Neurologic & Orthopedic Hospital Blog — Drs. Cerullo & Sheinkop, Chicago

NOHC’s Stand on Direct-to-Consumer Advertising

March 28, 2008 – 2:22 pm
Does direct-to-consumer advertising improve patient education or simply increase profits for those who pay to market? Until recently, a patient would be referred to an orthopedic surgeon by a family physician, a family member or a friend. Then came the era of managed care and choices were based on third party payer pre-certification and approval. More recently, the patient has looked to patient information educational initiatives as found on the Internet or in the media. But now it is direct advertising such as direct-to-consumer marketing to be found every year at this time in the non-professional magazines and National Inquirers for sale when you check out at your local drug and grocery store. While the benefits and downsides of direct-to-consumer advertising is currently being debated within the policymaking arena, we at the Neurologic & Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago (NOHC) believe that every patient should have a consultation if so desired to ...

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Genuine Patient-Physician Relationships at NOHC

March 17, 2008 – 9:07 am
Orthopedic patients who are to undergo hip or knee replacement procedures should be aware of the recent settlement agreements between five orthopedic implant manufacturers and the U.S. Department of Justice. These settlements require that the orthopedic implant manufacturers post information on their financial relationships to orthopedic surgeons without any explanation as to why the payments were made. In addition, under terms of the settlement agreements, all companies are required to now post information on indirect payments to surgeons. The relationship between orthopedic surgeons and industry is seen as important and necessary, but it must be carefully scrutinized to avoid the pitfalls of real or perceived conflicts of interest that could ultimately affect your care. In late September, four orthopedic manufacturing companies entered into Deferred Prosecution Agreements, agreeing to pay civil settlements amounting to a total of $311 million. All companies will be subject to oversight by a federal monitor. Because of the ...

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Brain Tumors in General

March 17, 2008 – 8:53 am
Brain tumors are becoming increasingly common. Perhaps it’s because more people are undergoing MR & CT scans of the head for headaches or after traumatic injuries. Perhaps it’s because people are living longer. Possibly it’s because people with cancer are surviving their disease throughout the body only to be stricken by a metastasis to the brain. And then there are the questions of environmental influences like cell phones and sugar substitutes. At any rate, I thought it would be interesting to talk about brain tumors generally, and in later blogs, more specifically. Contrary to conventional wisdom, most brain tumors are not discovered in people whose only complaint is headache, though headache can be part of the symptom complex. Brain tumors are usually found in people who present with a neurologic deficit such as visual loss, weakness or paralysis, change of personality or thinking, and loss of sensation to name a few. Brain ...

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When a Surgeon Needs Surgery

February 18, 2008 – 12:32 pm
The last thing a surgeon wants to hear is, that he needs surgery, especially major surgery requiring general anesthesia, hospitalization, recovery, and rehabilitation. The controller becomes the controlled, without respect for reputation, skills, power or wealth. The first step, after the awful realization and acceptance is to regain as much control over the process as possible. This includes selecting a surgeon, a hospital, and a time, if possible. Also choosing from what may be a menu of surgical approaches – minimally invasive, computer assisted, instrumented all come to mind. (Having been reduced to the status of “mere mortal” the surgeon, like everyone else, begins the search. Often the point of departure is the physician who first established the diagnosis. There will be suggestions as to who, where and when. Invariably, additional information will be forthcoming, solicited or not, from the Internet, colleagues, family, friends and the insurance company (payor). Ultimately, decisions ...

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Prosthetic Alternatives Enhance Lifestyle Capacity

February 15, 2008 – 3:22 pm
The excitement is growing at the Neurologic and Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago as we get ready to introduce the Hi-Flex Mobile Bearing Knee this February, to the best of our knowledge for the first time in the U.S. Until now, a good outcome for knee replacement was the ability to restore up to 115-120 degrees of motion post operative. The major patient complaint though in over 15% of knee replacement recipients has been pain or stiffness. I started working with the Mobile Bearing Knee outside of the United States in 2001 as a visiting professor to countries that demand the utmost in pain relief and motion following knee replacement surgery. Because of my knowledge and interest, I was chosen as a clinical investigator in 2003 and as a result, I have been granted the privilege of adding the Mobile Bearing Knee to the prosthetic alternatives offered at NOHC. Link ...

