Orthopaedic Health at Black River Memorial Hospital
Black River Memorial Hospital offers specialized orthopaedic care to get you back on your feet fast, so you can return to normaly daily life - pain free. Our expert team will follow you from initial testing through rehabilitation.
Todd Duellman, M.D. specializes in minimally invasive procedures which allow for quicker, less painful recovery.
Why are minimally invasive procedures better than traditional surgical procedures?
• Less postoperative pain
• Significantly smaller, more cosmetically appealing scars
• Faster healing time
• Less blood loss
• Lesser amounts of anesthetic during procedure
• Shorter hospital stay and recovery period
• Reduced muscle and tissue damage
• Easier postoperative ambulation and rehabilitation
• Quicker return to activities of daily living
Services
Shoulder and Knee Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure used to see, diagnose, and treat joint problems. Pencil-sized instruments are inserted into a small incision, allowing to see the inside of a joint to determine what type of injury the patient has and what type of procedure or surgery is necessary. Arthroscopic surgery still requires the use of anesthetics and is performed in a hospital operating room, but it’s generally much easier to recover from than open surgery.
Anterior Total Hip Replacement
Anterior hip replacement surgery is a less invasive approach that can reduce the pain and recovery time of a total hip replacement. Rehabilitation is simplified and accelerated, dislocation risk is reduced, and the incision is small. The anterior approach is an approach to the front of the hip joint as opposed to a lateral (side) approach to the hip or posterior (back) approach. Rehabilitation is accelerated and hospital time decreased because the hip is replaced without detachment of muscle from the pelvis or femur. Following the anterior approach patients are immediately allowed to bend their hip freely. Another advantage of the anterior approach is that for patients who require bilateral hip replacement, this can be performed during a single operative session.
Minimally invasive knee replacement
Minimally invasive total knee replacement involves the use of a smaller incision than the one used in traditional knee replacement. In minimally invasive knee surgery, the incision is only 4 to 6 inches long. Because there is less damage to the tissue around the knee, patients who undergo this procedure may expect a shorter hospital stay, a shorter recovery, and a better looking scar.
Additional Specialties
Sports Medicine and Work-Related Injuries
ACL Injuries and Prevention