Patient Testimonials

Just wanted to thank you for all you have done relieving my pain a extraordinary dr thank you.

Dr. Casas-Ganem has been my Orthopedic doctor/surgeon and Oncologist for over 6 years. HE IS THE BEST. People come from all over the world for him to fix their knees, hips, shoulders etc either for the first time, or to fix other surgeon's mess ups.

Discover what our patients have to say regarding their office visit, surgical experience or recovery process. We also encourage our existing patients to share their own experience!

"October 31, 2011 my left hip broke without any warning, I was 42 years old at that time. The next month and a half I went from one doctor to another until my orthopedic surgeon recommended Dr. Casas. I had many morbidity factors that prevented any doctor in Tarrant County from performing the operations needed. Dr. Casas quickly confirmed the diagnosis, Avascular Necrosis, and we proceeded on a course of treatment. We attempted to save the left hip so I could resume my occupation as a diesel mechanic. While I was healing from that surgery my right hip went completely out. We replaced my right hip. Then I went through PT for a while until I was strong enough to have my left hip completely replaced. Many factors went into the reasons why my left hip did not take to the attempt to save it but I am glad we at least tried. We replaced my left hip in May of 2013 and as of today I rarely have pain and only use a cane some of the time. I walk with a slight limp but both Dr. Casas and Jennifer Reed, his PA, told me that eventually I will walk without the limp. I thank God every day for Dr. Casas and everyone at Dallas Sarcoma Associates for their willingness to sacrifice so much to bring healing to people like me. I enjoy everyday and live life to the fullest. Each day I experience some situation in which I stop and think I could not do this or that because of my pain or being in a wheelchair or having some sort walking aid. I have done many things to reduce or remove my morbidity factors although some will never completely be gone. I want to thank everyone at Dallas Sarcoma Associates for guiding, helping and healing me through this part of my journey in life. When life is at it's darkest moments don't give up hope because there are Angels like the ones at Dallas Sarcoma Associates who will help you through. Blessings to All !!! "

"In 2008, I was diagnosed with Myxoid Liposarcoma and had a tumor in my left leg in my quad muscles. I was 22 years old and in great shape - totally unprepared to face cancer. I was blessed to be paired up with Dr. Casas. His bedside manner was calming and informative. He is one of those rare doctors that understands the human connection while also being a genius in his field. I felt so well supported by his network of professionals that helped review my case to make sure that the proper steps were taken to remove my cancer. Dr. Casas removed part of my quad muscle in an effort to completely remove the tumor. His judgment in the overall treatment process was excellent and he was very informative about everything he planned to do and why he planned to do or not do something. He acted cautiously and kept a close watch on me as I entered remission. He listened to even the smallest of my concerns and provided clarification or help. In 2013, I celebrated my 5 year anniversary of being cancer free by bringing a big cake and balloons into my check-up. Dr. Casas celebrated with us and we ate cake together - what a guy! I pushed myself every year to accomplish new things on my compromised left leg and that same month I ran a half-marathon! Thanks to Dr. Casas, he saved my leg and saved my life. I am so filled with joy and thankfulness to God that we were paired together. He is an excellent doctor and wonderful person."

Hip and Knee Testimonial

Life Rebuilt - New Knees, New Hips, and a New Outlook

Fifty-seven-year-old dentist Ray Tomb is a new man - from the hips down that is. Since he had both knees and hips replaced six years ago, friends, colleagues, and patients can't believe how well he gets around.

Knock-kneed since childhood, Ray didn't let an increasingly awkward gait, or knees that touched when he faced forward, stop him from playing racquetball, football, wrestling, or golf. But the intense groin pain that hit in his late 40s did. The diagnosis: avascular necrosis. The added pressure from his knee structure had been destroying his hips. His surgeon had to straighten his knees and even out his legs before repairing them.

