Martin Memorial Hosts Screening Event to Promote Healthy Weight for Adults

An estimated 66 percent of American adults between the ages of 20 and 74 are overweight or obese -- a number that has continued to climb in recent years. Unfortunately, people who are overweight or obese also have higher risks for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and sleep apnea.

Because of the potential health issues being overweight or obese poses, Martin Memorial will be hosting a health screening event on Saturday, Feb. 27 that is designed to provide information on the importance of maintaining a healthy weight, as well as actions that can help accomplish that goal.

The event will take place from 7 to 11 a.m. at Martin Memorial Medical Center, located at 200 S.E. Hospital Ave. in Stuart. Attendees can browse informational tables and speak directly to experts on weight controls, weight loss and other health-realted issues.

The screening will include:

• Personal BMI calculation
• Blood glucose level test
• Cholesterol test
• Blood pressure check

There will also be a panel discussion from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., featuring nutritionists, a diabetes counselor, staff from the Martin Memorial weight-management program, bariatric surgeons and sleep center clinicians.

Registration is required and can be made by calling 1-866-361-HOPE (4673). The screening event costs $25 and space is limited.

Fourth Annual Fleet Feet Run for Your Heart a Success

More than 200 runners braved chilly conditions on Feb. 13 to compete in the fourth annual Fleet Feet Run for Your Heart 5K in Stuart. Proceeds from the event benefit the Frances Langford Heart Center.

Awards were provided for top male and female overall finishers, male and female masters division finishers, as well as first, second and third places for each division. And for the first time, the event was chip timed by AccuChip.

David Cook of Port St. Lucie (left) was the overall winner, while Allison O'Neil of Edwards, Colo. was the top female finisher.

Thank you to Fleet Feet for hosting this race and helping Martin Memorial continue to provide lifesaving heart care to residents of the Treasure Coast.

New Technology Helps Surgeons Perform Robotic Arm Guided Knee Surgery

Osteoarthritis affects millions of people each year and is one of the leading reasons for total knee replacements.

However, innovative new technology is now available at Martin Memorial that allows orthopedic surgeons to perform a minimally invasive partial knee resurfacing procedure for early to mid-stage osteoarthritis of the knee. MAKOplasty®, powered by the RIO Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic system, provides incredible precision and improved results for partial knee resurfacing.

Martin Memorial is the first hospital on the Treasure Coast to have MAKOplasty®, with the closest facility in Broward County. (See NewsChannel 5 video report of the procedure here).

“Using the MAKOplasty® technique, the surgeon can plan and perform a virtual surgery on the computer before going to the OR, and then carry out the plan using the robotic arm system to allow a degree of precision never before possible,” said Scott M. Desman, MD, an orthopedic surgeon on staff at Martin Memorial. “This allows for a truly minimally invasive procedure that speeds recovery in the short term, and most importantly will improve the durability for better long term results.”

Through innovative technology, MAKOplasty® is able to improve the level of precision with partial knee resurfacing. During a MAKOplasty® procedure, surgeons utilize a robotic arm and a 3-D virtual visualization system to facilitate optimal joint resurfacing and implant positioning.

The system provides the surgeon with 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, acoustic and visual feedback limits the bone preparation to the diseased areas and provides for the best possible positioning and placement of the implant for each individual patient.

“MAKOplasty allows us to treat patients with knee osteoarthritis at earlier stages and with greater precision,” said Norman A. Palmeri, MD, an orthopedic surgeon on staff at Martin Memorial. “Because it is less invasive and more of the patient’s natural knee remains, the goal is for patients to have more natural knee motion post-operatively.”

MAKOplasty® can be performed to treat osteoarthritis on two parts of the knee: the medial (inner) portion, the patellofemoral (front) portion, or the lateral (outer) portion of the knee. It can also be performed as a bicompartmental procedure on both the inner and top portions of the knee. Most MAKOplasty® patients experience a shorter hospital stay, quicker rehabilitation and a smaller scar. In addition, many are able to return to an active lifestyle within weeks of the procedure.

For more information, patients can call 1-866-361-HOPE (4673).