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July 2010 - MAKOplasty - Knee Surgery
MAKOplasty, it sounds like some fancy Hollywood cosmetic procedure that’s going to be all the rage this fall. But in fact it’s a cutting edge minimally invasive partial knee surgery that works wonders with early to mid stage osteoarthritis that’s now available at Sky Ridge Medical Center.
Come learn more about MAKOplasty and how it might benefit you or a loved one during these free physician led seminars. All sessions will be held at the Sky Ridge Spine & Total Joint Center, 10101 RidgeGate Parkway in Lone Tree. Refreshments will be served. RSVP to 720-225-5DOC (5362) to reserve your spot!
Thursday, September 16 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 2 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 23 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 28 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, November 4 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 13 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, November 18 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Sky Ridge Medical Center is pleased to be the first hospital in our area to perform MAKOplasty, a new minimally invasive partial knee resurfacing procedure used to treat early to mid-stage osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. MAKOplasty, powered by the RIO Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic system, offers a more precise and consistent result for partial knee resurfacing.
MAKOplasty is only available at Sky Ridge Spine and Total Joint Center.
MAKOplasty patients may experience a shorter hospital stay, quicker recovery and a smaller incision as compared to total knee replacement. In addition, many return to an active lifestyle within weeks of the procedure. MAKOplasty can be performed on the inner, top or outer compartment of the knee. It can also be performed as a bicompartmental procedure on the inner and top portions of the knee.
Call (720) 225-5DOC for a free informational brochure about MAKOplasty
“MAKOplasty allows us to treat patients with knee osteoarthritis at earlier stages and with greater precision. Because it is less invasive and more of the patient’s actual knee remains, it offers a more natural knee motion post-operatively,” says Susan Hicks, Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Sky Ridge.
The opportunity for early intervention is important as OA is the most common form of arthritis and a leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis and a degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown and eventual loss of joint cartilage. Cartilage is a protein substance that serves as a cushion between the bones of a joint. With OA, the top layer of cartilage breaks down and wears away, allowing bones under the cartilage to rub together.
Call (720) 225-5DOC for a free informational brochure about MAKOplasty
Through its innovative use of technology, MAKOplasty takes partial knee resurfacing to a new level of precision. When performing MAKOplasty, our surgeons use the RIO, which features a tactile robotic arm and a 3-D patient specific visualization system.
This system provides the surgeon a pre-surgical plan that details the technique for bone preparation and customized implant positioning using a CT scan of the patient’s knee. During the procedure, the system creates a three-dimensional, live-action, virtual view of the patient’s bone surface and correlates the image to the pre-programmed surgical plan. As the surgeon uses the robotic arm, its tactile, acoustical and visual feedback limits bone preparation to the diseased areas and provides for more optimal implant positioning and placement for each individual patient.
Call (720) 225-5DOC for a free informational brochure about MAKOplasty
“Precision is key in planning and performing partial knee surgeries,” says Hicks. “For a good outcome, you need to align and position the implants just right. Precision in surgery, and in the pre-operative planning process is what RIO can deliver to our patients.”
Although the root cause of OA is unknown, the risk of developing symptomatic OA is influenced by multiple factors such as age, gender, and inherited traits that can affect the shape and stability of your joints. Other factors include:
• Previous knee injury
• Repetitive strain on the knee
• Improper joint alignment
• Being over weight
• Exercise or sports generated stress placed on the knee joints
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis of the knee:
• Pain while standing or walking short distances, climbing up or down stairs, or getting in and out of chairs
• Knee pain with activity
• Start up pain or stiffness when activities are initiated from a sitting position
• Stiffness in your knee after getting out of bed
• Swelling in one or more areas of your knee
• A grating sensation or crunching feeling when you use your knee
Why choose Sky Ridge Spine and Total Joint Center?
• The only facility in Denver with the state of the art MAKOplasty procedure
• Specially designed operating rooms
• Staff trained to ease and speed your recovery
• An entire floor dedicated to your care
Call Sky Ridge Medical Center today to find out more about the MAKOplasty procedure, (720) 225-5DOC or skyridgemedcenter.com
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June 2010 - Summer Safety
The Sky Ridge Safety and Wellness Expo, Saturday, June 12 from 9:30 to 12:30 at the Lone Tree Recreation Center, 10249 Ridge Gate Circle has been postponed due to weather. Stay tuned to KOSI for details on a new date.
