Our Specialties Include
Non-Surgical Procedures Joint Reconstruction- Total Hip Joint Replacement
- Total Knee Joint Replacement
- Shoulder Joint Replacement
- Hip Resurfacing
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Arthritis Surgery
- Arthroscopic Surgery
- Sports Medicine
- Custom Fit Knee Replacement
- Carpal Tunnel
- Microsurgical Reconstruction
- Hand Trauma and Replantation of Severed Digits
- Surgical Treatment of Fractures of the Wrist
- Disc Herniations
- Vertebral Fractures
- Scoliosis
- Osteoarthritis
- Degenerative Spine Diseases of the Neck and Back
- Plantar Fasciitis, Heel Spurs
- Bunions and Forefoot Deformity
- Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle
- Disorders of the Achilles Tendon and Ruptures
- Ankle Pain, Swelling, Locking, or Instability
- Pain, Swelling, and Disability of the Midfoot (Arch) or Heel
- Pain in the Ball of the Foot (Forefoot), Hammertoes, Morton's Neuroma
- Diabetic Foot and Ankle Conditions – Neuropathy, Ulcers, Charcot Foot
- Nerve Disorders of the Foot and Ankle – Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome, Morton's Neuroma, Compressive Neuropathies
In the News: Wounded Knees: Dr. Zelicof on News 12 Long Island
Part 1: Total Knee Replacement as a Solution to Arthritic Knees
A simple task like making a cup of tea is very difficult for Miriam Rios. “To make something in the kitchen, my supper, I couldn’t do it. It was very, very painful.”
Miriam’s orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Steven Zelicof, says the cartilage which acts as a shock absorber has worn away in Miriam’s knees, so the bones are rubbing together with every step she takes.
“You can get pain, you can get instability where the joint tends to buckle a little bit. You can get swelling, crunching, grinding, just a feeling of discomfort.”
Miriam has undergone at least five arthroscopic surgeries over the years to treat the problem, but Dr. Zelicof says at this point, the only solution is complete knee replacement. Miriam agrees.
“I am a very active person. So for me, to do something and go sit down, it’s not life.”
The surgery involves shaving off a portion of the ends of the thigh and shin bones, then creating grooves for the prosthesis to fit in.
“We sort of seat it right inside the bone, and that locks it into place – nice and snuggly. Then we put the piece right on top of the femur. Once that’s locked in, that allows the knee to move smoothly.”
In addition to a prosthesis that is now made to last longer and fit better, Dr. Zelicof and his surgical team at Sound Shore Medical Center in New Rochelle have another instrument that takes the operation to a whole new level.
This computer, called the Stryker Navigational System, allows surgeons to place the prosthesis with a level of accuracy never seen before.
“The computer can tell us exactly where we are in terms of the size, where we need to be in terms of how much bone we need to take out, and that makes a huge difference.”
After being prepped and saying goodbye to her husband, Miriam is wheeled into the operating room, on her way to a more active life.
“I am a little nervous. But meanwhile, I said ‘this is the best thing I could do for myself.’”
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