| CHICAGO- Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Craig J. Della Valle, and operating room nurse, Denise Feldman, RN, traveled to Pune, India from January 8th through the 17th with the not-for-profit volunteer medical services organization, Operation Walk Chicago, to provide comprehensive, state-of-the-art knee replacements at no cost for impoverished patients with debilitating joint disease.
The mission of Operation Walk Chicago is to improve the quality of life of disadvantaged patients around the world through reducing disability from advanced joint disease. In addition to providing free surgery, the not-for-profit organization educates local orthopedic surgeons and their healthcare teams, assists in-country healthcare systems to develop public health and patient care programs for reducing arthritis-related disability and establishes educational fellowships to foster ongoing education and collaboration between the United States and host countries.
Feldman and Della Valle, associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Rush, joined 50 other medical professionals who performed approximately 60 knee replacements for patients who were unable to afford the services.
"The complexity of the patient cases was high because arthritis care is limited and given a ‘back seat’ to other health problems in certain countries. As a result, those with arthritis often suffer from immense pain throughout their life as joint replacements are generally not an option,” said Della Valle.
According to Della Valle, there are a few knee replacements done at Smt. Kashibai Navale Medical College and Hospital, located in Pune, however, few patients can afford them and the local surgeons do not always have the experience to handle the more complex cases.
“We also did quite a bit of teaching about surgical techniques for the local physicians. The interaction with the patients, their families and the local doctors was the highlight of the trip,” said Della Valle.
After her return home, Feldman said, “Operation Walk was one of the best experiences I have had in my nursing career! Although we were there for only a week, everyone made us feel at home and very grateful to have us. It was an amazing feeling to see the first patient from Sunday walk around the hospital with a beaming smile by the end of the week!”
All supplies, including joint implants, sterilization and radiology equipment, antibiotics, drugs and dressings are donated. Operation Walk Chicago is in the process of planning a possible trip to Egypt next year.
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About the Rush Joint Replacement Surgery Program
Orthopedic surgeons at Rush University Medical Center have pioneered major advances in joint replacement surgery, including cementless implants, minimally invasive approaches to knee and hip replacement and use of a more flexible knee implant that behaves more like a person’s own knee. Behind the scenes, they are working to extend the long-term performance of implants by tracking patients for many years after surgery, studying how motion and force affect the bones, joints and cartilage, and observing the effects of implant wear on the entire body.
About Rush University Medical Center
Rush University Medical Center includes the 674-bed (staffed) hospital; the Johnston R. Bowman Health Center; and Rush University (Rush Medical College, College of Nursing, College of Health Sciences and the Graduate College). For more information visit www.rush.edu.
About Operation Walk Chicago
Operation Walk Chicago was established (when?) by Dr. S. David Stulberg and Dr. Victoria Brander and is supported by a team of over 40 dedicated colleagues and other volunteers. Operation Walk Chicago commits to ongoing education and patient care in impoverished communities to ensure its contribution will have a long lasting effect. Operation Walk Chicago strives to use only the highest quality educators, administrators, clinicians and equipment, and partners with in-country clinicians to develop a program of arthritis care that is practical and sustainable. Knee and hip replacements are among the most cost-effective medical procedures; dramatically relieving suffering and returning patients to active lifestyles. For more information, visit www.operationwalkchicago.com.
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