Page 75 - Forbes - USA (October 2019)

PROMOTION

086&/(Ž63$5,1* 685*(5< can call these numbers. I think this makes everyone feel more
comfortable with the procedure and with leaving the hospital
MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
Dr. Berger’s innovative surgical technique made the difference, a few hours after surgery.”

Medley says. $IWHU KLV VXUJHU\ 0HGOH\ XVHG D FDQH RQO\ EULHż\ $FFRUG
During traditional hip and knee replacements, the surgeon ing to Medley, the bone-on-bone acute pain in his hip was
cuts muscles, ligaments and tendons, Dr. Berger explains. The gone. “The pain I was feeling was from the surgical incision
scar tissue that forms during healing doesn’t function like the and minor swelling—the actual pain from the arthritic hip has
patient’s original tissue. been alleviated,” he says. His next order of business was unas-
Dr. Berger reports that with his anterior, muscle-preserving, sisted walking, then physical therapy.
minimally invasive approach, patients experience less pain, “Dr. Berger did not give me a handicapped parking [plac-
faster recovery and a better long-term prognosis without the ard],” Medley says. “He told me, ‘You need to walk.’”
additional worry of hip dislocation. Medley considers himself a model
Dr. Berger reports performing patient: “I did exactly what Dr. Berger
more than 20,000 muscle-sparing told me to do.”
hip and knee replacements since
2001 and estimates that about AGE NOT A DECIDING FACTOR
half of his patients leave the hos- Medley was more than 10 years
pital the same day, with the rest younger than the average hip replace-
leaving the following day. At the ment patient. According to research
end of 2018, Dr. Berger performed published by the Association of Bone
his 10,000th muscle-sparing joint and Joint Surgeons, the average age
replacement. He is now well on for a hip replacement is 68.
his way to almost 12,000 just a Age is not the deciding factor for a
year later. hip or knee replacement, however. Dr.
Medley, now 63 and living just Berger has replaced hips and knees
outside Milwaukee, began expe- on a range of people: from teenagers
ULHQFLQJ KLS SDLQ LQ 7KH ŻUVW to those over 100.

doctor Medley consulted assured “The oldest hip replacement I have
him his hip was fine and that he done was on a man who was 101
just needed heel lifts in his running years old,” Dr. Berger says. “He walked
shoes to compensate for training a mile back and forth to his 82-year-
on convex roads. While running old girlfriend’s house. His hip hurt
the Bataan Memorial Death March him too much to walk, so I replaced
marathon, Medley’s pain became it. He lived to 106. The youngest hip
excruciating. He gutted it out, but replacement was 17 years old; I have
knew heel lifts weren’t the solution. done a few at this age.”
Medley consulted a second doctor, After being told by other surgeons
Photos courtesy of Terry Weatherford and Kelly O’Keefe; (right page) Dr. Richard A. Berger
who ordered an MRI. “I was shown My patients are surprised that their activities will be limited fol-
to have no cartilage left in my left when I tell them, ‘Do lowing surgery, Dr. Berger’s patients
hip,” he says. “The head of the femur are thrilled to hear they can resume
looked like the surface of the moon.” everything and anything you their active lives.
That doctor and a third doctor told want as soon as you want “My patients are surprised when
Medley he needed a hip replace- I tell them, ‘Do everything and any-
ment and that he’d never run again. to.’… Arthritis takes away your thing you want as soon as you want
“They put limitations on everything I life and your joy; I return it.” to,’” Berger says. “Mostly, they are
wanted to do,” Medley said. “I had to delighted and overwhelmed when
ŻQG VRPHRQH WR PDNH PH ZKROH ř they actually do the things they loved

DR. RICHARD A. BERGER
A friend of Medley’s, who contin- but had to stop previously with the
ued to run and wear high heels after arthritis. They uniformly come back
her hip replacement surgery, recom- saying, ‘Why did I wait so long?’ and
mended Dr. Berger. “That was the guy I wanted,” Medley says. ‘Thank you for my life back.’ Arthritis takes away your life and
Medley was impressed by the professionalism, care and your joy; I return it.”
attention to detail throughout the process with Dr. Berger’s Medley is happy to be running again—and to be back in the sky.
team. “They educate you on what your surgery is going to be,” “Dr. Berger makes you feel like you can conquer the world,”
he says. “They show you the device that’s going in.” Medley says.
Dr. Berger ensures patients can reach him and his team. And set world records.
“Every patient gets my home telephone number,” he says. “If
they have a question, I want them to be able to talk to me For a consultation or to learn more, please visit
immediately. My seven nurses have cellphones, and patients outpatienthipandknee.com or call 312-432-2557.

HEALTHCARE