Florida Hospital Celebration Health Performs Free Hip and Knee Surgery along with Others Nationwide

6 patients from Florida will able to return to a more active lifestyle after this free procedure

CELEBRATION, Fla., December 9, 2011 - 32-year-old Casey O’Donnell grew up surfing along the Flagler Beach coastline.  But he has had to hang up the wet suit and the board because of severe pain and immobility in his hip.  Casey was diagnosed with avascular necrosis which is the deterioration of the hip bones because of lack of blood supply.  After the diagnosis, Casey thought he might never surf again because he didn’t have health insurance and couldn’t afford to pay for a necessary hip replacement.  He has not been able to work because of the constant pain when he walks, drives or even sits.  But Casey has a new hip and is recovering at home as part of Operation Walk USA 2011. 

“I’ve been surfing my whole life.  It’s more of a way of life than just a hobby,” Casey said.  “I’ve been out of the water for a year now and I am looking forward to getting back out there.”

Operation Walk USA 2011 is a nationwide program that took place on Dec. 2-3 where physicians across the US replaced the hips and knees of patients that can’t afford the surgery, like Casey O’Donnell.  Florida Hospital Celebration Health’s Medical Director of the Joint Replacement Center, Dr. David Dore, and Dr. Matthew Johnston, Medical Director of the Joint Replacement Center at Florida Hospital Kissimmee, operated on six patients Friday from around the state for free. 

“For these procedures everything is donated,” said Dr. Johnston.  “The surgeons, anesthesia and the hospital are involved because the patient will need to stay a few days.  Then there is the rehab after the surgery, plus all the medical devices are donated as well.  We have companies like Zimmer that donate the actual devices used to replace the hips and knees.  It is truly a team effort.”

Nationwide, Operation Walk physicians operated on 85 patients, in 25 hospitals, across 16 states over the two day span.  Florida Hospital Celebration Health is only one of two facilities in Florida participating in the program.

Millions of Americans suffer from painful joint problems and may end up one day needing a joint replacement.  Each year, more than 900,000 hip and knee replacements are performed in the U.S., but that statistic does not shed light on how many people go without the surgery because they might not have the financial capacity to afford the procedure.

“I am seeing more and more patients here in the US that are having significant economic issues,” said Dr. Dore.  “Patients are not qualifying for government aid or they don’t have insurance and can’t afford the procedure.  Operation Walk is really their only hope at recovery and relief from pain.”

Building on the global success of Operation Walk, an international effort that has improved the lives and mobility of more than 6,000 patients in developing countries, Operation Walk USA emerged.  All aspects of treatment – surgery, hospitalization, and pre-and post-operative care – are provided at no cost to the patients. Operation Walk USA 2011 is a collaborative effort between three orthopaedic organizations:  The Hip Society, The Knee Society, and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS).