Need a New Knee? This Doctor's Hands Can Ease Your Pain

By Tracy Simons | Silver Cross Hospital

Gerald Kuchta’s knee had bothered him for years. It hurt to walk, stand, and even ride his Harley-Davidson full dresser FLHT Standard. His arthritis had finally gotten the best of him. The 74-year-old New Lenox man was at the VFW when a friend told him about Dr. Robert Daley, one of the Chicago area’s leading orthopaedic surgeons in Total Hip Replacement, Minimally Invasive Hip and Knee Replacement and Knee Arthroscopy.

Dr. Daley performed Chicago White Sox great Bo Jackson’s total hip replacement and artificial knee replacement surgery on Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Dan Hampton.

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Kuchta decided to give Dr. Daley a try and scheduled an appointment in his office with Hinsdale Orthopaedics on the Silver Cross Hospital campus at I-355 and Route 6 in New Lenox.

“After meeting him, I made up my mind right then and there to get my knee fixed once and for all,” Kuchta exclaimed.

X-rays and MRI scans showed Kuchta had severe osteoarthritis and needed his right knee totally replaced. Within weeks, Kuchta was scheduled for surgery at Silver Cross Hospital, a Blue Distinction Center+ for Knee and Hip Replacement. To prepare, Kuchta and his wife attended Silver Cross’ free Joints Matter class where they learned exactly what to anticipate before and after the surgery.

On May 12, 2015, Dr. Daley replaced Kuchta’s knee using minimally invasive techniques and patient specific instrumentation.

“Gerald’s knee surgery was designed to his specific anatomy,” said Dr. Daley, who has performed thousands of total and partial knee replacements.

Using special software, Dr. Daley uploaded Kuchta’s MRI and X-ray images to map out his anatomy and re-establish true alignment of the knee for an exact fit of his implant. Then, personalized surgical cutting guides and the durable implant were created to match the outer shape and contours of Kuchta’s knee joint bones.

“This patient-matching technology allowed me to precisely position Gerald’s knee implant, preserve more bone, provide added stability, and reduce pain as well as anesthesia time, minimizing the risk of any infection,” added Dr. Daley.

Several hours following surgery, Kuchta was cared for in one of Silver Cross’ spacious private rooms where he began his recovery with physical therapists from The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago at Silver Cross before going home the next day. After eight weeks of additional therapy, Kuchta dusted off his bike and is back on the road.

“I was amazed at how quickly Gerald has recuperated,” said his wife, Fran. “He reached the desired range to bend his knee just three weeks after surgery. He exercised and iced his knee regularly and took very little pain medications. With hard work, Dr. Daley and the team at Silver Cross, it’s like he’s a new man.”

Learn more about knee replacement surgery at a free ACHES & PAINS: Knee Pain program Tuesday, Oct. 13, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Silver Cross Hospital Conference Center, 1890 Silver Cross Blvd., New Lenox. Dr. Daley will discuss the latest minimally invasive knee replacement surgical techniques allowing for a precise fit of the knee implant, increased bone preservation, added stability, and reduced pain. Register to attend at www.silvercross.org or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325).