Surgery Center of Chesapeake is First to Perform Total Joint Replacement in a Free-Standing Ambulatory Surgery Center in South Hampton Roads

Chesapeake, Va. - On January 24, after three months of extensive research, planning and collaboration, the first total joint replacement (TJR) surgery in a free-standing ambulatory surgery center in South Hampton Roads was performed at the Surgery Center of Chesapeake, at 844 Battlefield Blvd., North. Orthopedic surgeon, Eric Neff, M.D., carried out the procedure, and anesthesiologist, Timothy Shipe M.D., delivered multi-modal pain management. After the successful knee replacement procedure, the 63-year-old patient was home by the afternoon to recover in his own home.

The same-day TJR was performed using a minimally invasive method and advanced anesthesia for pain management including regional nerve blocks and non-opioid prescriptions. Using 3D technology, the patient received a customized joint created by SIGMA Knee Systems and TruMatch Personalized Solutions from DePuy Synthes Joint Reconstruction. The whole procedure lasted a little more than an hour.

“Patient selection is essential to a successful surgery and recovery,” said Julie Camardella, B.S.N., C.H.C.R.M., Chief Executive Officer of the Surgery Center of Chesapeake. “Patients are chosen for a procedure like this only after meeting several criteria. They need to have good overall health, a desire to recover at home, the ability to withstand some discomfort, and support at home from someone who can help care for them as they recover.”

The patient chosen was Michael Druyor, who says he is very pleased with his recovery and feels that it’s “going a little bit easier” than the last knee surgery he had as an inpatient. “This time they had me up and walking five hours after surgery. The last one took five weeks to recover,” he said.

Druyor was required to attend a class prior to surgery to learn a series of exercises as part of his at-home recovery. He also received education about preparing his home for post-surgical care. With physical therapy at home, he’s expected to return to normal activity in six to eight weeks. Dr. Neff has several more total knee replacement surgeries scheduled at The Surgery Center of Chesapeake in the near future.