Summer’s here, the kids are running wild, and It’s all fun and games ‘till someone gets their eye poked out. Sorry to sound like your mom, but do you feel prepared if your kids get hurt? Could you identify the difference between a sprain and a broken bone? How do you treat an animal bite? What are the signs of dehydration? And what can you do if your child is having an allergic reaction? Kind of makes your head hurt when you think about it all at once.
Get all the information you need at the Sky Ridge Safety and Wellness Expo, Saturday, June 12 from 9:30 to 12:30 at the Lone Tree Recreation Center, 10249 Ridge Gate Circle.
Learn the latest safety tips, meet the Sky Ridge pediatricians and other specialists, participate in the bike rodeo and helmet check, tour the AirLife chopper, visit with firefighters, see a police K-9 unit in action, learn how to use 911, win prizes, play safety games, and lots more.
 Bike Helmets
Now that summer is here, it’s time to have fun riding bicycles! A bike helmet is the most important accessory you and your child can wear to reduce and prevent head injuries. Unfortunately, it is often the most overlooked accessory and often left behind when children and adults go for a ride.
Who should wear bicycle helmets?
All bicycle riders should wear helmets since accidents can happen to anyone at anytime. The most serious bicycle crashes involve young children and occur on quiet neighborhood streets. In fact, 30% of all cycling deaths happen on residential streets and 50% of bicycle crashes involve the rider’s head hitting a solid object such as the pavement, a curb or a car. This results in brain injury. Bicycle helmets have been shown to reduce the risk of brain injury by 88%.
How common is brain injury when riding a bicycle?
Nationwide, about 65,000 bicyclists suffer head injuries each year, and more than 90% of cyclists killed every year were not wearing helmets. The bicycle helmet is the best protection for the head and the brain. Since the brain is only protected by the scalp and bony skull, the helmet acts as a buffer between the object and the head in a crash. During a bicycle accident, the foam inside the helmet breaks or deforms, reducing the energy that would have been directed toward the head and brain. That is why it is so important to wear a helmet while bicycling. And, never use a helmet that has been damaged by a prior bicycle accident.
How to get your child to wear a bicycle helmet?
1. Let your child help pick out a helmet.
2. Help your child learn how to properly wear it.
3. Always insist your child wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.
4. Start having your child wear a helmet with his or her first bicycle.
5. Set an example for your child by wearing a helmet when you ride.
6. Praise your child when she wears her helmet.
7. Encourage other parents to buy helmets for their children.
Get all the information you need at the Sky Ridge Safety and Wellness Expo, Saturday, June 12 from 9:30 to 12:30 at the Lone Tree Recreation Center, 10249 Ridge Gate Circle.
Safe Swimming
• Most children can learn to swim at around 5 years of age.
• Prior to that age, swim lessons provide a way to work on the skills required for swimming (such as blowing bubbles) and encourage comfort in the water.
• “Drown-proofing” lessons for infants and toddlers can acquaint children with the water, but do not make it safe for your child to be around a pool or body of water. Most accidental submersions cause children to panic and drown, regardless of how well they seem to do in lessons.
• Encourage ALL your children to learn how to swim. With the huge success of water parks, most children want to venture onto the slides and rides, some of which land in deep water. (And it’s never too late for adults to learn, too!) You can check with your local recreation center, athletic club or public pools for information on classes and lessons.
• After lessons, rinsing with fresh water helps to keep the chlorine from irritating the skin. Try to keep infants and toddlers from swallowing the chlorinated water, and never forcibly submerge them.
• Even children who know how to swim should be supervised at ALL times when around the water, and NEVER be left to swim alone.
If you would like more complete information, check the American Academy of Pediatrics website at “www.aap.org.” In order to investigate the types of pool safety alarms, try “www.safetyalarms.com.”
Allergic Reactions
They can be triggered by food, medications, insect stings, pollen or just about anything! Most allergic reactions cause hives and itching but aren’t serious. However, severe reactions can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.
Mild Allergic Reactions:
Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction will usually improve with the use of an antihistamine. If symptoms are more severe or cause alarm, contact your pediatrician immediately. Itchiness, redness or slight swelling of the skin…Stuffy, runny nose and/or sneezing… Itchy, watery eyes…Hives (raised red bumps or welts) anywhere on the body
Severe Allergic Reactions:
Occasionally, allergic reactions can be very severe and even life threatening. If you have an EpiPen, you should immediately provide an injection as directed. Severe allergic reactions require immediate emergency medical assistance and may present with: Swelling of the tongue or mouth…Difficulty speaking or swallowing…Wheezing or labored breathing…dizziness or fainting…Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
Animal Bites
Animal bites and scratches can sometimes cause infection. Some bites require stitches while others heal on their own. In rare cases, animal bites can cause rabies, which is a life-threatening illness.
