Our Patients...A Profile

Total Joint Orthopedics' Director of Engineering, Eric, is also a gifted photographer.

Check out this series of patients during screening. When asked to pose for a photo, each patient sat formally with a stern look. Most have never seen a picture of themselves, so when Eric flipped the camera to show them what they look like, he received smiles out of sheer joy in return. Luckily he was dexterous enough to catch those smiles, and give them each a few minutes of relaxation before their preoperative nerves set in.

Here are the results...

Screening Day!

We are lucky to have good buddies at San Rafael who help us throughout the year. Dr. William Vasquez is an orthopedic surgeon in San Salvador who traveled for a mini fellowship with Hofmann Arthritis Institute in Salt Lake City a few years back. He performs the pre-screening for us, getting a list of people who are good candidates, doing their initial consult, and taking radiographs.

Our pre team saw eight patients on Friday morning while the rest of the team was stuck in traffic, as we wanted to get a head start on surgery Saturday. The hospital is much quieter on the weekends (for obvious reasons), and we're allowed to use three operating rooms instead of the two we're given during the week.

Waiting to be screened

Patients line up in the morning, many of them with family members, but a few on their own, having traveled quite some distance. Screening teams are assembled with a hospitalist (a general practitioner or internal medicine doctor), an anesthesiologist, an orthopedic surgeon, and a physician assistant. Nurses and physical therapists aid the process, and patients have their picture taken for their chart. Each patient is given a score based on medical need and physical health; we want these patients to be successful in surgeon and afterward. We only bring supplies for primary hip and knee replacements in order to keep the surgeries simple and the results positive. The surgeons in El Salvador are more than capable of handling trauma cases involving plates, screws, and nails, but usually don't have access to joint replacement necessities such as power equipment or implants.

Potential patients

Conducting clinic is the most heartbreaking part of our trip. We come up with a list a final candidates, and we are satisfied we have met everyone's needs. And then we realize that we have a solid list of 72 people and the capacity to handle 60-65. How do you choose?

Drs. Aaron Hofmann (UT) and Trevor Magee (UT) show a patient her radiograph 

CRNA Robert (OK) helps a patient into a room

Drs. Ken Mathis (TX) and Brian Dahl (UT) examine radiographs

**Thanks to volunteer photographer Eric for providing amazing photos throughout the week**

Day One Chaos

After a nice rest on Friday, we spent the afternoon unpacking our trucks as they arrived from customs and dividing boxes between floor, PACU, OR, etc., etc.

Per usual, a lot of the early trip time and effort involves convincing customs officials to release our stuff from customs. Our pre-team travels especially to get this part done, and unfortunately, they were unsuccessful this time. Fortunately, it was released just in time for us to lug it to the third floor and organize it all.

Our normal storage room/headquarters is currently used as a treatment room, so we've been moved. Our new headquarters are located in the mental health ward, so it appears they know us well!

Early to bed, because we've got patients to screen and surgeries to do tomorrow!

Wild Guinea hen, poolside

We Made It!

That's right...we've arrived!

One of the perks of a redeye is that you get to enjoy the sunrise from high up in the air. Actually, that might be the only perk. The SLC team got through customs without a hitch, however, a downtown demonstration for the election (coming up...next year) lead us on a stop-and-go citywide tour that lasted nearly three hours. 

Not to worry, while we may have rolled into the Sheraton tired and slightly grumpy, there is very little coffee and fried plantains can't solve. We're looking forward to meeting up with our buddies from OK, TX, ID, and MS (some of whom are coming and going throughout the week) this afternoon to unpack and organize for our patient screening tomorrow. 

We'll keep you updated throughout the week, so don't forget to visit regularly. And check out the adventures of Operation Walk around the world by using #operationwalk on Instagram!

Starting the Day Out Right!

We are so grateful for all of our volunteers! Every person involved with Operation Walk is donating his or her time to be here on a Saturday. The hospital is quiet except for our vibrant crew.

The gang assembled early to prep patients and make sure supplies were in order. Keeping everyone going? The Hickman Family and their INCREDIBLE breakfast spread. Pumpkin pancakes, TWO types of stuffed French toast, thick cut bacon, hash-browns homemade cinnamon buttermilk syrup, orange juice...what a great way to start the day!

Bacon: the most important meal of the day

Grilling up bacon and pancakes in the lounge.
We apologize to the ENTIRE HOSPITAL for the delicious smells.
Oh wait, we don't. 

Next up: six patients, ready to go! Three hips (thanks to Total Joint Orthopedics) and three knees (courtesy Zimmer); four men, two women. We're ready!

Christmas in July is Back!

