February 23, 2010, Athens, OH - Lawrence M. Rubens, MD performs partial knee replacement surgery utilizing the Oxford® Partial Knee System and is the only surgeon in the Athens area certified to perform this revolutionary “rapid recovery” surgical procedure.

Leading surgeons in Oxford, England, along with engineers at Biomet, headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, developed the partial knee system. The implant procedure removes 75% less bone than total knee replacement and allows for a more rapid recovery with less pain and more natural motion.

The Oxford® Partial Knee is the only FDA-approved free floating meniscal partial knee system available in the United States and has been utilized throughout Europe for more than two decades.

Often recognized as the most widely used and clinically proven partial knee system in the world, the Oxford® Partial Knee System has demonstrated excellent clinical results. Surgeons in the U.S. now have access to this system whose clinical results have equaled that of the most successful total knee replacements.

Unlike total knee replacement involving removal of all the knee joint surfaces, a partial knee replacement replaces only one side of the knee joint. Knee osteoarthritis usually occurs first in the medial (inside) compartment, as this side of the knee bears most of the weight. In knees that are otherwise healthy, a partial approach allows the outer compartment and all ligaments to remain intact. By retaining all of the healthy parts, the joint may function more naturally.

In a healthy knee, the meniscal cartilage serves as a shock absorber between the ends of the bones. The Oxford® Partial Knee is the first partial implant with an artificial meniscal bearing designed to glide freely throughout the knee’s range of motion to more closely replicate normal movement. The free floating nature of the device also greatly improves durability of the implant.

The Oxford® System offers a precisely instrumented system designed to balance the soft tissues and to accurately reproduce normal knee motion. The Oxford® Partial Knee may also allow for a more rapid recovery due to the use of minimally invasive instrumentation and technique. With proper use of the Oxford® instruments, the operation can be performed through a small incision with great precision. Dr. Rubens has completed advanced instructional courses on the device as required by the FDA.

“My patients generally walk within hours of surgery and are discharged to home within 24 hours requiring nothing more than oral pain medication,” said Dr. Rubens. “This system offers my patients superior quality and the rapid recovery they are seeking”.

Certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Dr. Rubens gained his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, completed his Internship at the University of California in San Diego, California and conducted his residency at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. He completed fellowships at the University of Nevada in Reno, Nevada and the University of Saarland in Homburg, Germany. He is proficient in use of both surgical and non-surgical methods of treatment for musculoskeletal trauma, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors, and congenital conditions.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Rubens or a complete list of services call Holzer Clinic Athens at 740-589-3100 or visit us on the web at www.holzerclinic.com.

Holzer Clinic… Medical Excellence, Local Caring.

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Holzer Clinic is a multiple discipline health care system of over 140 board certified physicians providing care in more than thirty areas of expertise. With nine locations throughout southeastern Ohio and western West Virginia, Holzer Clinic provides “Medical Excellence, coupled with Local Caring”.

Holzer Clinic is accredited by the Accreditation Association of Ambulatory Health Care.

If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please contact MarJean Kennedy @ 740-441-3288 or MKennedy@holzerclinic.com