Wireless Monitoring Orthopaedics

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 18, 2008
Contact: Karen Warmkessel kwarmkessel@umm.edu 410-328-8919
Ellen Beth Levitt eblevitt@umm.edu 410-328-8919

WIRELESS TELEMETRY PROVIDES ROUND-THE-CLOCK MONITORING FOR UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND ORTHOPAEDIC PATIENTS

Mobile technology benefits people undergoing physical therapy after joint replacement surgery

The University of Maryland Medical Center's new inpatient orthopaedics unit has a state-of-the-art wireless monitoring system that enables the staff to check patients' vital signs 24 hours a day, even during exercise or physical therapy.

Patients are outfitted with a small transmitter, which they carry in a pouch on a strap around their neck. The transmitter is connected to a blood pressure cuff and pulse/oxygen meter and produces a stream of data that is displayed on computer monitors throughout the unit. An alarm alerts the staff to any irregularity in breathing, heart rhythm, pulse, blood oxygen levels or blood pressure.

"This technology is a real plus for all of our patients, but it is particularly beneficial for older patients who have had surgery to replace their damaged joints," says Vincent D. Pellegrini, Jr., M.D., chief of orthopaedics at the University of Maryland Medical Center and professor and chairman of orthopaedics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

"The system gives us important insight into patients' ability to tolerate exercise right after joint replacement surgery, which makes their physical therapy safer and more effective and promotes a speedy and full recovery," Dr. Pellegrini says. He adds that few orthopaedic inpatient units across the country have this technology. "We hope to set the standard of care nationally."

He notes that blood loss during joint replacement surgery can result in low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat or low red blood cell count, and some patients may need blood transfusions. Many patients, particularly seniors, may also have other health issues, such as heart disease or diabetes, which can complicate their recovery.

"What activity is safe and appropriate after surgery for an 80-year-old or 90-year-old individual? There are no firm guidelines," Dr. Pellegrini says. "This mobile monitoring system provides an additional measure of safety for our patients and will allow us to define guidelines around the need for blood transfusion after major orthopaedic surgery."

A celebration to mark the opening of the new orthopaedics unit, located on the sixth floor of the medical center's Gudelsky Building, will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on April 21, 2008.

The unit, which has a small gym and newly renovated private rooms, is staffed by nurses and physical and occupational therapists specially trained to care for orthopaedic patients. Patients receive physical therapy seven days a week - twice a day on weekdays and once a day on the weekends - without having to leave the unit.

Pauline Esoga, R.N., the senior partner on the unit, says that the portable monitoring system, which is made by a Japanese company, Nihon Kohden, lets the staff know immediately when a patient is having difficulty. Before, if someone became dizzy while exercising, the staff would have to stop and check the patient's blood pressure and other vital signs to try to figure out the cause. Now, they can tell right away if the problem is related to an issue such as low blood pressure or a low red blood cell count.

"We can keep a closer eye on our patients, whether they are in their rooms, walking in the hallway or receiving physical therapy in the gym, and intervene quickly if we need to," Esoga says.

As the Baby Boomer generation gets older, the demand for total joint replacement surgery is growing, experts say. The number of cases - especially for knee and hip replacements - is expected to increase dramatically in the next 25 years.

Dr. Pellegrini notes that surgeons in his department handle many complicated surgeries involving an older, high-risk population. More than two-thirds of the surgeries are procedures to repair or replace artificial joints, which are called revision surgeries.

University of Maryland Orthopaedics provides comprehensive multidisciplinary care for musculoskeletal conditions in patients of all ages. Doctors specialize in treating injuries to the foot and ankle, hand surgery, total joint replacement (hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist and fingers), spine surgery, shoulder and elbow injuries, trauma, pediatric orthopaedics and sports medicine. For more information, go to http://www.umm.edu/orthopaedic/index.htm.

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This page was last updated on: April 18, 2008.