That's right! Tomorrow six lucky patients will receive a new joint courtesy...US! Thanks to Total Joint Orthopedics and Zimmer for the implants, and to all of our fantastic volunteers! We'll post some live action tomorrow from Salt Lake Regional Medical Center, but for now, check out the press release that went out earlier today:

OPERATION WALK UTAH’S ENTHUSIASM FOR GIFT-GIVING PROVIDES NO-COST TOTAL HIP AND KNEE REPLACEMENTS TO SIX UTAH PATIENTS IN NEED 

Salt Lake City – July 11, 2013 – Beginning Saturday, July 13, Operation Walk Utah, teams up with the Center for Precision Joint Replacement at Salt Lake Regional Medical Center and the Hofmann Arthritis Institute, to perform six total hip and knee replacements – three hips and three knees – at no cost to the patients. The six Utah patients were selected by the Operation Walk committee based on the severity of the condition and need for immediate treatment. 

Aaron Hofmann, M.D., board-certified orthopedic surgeon and director of the Center for Precision Joint Replacement at Salt Lake Regional Medical Center and Hofmann Arthritis Institute, along with Jeremy McCandless, M.D., and Trevor Magee, M.D., will perform the surgeries on Saturday. All expenses of treatment, including surgery, hospitalization, and pre and post-operative care, will be covered by Operation Walk Utah. 

Candace Clark is one of the six patients selected for a total knee replacement this week. Clark is a 60-year-old wife, mother, and grandmother who developed severe knee pain and immobility over the past year. While walking her daughter’s dogs, Clark injured the meniscus in her knee. She received her first knee surgery in November of this year. However, Clark’s situation worsened, leading to further immobility. Clark’s career as a wedding photographer was halted and everyday hobbies became too difficult to enjoy. Without a permanent solution, Clark feared she would not be able to properly walk again. 

Clark’s husband introduced the idea of scheduling an appointment with Dr. Hofmann and his team. Following her consultation, Clark’s case was submitted to the Operation Walk committee, and, as a candidate for surgery, Clark was placed on July’s list. 

“I like to think of this surgery as my miracle,” said Clark. “The pain in my knee has changed my whole life. I can’t enjoy the small things we often take for granted anymore. After I recover, my two goals are to hold my grandchildren and take a long walk. My heart is full­–knowing that I am on the path to recovery.” 

Operation Walk Utah is a private, not-for-profit volunteer medical service chapter of the national organization, Operation Walk. All chapters of Operation Walk provide free surgical treatment to patients with debilitating arthritis or other bone and joint conditions in developing countries and the United States. Through 10 international missions and more than 5,000 patients to date, Operation Walk has established an international presence and continues to grow. All medical supplies and equipment are provided through donations, and the entire medical team on staff volunteers its time. 

The Center for Precision Joint Replacement at Salt Lake Regional (http://www.saltlakeregional.com/services/orthopedics/) provides minimally invasive, highly advanced joint replacement surgeries using MAKOplasty® robotic technology to patients with arthritis and other joint conditions. For more information about the Center, call 801-350-4009. 

The Hofmann Arthritis (http://hofmannarthritisinstitute.com) Institute provides advanced non-surgical and surgical treatment options to patients with arthritis. The medical team combines the latest surgical techniques and technology with specialized surgeons to bring about the best possible clinical outcomes. For more information about the Hofmann Arthritis Institute, call 801-355-6468. 

The Power of Cheetos

Saturday, November 3, Brooke headed to Park City for an evening out with eight girlfriends to celebrate her birthday. After a night on the town, she and her friends hailed a cab to head back to accommodations for the evening. Hungry after a night of cocktails and dancing, they asked their cab driver, Bill, if they could stop for pizza. He didn't know of anything open, but happily shared a bag of Cheetos he had with him.

A few minutes later, the group arrived at their destination. Bill got out of the cab and grabbed his cane so he could open the door for them. Brooke, a scrub tech at Salt Lake Regional Medical Center, who just returned from Operation Walk Utah in El Salvador, and Sam, an admin at Total Joint Orthopedics, were the last two out of the cab. They noticed that Bill had a cane and asked him why. He explained that he had no cartilage in his right hip but can't afford insurance to pay for surgery. Brooke and Sam immediately told him about Operation Walk USA and the national day of surgeries that was upcoming through Operation Walk Utah and Hofmann Arthritis Institute.

Sam followed up with Bill to make sure he had an appointment for the following Monday. Two days before his birthday, Bill received the call from Operation Walk Utah that his screening had gone well and he had been chosen to receive a new hip!

Bill, Brooke, and Sam in Pre-Op (bow-tie courtesy David, who made Co-ban bow-ties for the male patients and flowers for the female patients). 

This morning, Brooke (who is volunteering today for Operation Walk USA) and Sam came to Pre-op to visit with Bill before his surgery. Bill was relaxing with his girlfriend, Nancy. The two have been together since 1999, but apart for the last year and half while Nancy cares for her parents in Chicago. When she learned of the surgery, Nancy jumped on a train to be with Bill. 

"This is life-changing," Bill said. "This will bring me back to activities I have not been able to do."

"That was the best part of our evening, meeting you," said Sam. "You were the best fare I've had in a long time. I'm glad I had those Cheetos!" replied Bill.