Treatment:
• Wash the bite area thoroughly with soap and water
• Apply pressure with sterile gauze or clean cloth if there is bleeding
• Apply antibiotic ointment and cover the area with a bandage or clean gauze
• Provide acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce pain
Seek immediate medical care if:
• The bite was from a wild animal, a pet that isn’t up-to-date on rabies vaccinations or an animal that is acting strangely
• The bite has broken the skin
• The bite is on the head, neck, face, hand, foot or near a joint
• The wound becomes red, hot, swollen or increasingly painful
• The child is behind on shots or has not had a tetanus shot in the past five years
Broken Bones
It’s important to seek medical attention for any broken bone – regardless of where it occurs or how large or small it appears. You can help your child avoid broken bones by installing proper safety equipment and ensuring that he/she wears protective gear when participating in sports or physical activity.
Signs & Symptoms:
• There was a “snap” or “grinding noise” when the injury occurred
• The area is bruised, swollen or tender
• The injured part is difficult to move or hurts when moving, being touched or bearing weight
Treatment:
• Remove clothing from the injured site and immediately apply an ice pack wrapped in a soft cloth
• Avoid excessive movement of the injured limb
• Place a simple splint on the injured limb, if available
• Seek medical attention and don’t allow the child to eat (in case surgery is required)
Get all the information you need at the Sky Ridge Safety and Wellness Expo, Saturday, June 12 from 9:30 to 12:30 at the Lone Tree Recreation Center, 10249 Ridge Gate Circle.
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May 2010 - SLEEP
 Did you get a good night’s sleep? Sleep plays a vital role in your health. In fact a lack of sleep can lead to high, blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, even heart failure. But did you know there are many differences in how men and women sleep? Women sleep lighter and are more easily disturbed. They’re also more likely to feel tired in the morning, even after a full night’s sleep.
If you have problems sleeping or still feel tired when you wake up in the morning, come to the Sky Ridge Sleep Seminar Wednesday, May 19 from 6 to 7 PM, visit Sky Ridge Medical Center dot com to reserve your seat or call 720 225 5362.
Sleep Disorders
Millions of people suffer from an ongoing sleep disorder. These problems often remain undiagnosed. There are 81 different sleep disorders, here are the most common:
• Insomnia
Insomnia occurs when a person has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, wakes up too early, or feels unrefreshed after sleeping. It is a common sleep complaint that tends to be more common in women than in men. It often is related to another problem such as depression, stress or anxiety, or medication use. In older women it often is caused by other medical problems.
• Obstructive sleep apnea
OSA involves pauses in breathing that occur when tissue in the back of the throat collapses and blocks the airway as you sleep. It has been linked to other serious health problems such as heart failure, high blood pressure, stroke and diabetes. OSA occurs in about two percent of women. Yet this problem often is overlooked by both women and their doctors. Women with OSA are less likely than men to report having pauses in breathing or loud snoring. Instead they are more likely to have a history of depression or a problem with insomnia.
• Snoring
Snoring occurs during sleep when breathing causes tissue in the back of your throat to vibrate. Habitual snoring occurs in about 24 percent of adult women. Loud and frequent snoring is a warning sign for OSA.
• Restless legs syndrome
RLS involves an intense urge to move the legs. The intensity of this urge increases at night and as you lie or sit still. It is relieved only by walking or moving the legs. RLS may occur up to twice as often in women as in men. It can cause severe sleep disruption.
• Leg cramps
Sleep related leg cramps are common in women. They involve sudden and intense feelings of pain in the leg or foot.
Find out more at the Sky Ridge Sleep Seminar Wednesday, May 19 from 6 to 7 PM, visit Sky Ridge Medical Center dot com to reserve your seat or call 720 225 5362.
 Sleep Tips for Women
The following tips are provided by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine to help women get the most out of their sleep:
• Make your bedroom a comfortable and safe place. Reduce noises and extreme temperatures that might disturb you.
• Begin rituals to help you relax at bedtime, such as taking a soothing bath or enjoying a light snack.
• Go to bed and get up at the same time every day, including weekends and holidays.
• If you need to take a nap, keep it to less than one hour and take it before 3 p.m.
• Only drink caffeine in the morning, and avoid alcohol and cigarettes late in the day.
• Stay away from fatty, spicy foods that are likely to upset your stomach or cause heartburn.
• Increase vitamin E in your diet, or take a vitamin E supplement.