At 51, he had three surgeries - one for both Scorpioâ knee implants, and one for each Trident® ceramic-on-ceramic hip - and was rehabilitated and walking the golf course within eight months. His swing has shifted from all arms back to his hips, and his game is better than ever. He swims and takes walks with his family on vacation instead of sitting things out. "I've just totally rebuilt my life," says Ray.

His patients, impressed with his recovery, seem to be following in his reconstructed footsteps. At least 10 have had either hips or knees replaced by the same surgeon. Several have also had both knees done at once, and couldn't be happier. Like Ray, they claim it's the best thing they could have done to bring back their quality of life.

Results not typical and may vary by individual. Not all patients will reach the same activity level.

Hip Testimonials

Not Ready for Nursing Home, Aerobic Walker is Agile Again

An aerobic walker for many years, Neva Moten, 65, felt like she'd stepped in a hole one day and never got out. Over two years, her condition worsened to the point where she couldn't put on a sock or tie her shoe. Unable to turn over in bed, she couldn't sleep at night. And once she crept downstairs in the morning she did her best to stay there until bedtime.

After trying sports medicine, rehabilitation, and a host of medications, she made her way to an orthopaedic surgeon. He explained how the cup in her once-damaged, and now arthritic, hip had worn, making one leg shorter than the other. With a 20% contracture, she was perpetually bent. "If I straightened my spine, my leg came up at the hip and knee and bent like a stork," says Neva. "And if I stood up on that leg, I bent forward at the hip and couldn't stand up straight."

Now, after Trident® ceramic hip replacement surgery, she can not only stand up straight, she can stretch out flat in bed, enjoy water aerobics, practice yoga, and walk several miles a day. "My friends just can't believe it," says Neva. "Before, I was ready for the nursing home. Now I can walk, I can stand straight, and I can smile - hip, hip hooray!"

Results not typical and may vary by individual. Not all patients will reach the same activity level.

Trident® Hip Recipient Limps No More

Rich Haydinger used to think a serious hip problem would show on the outside. So he lived with pain and limited mobility in his right hip until friends with experience told him he'd feel it "on the inside." Still, he waited until he couldn't stand it anymore to schedule the hip replacement he knew was inevitable.

"I would have to bend over so far I'd get abdominal cramps because I couldn't lift my leg up and cross it to put socks on," says Rich. "And I started wearing loafers all the time so I didn't have to tie shoes. Remember Chester from 'Gunsmoke?' He'd drag a leg and say, 'Wait for me, Marshall Dillon.' That's what I felt like."

At 61, he learned an old football injury was the root of his calcium deposits, arthritis, and bone chips. After receiving a Trident® hip with a titanium stem from "the best surgeon [he] could find," Rich put his faith in his orthopaedic team - doctors, nurses, physical therapists - and his own hard work to regain basic function. Now, after religiously following his physical therapy program, he doesn't need regular doses of Motrin to get through his day anymore. He can easily put his socks on, walk up stairs, and drive his car to oversee the apartment buildings he owns, manages, builds, and rehabs with his three sons. With no more pain and all gain, he's moving on.

Results not typical and may vary by individual. Not all patients will reach the same activity level.

"We Got Our Lives Together Back" - Active Couple Appreciates Trident® Hips

Old age, extra weight, arthritis - for years, 52-year-old Richard Sloan attributed the pain, tightness, and limited movement in his hips to anything that didn't require total hip surgery. "The idea of total hip surgery was horrifying," says Richard. "I thought, 'That's a big deal. That only happens to really old people.' "

So, while his wife, Kathy, an orthopaedic operating room nurse, rallied for hip replacement, Richard tried everything else to postpone the inevitable. He exercised through the pain, hid how much it hurt to hike, took three or four aspirins a day, and used burning analgesics to mask the "shards of glass" shooting through his joints. Rooster comb and cortisone injections offered only short-term relief.

