Page 44 - UHN's Year In Review 2013-14: Courage is Daring to Lead
P. 44
arthritis Program
New ankle replacement surgery has patient, 67, hiking again
It’s taken more than a decade,
but Dr. Johnny Lau’s idea of
a new and improved ankle
replacement device has come
to life.
It all began with a few sketches
on a piece of paper.
In 2002, during a clinical
fellowship at Union Memorial
Hospital, Dr. Lau and four
collaborators in Baltimore,
Maryland, came up with the
design for a prototype to
improve ankle replacement
surgery.
Today, when Dr. Lau looks
at the implant, made of
specialized metal and plastic,
it is exactly what he imagined
it would be — and it’s been
life-changing for patients like
67-year-old Mark Geiger. Orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Johnny Lau performs an ankle replacement surgery with the latest device which
he helped design. (Photo: UHN)
Ski injury
Geiger was Dr. Lau’s first
patient to undergo surgery with the pain anymore. skiing and hiking, both of which said Geiger. “Dr. Lau is one of
using the new implant to When Dr. Lau first saw Geiger’s were out of the question.” the best in his field, and I was
replace his ankle. X-ray it was clear that he had When Geiger learned about really desperate for help.”
A skiing injury 15 years ago no cartilage left. the device Lau was designing Innovative approach
caused arthritis in Geiger’s Geiger’s pain was undeniable. he was excited to be one of the To implant a new ankle, Dr. Lau
ankle, which eventually caused first “guinea pigs”. uses an innovative surgical
his cartilage to deteriorate. “I had more and more trouble “I did quite a bit of research approach.
Coping with bone-on-bone Mark Geiger, 67, is getting back into activities he loves since having his just walking,” said Geiger. and this device really seemed
contact, Geiger couldn’t bear ankle replaced. (Photo: Mark Geiger) “I considered myself fairly to mirror the natural ankle,” (Continued on next page)
active. I love cross-country
44 45
New ankle replacement surgery has patient, 67, hiking again
It’s taken more than a decade,
but Dr. Johnny Lau’s idea of
a new and improved ankle
replacement device has come
to life.
It all began with a few sketches
on a piece of paper.
In 2002, during a clinical
fellowship at Union Memorial
Hospital, Dr. Lau and four
collaborators in Baltimore,
Maryland, came up with the
design for a prototype to
improve ankle replacement
surgery.
Today, when Dr. Lau looks
at the implant, made of
specialized metal and plastic,
it is exactly what he imagined
it would be — and it’s been
life-changing for patients like
67-year-old Mark Geiger. Orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Johnny Lau performs an ankle replacement surgery with the latest device which
he helped design. (Photo: UHN)
Ski injury
Geiger was Dr. Lau’s first
patient to undergo surgery with the pain anymore. skiing and hiking, both of which said Geiger. “Dr. Lau is one of
using the new implant to When Dr. Lau first saw Geiger’s were out of the question.” the best in his field, and I was
replace his ankle. X-ray it was clear that he had When Geiger learned about really desperate for help.”
A skiing injury 15 years ago no cartilage left. the device Lau was designing Innovative approach
caused arthritis in Geiger’s Geiger’s pain was undeniable. he was excited to be one of the To implant a new ankle, Dr. Lau
ankle, which eventually caused first “guinea pigs”. uses an innovative surgical
his cartilage to deteriorate. “I had more and more trouble “I did quite a bit of research approach.
Coping with bone-on-bone Mark Geiger, 67, is getting back into activities he loves since having his just walking,” said Geiger. and this device really seemed
contact, Geiger couldn’t bear ankle replaced. (Photo: Mark Geiger) “I considered myself fairly to mirror the natural ankle,” (Continued on next page)
active. I love cross-country
44 45