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Hip & Knee Replacement on the Rise at NOHC

February 4, 2008 – 11:43 am
At the Neurologic & Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago, we see a continued growth in our market share as younger patients seek new hips and knees. 18 months ago, neurosurgery was dominant at the only specialty hospital in the Midwest. In early 2007, NOHC was designated as one of the premier hospitals in Illinois performing neurosurgery, based upon clinical outcomes. By year end, hip and knee replacement procedures at NOHC accounted for 50% of the orthopedic surgical volume. For over three decades, artificial hips and knees for seniors have helped make the lives of those over 65 more active and satisfying. Over the past 18 months, we redefined the NOHC mission to become a hip and knee replacement Center of Excellence by helping members of the younger set overcome their hip and knee problems. We recognize that while the average age of an artificial joint patient used to be 66, our fastest growing ...

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Next Generation of Knee Prosthesis: Hi Flex Mobile Bearing Knee

January 25, 2008 – 10:42 am
In February of 2008, I will offer the Hi Flex, Mobile Bearing Knee Prosthesis for the first time, of which we are aware, in the United States at the Neurologic & Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago. Heralding in a next generation of knee prostheses, the opportunity is made possible at the Orthopedic Center of Excellence within NOHC owing to my participation in the panel of eight clinical investigators whose pioneering research led to the FDA approval. The panel determined that improving the outcome of knee replacement is based on patient education and motivation, pain control, operative technique, rapid recovery physical therapy and prosthetic design. At NOHC the only private specialty hospital in the Midwest, we are a recognized leader as a Center of Excellence in hip and knee replacement surgery through our minimally invasive surgery and pain reducing innovations. Where the patient will experience the improved benefit in 2008 of prosthetic ...

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A Range of Options to a Full Recovery from Knee Surgery

January 11, 2008 – 11:33 am
Received on December 22, 2007, from Revelstoke, British Columbia: “Hello Mitchell, Be careful what you wish for: 45” fresh powder is tough going, especially for a 63-year old man who had both knees replaced just four months ago. No pain at all but I have a long way to go on strength and balance. Back to the weights. Thanks for your help and interest. Best, C.G.” This is just one example of what we do at the Neurologic & Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago. For the mature athlete or any patient experiencing progressive impairment from arthritis be it activities of daily living, the work place, or in recreational endeavors, we offer a range of reconstructive procedures that will allow return to a full and pain free life style. C.G. came from Texas to see me at the Neurologic & Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago (NOHC) so he could go back to ultimate skiing. Yet we have choices and ...

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The Mature Athlete: Hip & Knee Replacement

December 14, 2007 – 12:41 pm
Don’t let pain, limited motion, deformity or functional impairment limit your athletic achievement. The mature athlete, no matter what sport or what level of participation, has historically been denied hip or knee replacement surgery by the orthopedic community. Some patients have been frightened that joint replacement before age 65 would automatically mean a second surgery in the not too distant future. Given recent advances in material technology and prosthetic design, there is no reason a patient afflicted with limitations from arthritis can not return to a full range of activities as evidenced by observations at the Neurologic & Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago. Last week, my blog featured the hip resurfacing of a 36-year old, one time Chicago Bear quarterback. Six months ago at the age of 37, Albert Belle, a one-time home run slugger for the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox, similarly under went hip resurfacing at the Neurologic & ...

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Dr. Cerullo’s Training, Philosophies and Accomplishments

December 14, 2007 – 12:19 pm
Last week Dr. Cerullo provided a glimpse into why he chose to practice neurosurgery and shared a perspective on the rapid evolution of neurosurgical care over the past twenty five years. This week we look further into Dr. Cerullo’s training, philosophies, and accomplishments. Known for pioneering the use of lasers in neurosurgery, no one knows the brain better than Len Cerullo, M.D. Twenty years ago, Dr. Cerullo founded the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch (CINN), Chicago, and as Medical Director was one of the first in the world to acquire the Gamma Knife®, a means of treating brain lesions non-invasively. With more than 30 years of experience, Dr. Cerullo is widely recognized as one of the nation's leaders in the field of neurosurgery. He is highly regarded for his skill in the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumors and spine disorders. While famous for his left-brain, forward thinking approach to neurosurgery, Dr. ...

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