Then, he read an article in USA Today about young people benefiting from the long-term potential of ceramics. "That's what I wanted to hear," says Richard. Two Trident® hip replacement surgeries later, Richard, a freelance writer and long-time "newspaper guy" wishes every hip pain sufferer knew what he knows now. "My wife and I can go dancing, walking, and traveling again," says Richard. "I'm feeling just incredible."

He mentioned his hips in a local newspaper article and will approach other publications, too. Kathy hopes spouses will take notice. "Patients aren't the only ones affected," she says. "While Richard was dealing with his hips, our lives together were basically taken away. When he got his total hips, he didn't just get his life back, we got our lives back. We're having so much fun. I can't tell you how much I appreciate that."

Results not typical and may vary by individual. Not all patients will reach the same activity level.

Journalist/Author Regains Youth, Credits Trident® Hips

A former television anchor and most recently the author of two popular Florida travel books, Robin Chapman, 53, is used to making appearances. For five years she gritted her teeth and appeared to be okay. But by the time she was diagnosed with advanced avascular necrosis, which had restricted the blood flow to her hips and severely deteriorated her joints, her surgeon couldn't believe she was even walking at all.

As it became increasingly difficult to get in and out of cars, sit through plane trips, ride her bicycle, go to the gym, sleep, or even walk across a room, Robin went from public personality to private pain sufferer. Now, after bilateral Trident® hip replacements, she's pain-free and back to her energetic, social self. "This surgery," says Robin, "has given me back my life."

"They say this is an elective procedure," reflects Robin, "In my case I don't think it was. For somebody like me who has led such an active life, it was a devastating picture of the future. It's tough to write travel books and make public appearances if you're in too much pain to leave your house."

Now, Robin feels she can do anything, even return to daily journalism if she'd like to, where she'd be chasing stories and rushing in and out of "live" trucks. Supported by ceramic-on-ceramic joints her surgeon calls "as beautiful as a German sports car," she's regaining lost time. "And now if you average the age of all my body parts," she says, "I am actually younger than I was before!"

Results not typical and may vary by individual. Not all patients will reach the same activity level.

Exeter® Total Hip Proves Excellent Choice for Active Orthopaedic Industry Consultant

According to orthopaedic consultant and sales education instructor John Tilling, his symptoms were "textbook" osteoarthritis. Hours spent on squash, racquetball, and tennis courts had contributed to the gradual deterioration of his hip joint surfaces. After enduring 10 years of progressive pain and increasingly limited movement, he took the advice of the orthopaedic surgeons he works with and agreed it was time to "get that hip fixed."

When it came to choosing a surgeon, hospital, and hip system, he was in familiar territory. As a former Stryker sales rep, he had worked with the surgeon who designed the Exeter® hip system. Over the years, he had been involved in Exeter® workshops, observed Exeter® surgeries, listened to papers, and reviewed clinical results. However, even though he had a lot of confidence in the system, he knew it was most important to find the best and most experienced surgeon and let him recommend the implant.

His search took him back to the United Kingdom and the hospital in the city of Exeter® where it all began in 1968. Three years after receiving a hybrid Stryker Orthopaedics total hip device, consisting of an Exeter® hip stem and an ABG®* pressfit titanium cup, this 67-year-old is making the most of his newfound mobility and has resumed his life.

His left hip will most likely need replacing in the not-too-distant future. He is confident the results will be more of the same.

Results not typical and may vary by individual. Not all patients will reach the same activity level.

Knee Testimonials

Passionate Outdoorsman Gets His Active Life Back

"One day I was up in Alba skiing in two feet of fresh powder on a beautiful sunny day, and I couldn't even finish a run, my knee hurt so badly." Dave Edwards is a passionate outdoorsman who especially loves the thrill of skiing, fishing, and pushing life to the edge. But when pain forced him off the slopes, it was time for Dave to take a look at getting his knee joint replaced. "The pain got so intense, I just couldn't do any of the activities I wanted to do, and for me that's not living anymore."