• Hormone replacement therapy may help you sleep better by relieving severe hot flashes related to menopause. Ask your doctor for advice about this kind of treatment.
• Only use sleeping pills when supervised by a doctor.
• Talk to your doctor or a sleep specialist if you have an ongoing problem related to your sleep.
Find out more at the Sky Ridge Sleep Seminar Wednesday, May 19 from 6 to 7 PM, visit Sky Ridge Medical Center dot com to reserve your seat or call 720 225 5362.
Sleep and Children
It is important to make sure that your child gets enough sleep and sleeps well. Most sleep problems in children are not a result of bad parenting. These problems also do not mean that there is something seriously wrong with your child.
Many parents are unsure of how much their child should sleep. Experts recommend that your child get the following amount of sleep at each stage of growth:
• Infants (3 to 11 months): 14 to 15 hours
• Toddlers: 12 to 14 hours
• Preschoolers: 11 to 13 hours
• School-age children: 10 to 11 hours
 Two Common Sleep Problems in Young Children:
1. Sleep-onset association
All of us wake up briefly a number of times during the night. Usually, we are unaware of these awakenings and return to sleep quickly. Young children may cry when they wake up. Parents naturally may feel that they need to “help” their child return to sleep. Parents do this by feeding, rocking, holding or lying down with their child. As a result, many young children become unable to fall asleep on their own.
2. Limit-setting problems
Limit-setting problems usually begin after the age of two. It occurs when your child refuses to go to bed, stalls, or makes it hard for you to leave the bedside. Limit-setting problems can occur at bedtime, nap time, or when your child wakes up during the night. Parents need to assert that they are the ones who decide when it is time for bed.
These are some tips to help your child sleep better:
• Follow a consistent bedtime routine. Set aside 10 to 30 minutes to get your child ready to go to sleep each night.
• Establish a relaxing setting at bedtime.
• Interact with your child at bedtime. Don’t let the TV, computer or video games take your place.
• Keep your children from TV programs, movies, and video games that are not right for their age.
• Do not let your child fall asleep while being held, rocked, fed a bottle, or while nursing.
• At bedtime, do not allow your child to have foods or drinks that contain caffeine. This includes chocolate and sodas. Try not to give him or her any medicine that has a stimulant at bedtime. This includes cough medicines and decongestants.
If your child has an ongoing sleep problem, then you should talk to your child’s doctor or to a sleep specialist.
Find out more at the Sky Ridge Sleep Seminar Wednesday, May 19 from 6 to 7 PM, visit Sky Ridge Medical Center dot com to reserve your seat or call 720 225 5362.
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April 2010
 The days of “Fix-it-when-it-breaks” medicine are over. Prevention is the key to finding a little problem before it’s a big one. But ladies we’re so busy taking care of everyone else that we often forget to take care of ourselves. Have you seen your gynecologist or had a mammogram lately? Maintaining good health with the help of preventative medical services requires commitment. You’ve likely devoted yourself to providing for your friends and family. Now it’s time for you to take care of you! And Sky Ridge Medical Center is partnering with Curves to offer some free women’s health seminars. These seminars will be led by the top notch GY N’s, Urologists, and more from Sky Ridge Medical Center. Plus everyone who attends one of these free seminars gets a complimentary 30 day membership to Curves. RSVP to 720-225-5362
Here’s a list of the next four seminars:
Tuesday, April 20 from 6p.m. to 7:30p.m.
Saturday, May 1 from 11a.m. to 12:30p.m.
Saturday, May 15 from 11a.m. to 12:30p.m.
Thursday, May 20 from 6p.m. to 7:30p.m.
When discussing Preventative services a yearly complete physical examination is a must. If you have specific questions for your doctor, write them down before hand and bring them to your appointment. Here are a few questions you might want to ask at your next visit:
Should I be taking aspirin daily?
Should I be concerned about my weight and body mass index?
What are the real risks with hormone replacement therapy?
Which vitamin supplements should I be taking?
To get more information and see a doctor you can also attend the The 9 Health Fair will be held at the Sky Ridge Medical Center on Saturday, April 24. You’re invited to get a host of low cost or free screenings including a blood panel, bone health, pap, breast, and skin screenings, and more. Click here to find out more.
Cervical Cancer is one of the most common cancers in women and can be detected early with a Pap smear. Today 1 in 145 women in the U.S. will develop cervical cancer, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Are you at risk? Here is some more info on Cervical Cancer.
