First Total Ankle Replacement Surgery Performed in Lake County, Illinois

Dr. Anand Vora, an Illinois Bone and Joint Institute (IBJI) orthopaedic physician, performed the first total ankle replacement surgery in Lake County on Lake Villa resident John Wedge at Lake Forest Hospital on September 30th of 2008 in Lake Forest.

Morton Grove, IL (PRWEB) April 1, 2009 -- Dr. Anand Vora, an Illinois Bone and Joint Institute (IBJI) orthopaedic physician, performed the first total ankle replacement surgery in Lake County on Lake Villa resident John Wedge at Lake Forest Hospital on September 30th of 2008 in Lake Forest.

John Wedge, a retired carpenter, cabinetmaker and former semi-pro football player, suffers from arthritis. For the past eight years, Wedge has undergone surgeries on his hips and both of his knees. The need for these surgeries delayed surgery on his left ankle. By the time his ankle surgery was scheduled, his ankle joint was completely worn out by arthritis and his bones were rubbing bone on bone when he walked.

A board-certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle disorders and injuries, Dr. Vora, who primarily works out of the IBJI Libertyville office, used a newer generation ankle replacement device called the Salto Talaris. The new implant is more like a normal ankle joint and requires less bone removal than previous versions of the device. Those two features result in a replacement that moves more like a normal ankle.

"The advances in the technology are exciting because it translates into better post-surgical outcomes for patients," said Dr. Vora. "And really, it's the improvement in a patient's health that is most gratifying to me as a physician." The Salto Talaris implant design and instrumentation is founded on the Salto mobile-bearing ankle prosthesis which has been in clinical use since 1997.

Dr. Vora has a history of firsts in ankle replacement surgery. In 2006, Dr. Vora performed the first ankle replacement surgery using this type of implant in Illinois. The surgery was performed on Reverend Fred Krauss, a retired minister of the United Church of Christ. Reverend Krauss had ministered in churches in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and central Wisconsin. Performing his duties had become difficult because of severe osteoarthritis which caused a complete loss of cartilage in his right ankle.

The Illinois Bone and Joint Institute is an orthopaedic medical practice that specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and management of injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal system. IBJI has over 90 physicians and over 90 rehabilitation therapists at over 25 locations throughout the Chicagoland area. IBJI has four locations in Lake County.

For further information on the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute write to Illinois Bone and Joint Institute 8930 Waukegan Road Suite 200 Morton Grove, IL 60053, call 847-324-3975 or visit www.ibji.com.

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