Dave noticed the improvement immediately after his operation. "The moment I woke up from surgery, I noticed the arthritis pain I'd been suffering all along was gone." Because Dave had previous work done on the knee, his recovery was a little more demanding than most, but Dave toughed it out. "I just knew I had to hang in there." And he's glad he did.

Now recovered, Dave is thankful to have his active life back. "To just walk in the stream when I'm fishing used to kill me. Now it's pleasant again."

Dave has learned to rely on his new Stryker knee and is quite pleasantly surprised by the strength and functionality. "It's become my strong leg rather than my weak leg."

In fact, the surgery was so successful, he is now considering having his other knee replaced. "I'm quite impressed with the Stryker knee itself."

Just like Jack Nicklaus, Dave is quite pleased to have his life back. "I'm back to the level of activity I've always enjoyed."

Results not typical and may vary by individual. Not all patients will reach the same activity level.

Auctioneer Sold on New Stryker Knees

Seventy-year-old Remmer Schuetz is not a man who sits on his laurels. But after 15 years of suffering from knee pain, that's just what the Dundee, IL, resident had resigned himself to doing. An active auctioneer and expert restorer of antique tractors, Remmer became accustomed to keeping his eye out for a nearby chair. "My knees were worn out from years of abuse - too much hard work. It got to the point where I would just drop. All I could do was look for a place to sit down. I was always looking for a place to sit down - it hurt just to stand up," explained Remmer.

"When I could hardly walk, and it got to the point where it was slowing me down to nothing, I knew I had to do something. It was no way to live. So you start asking everyone you see who's had joint replacement what their experience was like. My neighbor had it done with Dr. Schroeder and had an excellent experience, so I went to see him." Dr. Schroeder suggested partial knee replacement to rid just the diseased portion of Remmer's knee. "You've got to trust your doctor and like your doctor. Dr. Schroeder explained everything to me and didn't use any terminology that would have left me confused. I'm just a farm boy who's worked in dirt and iron all my life, but when he was through showing me the X-ray and explaining what he wanted to do, I understood everything."

After undergoing a successful Stryker EIUS® Uni Knee System procedure on his right knee, he went back to get his left knee done less than a year later. "I had my surgery on a Friday at 7 a.m. and was home by 4 p.m. That Monday I went to see my surgeon who removed my brace. Tuesday I threw my walker away. Wednesday I threw my cane away. The following Friday I moderated two auctions and felt great."

In addition to auctioneering, Remmer has over 50 Case tractors with the oldest being from 1918 to the newest, which is from 1963. Through his skills and passion, all of his tractors run perfectly well. To restore these antiques, Remmer is constantly bending and squatting, which had been painful for him before he underwent partial knee replacement.

Moderating three auctions a month where he sells anything and everything, Remmer was used to standing all day long. Even when he was in pain he never missed one. "I would just grit my teeth and go out there. I would sit if I had to. Now I can go to an auction and be on my feet from 7 in the morning to 7 at night and not be in pain. I'm not like I was when I was 20, but I'm 70. I farm a bit, bale hay, load hay, and drive tractors. I still put in 12-hour days. I'm active, and I am no longer in pain."

Results not typical and may vary by individual. Not all patients will reach the same activity level.

From Falling to Strolling: EUIS® Knee Puts New Spring in 51-Year-Old's Step

Ever since she broke her kneecap at age 13, Brenda Jackson's knee has been a problem. By her mid 30s, it was a constant annoyance. Through her 40s, her knee would swell, pop, lock, cramp, and often give out - a potentially dangerous situation. When, at 51, her knee suddenly let go and she hit her head against a screw on the basement wall, she ended up with three stitches and a firm date for implant surgery.

Her EIUS® unicondylar, or partial, knee from Stryker Orthopaedics has her back in higher heels and taking on stairs with confidence for the first time in years. "I used to be able to hear myself walking," says Brenda. "It was like somebody gritting their teeth and it really got on my nerves." Now, she is walking quietly, painlessly, and in stylish shoes she can actually fit into since the swelling went away.

