced technology assists your surgeon in attaining precision to help restore your mobility and active lifestyle.
Partial knee resurfacing is a minimally-invasive treatment option if you're living with early to mid-stage osteoarthritis which has not progressed to all three compartments of the knee. The procedure is powered by a 100% surgeon-controlled robotic arm system allowing for greater precision in your partial knee resurfacing procedure.
In this procedure, the diseased portion of the knee is resurfaced, saving as much of the original knee and surrounding tissue as possible. An implant is secured in the joint to allow the knee to move smoothly again. Before surgery, the surgeon will use the system to pre-operatively plan and map your knee and identify the area(s) of the diseased bone to be removed. During surgery, three-dimensional visualization of the knee and the robotic arm provide your surgeon with real-time visual, tactile and auditory feedback.
Partial knee resurfacing may:
- Promote a rapid relief from pain and get you back to the activities you miss doing
- Provide a more natural feeling knee post-surgery
- Result in a more rapid recovery and shorter hospital stay than traditional knee replacement surgery
In many cases, patients are walking soon after surgery, driving a car in the first few weeks and return to normal daily activities shortly thereafter. In many cases, your time in the hospital after surgery is minimal.
You may be a candidate for partial knee resurfacing using this technology if you experience:
- Knee pain with activity, usually on the inner knee and/or under the knee cap
- Knee pain or stiffness when activities are initiated from a sitting position
- Failure to respond to non-surgical treatments or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication
For more information, please call: (907) 861-6807
Orthopedic surgeons are independent members of the medical staff at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center.