The American Cancer Society says you can reduce your risk of dying from breast cancer by up to 25% with routine mammograms. If you fall into the average to high risk pool for breast cancer you should get your first mammogram by age 40 and have one every year or two from then on. Click here to find out more about mammograms and breast cancer LINK
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March 2010
 Concussions
When we were kids a bump to the head was “just a ding” but new research has shown it could be a concussion, which can lead to many more problems.
It’s especially true for kids, teens, and young adults. If your child hits his or her head while biking, skateboarding, or playing sports don’t ignore it. Dizziness, nausea, and irritability are only some of the symptoms. Have your child rest and call your doctor.
It is estimated that there are 1.6 -3.8 million sports and recreation related concussions per year in the US. Many of these are kids, teens and young adults who have many years ahead with which to live with the consequences of traumatic brain injury.
Rest a ‘Must’ After Head Trauma:
Head injuries are especially concern¬ing because symptoms of concussion or brain injury are sometimes subtle.
“After a concussion, any increase in blood flow to the brain from physical or mental activity can cause dizzi¬ness, nausea and other symptoms. Rest is the only treatment.” Sue Kirelik, MD, medical director of Pediatric Emergency Services and chair of the Pediatric Depart¬ment at Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree.
Research shows that kids who rest af¬ter a concussion recover significantly more quickly than those who do not. Most children recover in about a week, but some require a lot longer. A child might need to stay home for a matter of days or weeks, or in rare cases, even months.
The effects of concussions are cumulative, meaning the effects get worse with each successive injury. So take precautions like wearing the proper safety equipment and don’t ignore any blow to the head.
Symptoms of Potential Brain injury in Children:
• Loss of consciousness
• Not recognizing parent or making eye contact
• Vomiting
• Listlessness, irritability or other behavior changes
• Tiring easily
• Change in appetite
• Change in sleep pattern
• Lack of interest in favorite toys or activities
• Loss of new developmental milestones, such as toilet training
• Unsteady walking
• Blurred Vision or Sensitivity to Light
• Slurred Speech
If your child exhibits any of these symptoms after a bump on the head, take your child to your local emergency department for a complete assessment.
Bicycle Helmets — Frequently Asked Questions:
 What should you look for in a bike helmet?
• Make sure that the bike helmet meets or exceeds safety standards.
• Look for an ASTM, Snell, ANSI or CPSC certification sticker inside the helmet and on the box.
• The helmet should sit on the top of your child's head in a level position, cover his/her forehead, and not rock forward and back or from side to side.
• Bring your child to the store to try on helmets before you purchase one. Ensure that your children always ride with their helmet straps buckled.
What kind of helmet should my child wear when using a skateboard, scooter or inline skates?
• It is essential that your child wear a helmet. Sky Ridge recommends a multi-sport helmet for these "wheeled" activities, a properly-fitted bicycle helmet is just as effective.
Sky Ridge Medical Center’s mission is to provide patients and their families with extraordinary healthcare and to ensure peace of mind through high quality, compassionate treatment. Sky Ridge strives to deliver care that is “Beyond Your Expectations”.
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Feb 2010 - Heart Disease
 Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women. And, one in three heart attack patients in Emergency Departments never had symptoms! So, if you believe you could be at risk, consider HeartScores at Sky Ridge. This is a free screening with a nurse that gives you your cholesterol numbers right away, your BMI score and your blood pressure. Knowing your numbers might just save your life.
Come to a free seminar and learn about “Women and Heart Health” presented by Cinthia Bateman, MD. Click here for more information.
Know the risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, being overweight, being physically inactive, age (55 or older for women), and having a family history of early heart disease. Talk to your doctor. Find out your risk. And take action to lower it.
Appointments are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays through February from 7 to 11:30 a.m.
To schedule your life saving spot today, call 720-225-1077.
If you can’t schedule a Heart Score, the following are good questions to ask your doctor:
1. What is my risk for heart disease?
2. What screening or diagnostic tests for heart disease do I need?
3. What are my numbers and what do they mean?
- Blood pressure
- Cholesterol – total cholesterol, LDL (“lousy”) and HDL (“Happy”)
- Body mass index and waist circumference measurement
- Blood sugar level (could indicate risk for diabetes)
4. What can you do to help me quit smoking?
5. How much physical activity do I need to help protect my heart?
6. What is a heart-healthy eating plan for me?
For more information about what Sky Ridge can do for your cardio health care, CLICK HERE
For Heart Healthy Recipes and great cooking tips, CLICK HERE
HOW STRESSED ARE YOU? Take this STRESS QUIZ
For a Physician Referral, CLICK HERE
For more information about getting a Heart Score. CLICK HERE
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