Brenda had put off surgery until she could no longer stand the pain or risk falling again and not getting up. Now, she wonders what took her so long. She says she would tell anyone in her situation to "go for it." She's glad she did.

Results not typical and may vary by individual. Not all patients will reach the same activity level.

Arthritic Knees Get Scorpio® Treatment - Full Speed Ahead!

Sixty-two-year-old Dolores Bush had always had a "little problem" with her knees. For a while, twice-yearly cortisone shots seemed to keep her advancing arthritis at bay. But when she began taking regular doses of Advil just to get through the day and more to bowl at night, her husband, Charlie, a team leader in the Stryker Orthopaedics Technical Services area, convinced her to investigate further.

When a surgeon told her both knees were now severely arthritic, bone-on-bone, and that one had an inch-long gap, she was stunned. "I had no idea my knees were that bad," says Dolores. "You just learn to live with the pain. I wasn't even thinking of knee replacement."

After discussing with family - including her 28-year-old daughter, Nicole, and 39-year-old son, Charlie, who works in Stryker's Spine division - she scheduled surgery for bilateral Scorpio® total knee replacements. Waking up without pain was her first sign of good things to come. After several months of therapy, she is back to driving, walking without a cane, working, and, maybe most importantly, bowling with her team.

For Charlie, his wife's progress is both personally and professionally rewarding. "Over 30 years of working in implant manufacturing, I've always felt I was having a positive impact on someone's life and well-being," says Charlie. Now he knows for sure.

Results not typical and may vary by individual. Not all patients will reach the same activity level.

More Movement, More Quickly, Less Pain: A Winning Equation for Minimally Invasive Total Knee Recipient

Now that 62-year-old Errol Smith has had minimally invasive total knee surgery, he can't imagine any other way. After recovering from his June 2004 Scorpio® implant much more quickly and with less pain than his other knee in 1999, he predicts minimally invasive becoming the way of the future.

The first few months made the difference. "Once the first knee healed, it was great," says Errol. "But with a much smaller incision, I didn't need as much pain medication, and my hospital stay was two days versus five. I was able to walk on my knee immediately after waking up and do a lot of things sooner."

For instance, three months post-surgery he joined his wife, a military officer stationed in Kuwait, for "R&R" in Europe, where they hiked trails and walked through pedestrian-friendly cities. A retired teacher and publishing house editor, Errol now concentrates on remodeling his house and making the most of all of his surgeries, including a double heart bypass.

"I ought to be in good shape for a while if I just maintain it," he says. "It was hard with my aching knee. Now I can use a cross trainer and walk at least nine holes of golf." He adds, "I tell people that nature's not going to reverse it. Shark pills and other 'natural' treatments will not reverse the damage, whether it's from an injury, old age, or osteoarthritis. The sooner you have joint replacement surgery the more quickly you can recover. Why wait?"

Results not typical and may vary by individual. Not all patients will reach the same activity level.

The Difference Stryker Knees Make

Most individuals have a passion in life; for Judy Gigliotti it's the pleasure and enjoyment she derives from spending time in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Two of Judy's favorite wilderness activities include mountain hiking and fly-fishing with her husband.

In 1992, Judy began to experience discomfort in her knees. She tolerated this pain until she could no longer enjoy her hobbies. Total knee replacements were recommended, and Judy had Johnson & Johnson PFC® knees implanted. Judy did well with her replaced knees and was able to resume her outdoor activities.

In late 1999, Judy began to experience discomfort in one of her replaced knees and scheduled an appointment to meet with one of Colorado Springs' orthopaedic surgeons, Dr. William Ciccone II of the Bone and Surgery Center in Colorado. After evaluating Judy, he determined that she had worn out her original poly insert to such an extent that significant osteolysis (bone loss) had set in. Dr. Ciccone determined that immediate intervention was needed. If the original total knee was not replaced, she could suffer a debilitating fracture. Judy was again scheduled for surgery.

In just a few months, after extensive rehabilitation and effort, Judy was walking around unaided by a cane or crutches. By the fifth month, Judy had regained full mobility with virtually no limp. Judy claims she has as much flexibility as she ever had. To test her progress, this 67-year-old hiked a mile and a half up the Mount Crested Butte ski area in Western Colorado and began fly-fishing once again. Five months after her revision surgery, Judy has been reunited with her passion, the streams of the Rocky Mountains and all they have to offer.

Here's what Judy had to say about her experience: "I am very happy with the result of my new knee and am extremely grateful to the people of Stryker Orthopaedics for developing this wonderful device that has allowed me to enjoy the things I like to do again."

Results not typical and may vary by individual. Not all patients will reach the same activity level.

Catch Him if You Can: Scorpio Knees Give Electrician/Farmer New Lease on Life

Now that Jim Baty, 55, is back in action, his wife says it's rare to find him sitting down. After years of being in so much pain that he had to sleep in a chair, Jim seems intent to stay out of one.

Four days after surgery to replace both severely arthritic knees with Scorpio® Single Axis Total Knee systems, Jim felt well enough to attend an employee's wedding. Six days after surgery he drove his pickup truck. And in less than two weeks he rode a four-wheeler and a skid loader on his 670 acres of farmland. Within three months, Jim went back to work as an electrical contractor - crawling on his knees, climbing ladders, and pushing his son, who is also his business partner, to keep up with him.

Jim had been living with bad knees for about 15 years. When the cortisone shots, glucosamine, Synvisc, and pain killers that had been keeping him going stopped working, Jim knew he had to "do something" to keep his life, livelihood, and sanity on track. Once his surgeon told him the Scorpio® knee could get him back to working, hunting, walking, bicycling, and being active in general, he didn't hesitate to act.

"There's practically nothing I can't do right now," says Jim. "I attribute all my success to the Scorpio® knee and to my surgeon. If I had known the outcome would be like this, I'd have had the surgery 10 years ago. This is truly the greatest thing that's ever happened to me."

Results not typical and may vary by individual. Not all patients will reach the same activity level.

Minimally Invasive Knee Surgery Makes Nana's Grandchildren Proud

"Nana walks funny." For Sally Dowaliby, 71, these kinds of comments from her grandchildren and others finally convinced her to do something about the arthritis in her knees that made her walk with a pronounced limp and take steps one painful stair at a time.

"I didn't really think I needed a knee replacement," says Sally. "But everybody else did." Finding out she could have minimally invasive surgery with a top notch local surgeon convinced her "now's the time." She says that the new minimally invasive procedure is "unbelievable."

Sally left the hospital shortly after surgery, and was off pain medication and left her walker behind soon thereafter. "My recovery was phenomenally fast," she says. "It's amazing!" Now walking straighter, she has eliminated problems with her left ankle and heel, and doesn't think she'll need surgery on her right knee.

Married 44 years, she is looking forward to spending more active time traveling with her retired golf-pro husband, and keeping up with their three grown children and eight grandchildren. She may even take up golf now that her bad knee no longer impedes her swing. But her greatest reward is the day-to-day difference. "Nana, you're walking normal now," the little ones say. It doesn't get much better than that.

Results not typical and may vary by individual. Not all patients will reach the same activity level.

After the Pain, It's Back to Business for Union Benefits Worker

Now that pain is no longer a focal point in Shirley Spriggs' life, she can accomplish many things - like walking to work, squatting to pick things up from the floor, and sleeping comfortably through the night. For Shirley, life with her Scorpio® total knee replacement is more "normal" than it's been since she was hit by a car in 1989.

Initially, emergency microsurgery saved her legs. The steel beams and plates inserted restored restricted function. Her left knee, however, which had required additional surgery, continued to grow more stiff, swollen, and painful. While the scars healed on the outside, at night she lay awake from "throbbing like people were playing African drums inside my legs."

In her role managing computers for a union's benefits program, she kept hearing about a "miracle surgery" which had restored pain-free mobility for several clients. She sought out their surgeon, a specialist with the skill and experience to offer more options than the pain medications she had been given.

At 55, she chose implant surgery over early disability. She no longer needs pain pills, and gave up babying her leg soon after surgery. The limp she tried to conceal for years is gone, and she continues to work on building strength and endurance. Most of all, she is glad to be back on her feet and back to business. To her, that is the real "miracle."

Results not typical and may vary by individual. Not all patients will reach the same activity level.

New Knee Brings Renewed Ability to 54-Year-Old Hospital Worker

At 54, Sophie Webster was too young for total disability. For years she had gotten by on her painful leg - avoiding stairs and taking lots of ibuprofen. Finally, when the swelling in her knee didn't go down after three days of rest and elevation, she felt it was time to act.

Within three months, she had been diagnosed with noninflammatory degenerative arthritis and scheduled for surgery. Now that her surgeon has replaced her bone-on-bone joint with a Stryker EIUS® unicompartmental knee, she is back on her feet and back to business. Sophie believes her faith is what saw her through her surgery and continues to guide her as she heals.

A registered central service technician for 34 years, Sophie spends hours standing, sterilizing medical instruments, and stocking hospital floors with patient supplies. Working with her supervisor, she was always saying, "Let's catch the elevator." Now when her boss goes for the elevator, Sophie says, "No, let's walk down instead." And that is an ability she is most grateful for.

Results not typical and may vary by individual. Not all patients will reach the same activity level.

Standing Tall Again with a Stryker Knee

Dr. Richard Lackman, Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, is an Orthopaedic Oncologist who specializes in treating patients with bone and soft tissue tumors. He has been doing limb-sparing surgery for over 20 years and is world renowned as a leading clinician, researcher, and educator in his field. Dr. Lackman has used the Stryker Orthopaedics Modular Replacement System in almost every segmental replacement procedure he has performed.

One of Dr. Lackman's patients, 18-year-old Danielle Naylor, was diagnosed with a tumor in her distal femur when she was 15. Danielle underwent 23 months of chemotherapy in total. After her first session of chemotherapy was done and the tumor was more manageable, Dr. Lackman performed a knee replacement with the Modular Replacement System. During her battle with cancer, Danielle was diagnosed with a spot in one of her lungs, and it was removed and found to be benign. Several months later, another spot was found, and it was malignant. It was removed, and Danielle has been on an unbelievable road to recovery.

Danielle's mom wanted to make sure that everyone at Stryker Orthopaedics understands how their work impacts real people and real lives, just like hers and Danielle's, every day. "It's not just a box that's being sent out the door. Thanks to the implants that you make, my daughter is still standing tall."

Results not typical and may vary by individual. Not all patients will reach the same activity level.

Back on Track With Her Stryker Knee

Ten years ago, while walking through the trails of Tyler State Park in Pennsylvania with her husband, Susan Thompson experienced some left leg pain. Convinced arthritis was causing this pain, she brushed it off and thought she was just getting old. When the pain persisted, she sought medical attention through her family doctor.

When an X-ray had revealed a tumor on her left femur, she was referred to Dr. Richard Lackman, an Orthopaedic Oncologist. After undergoing a bone biopsy, she added the word chonrosarcoma to her vocabulary. She had bone cancer and needed surgery to remove it. Dr. Lackman's renowned medical and surgical expertise in this field, and his calm and reassuring demeanor would see her through. Surgery was performed and her cancer was removed.

Dr. Lackman replaced her knee with Stryker Orthopaedics replacement parts. The physical therapy that followed was hard and painful, but Susan remained determined to resume her active life. When she completed the therapy, she returned to work to shift her focus from her leg to work at hand. With her new leg working great, she soon returned to life as usual. This "Bionic Mom" continues to lead a very full and active life.

Results not typical and may vary by individual. Not all patients will reach the same activity level.