[villages07]

Looks like my tennis days may be numbered....several orthopedic surgeons have concurred that I need a total knee replacement. I have a severe valgus deformity in my right knee (means the leg is really crooked with a knock-knee and quite an angle from knee to foot). It's a complex surgery.

Here's the dilemma.... I went to the knee clinic in Largo FL...they generally do simple cases and are a bit of a factory. I then went to see Dr Kerina here in TV/Leesburg. I have heard good things about him and was favorably impressed. He says he can straighten my leg, but, I still didn't get a warm, fuzzy that chances of success are real high (90%+). So, do I put my trust in him? How do I find the best doctor within 100 miles to do the surgery (would rather do it locally because of the rehab)? Or, do I find the best doctor in DC area or some other large city, and, again, how do you find them? Best is a subjective term.

If you've read this far, I thank you. If you have personal experience with this type of dilemma, I welcome your suggestions and advice. TOTV has been and remains a tremendous resource and wealth of information (as long as you stay out of the political forums ;D)

Cheers...

[Hancle704]

My wife went for the partial re-surfacing in Largo and a year later had to have a TKR. She had also heard good things about Dr. Kerina and he did her surgery. Complications developed afterwards (infection) which resulted in months of Antibiotic Infusions several times /week at TVRH Outpatient IV Center. Was also treated by Dr. Sheila Gilliken one of the few Infectious Disease MD's in area. She was very caring, thorough and, happy to report, 6 months after the surgery all is well, and the knee is fine and wife has excellent outcome. During the course of treatments saw many patients who were being treated for infections following surgery. Guess this has sadly, become a real problem these days.

Bottom line, she would recommend Kerina. He is a busy man however, so you may not get your telephone calls to him returned in a timely manner.

Have also heard good reports about Dr.Duke and Dr. Locker in Ocala. (Separate practices, they are not partners) Dr Cowin in Leesburg has good rep, but stay away from his partner Hunt (he's not very gentle)

There are also several good Ortho groups in Gaineville. I had surgery there by a Dr. Amanda Maxey who was excellent, but she only deals with problems below the knee. There are several ther Orthopaedic surgeons in same group who deal with everything else.

[villages07]

Hancle,

Thanks for sharing your wife's experiences and recommendations. Infections are a scary thing....I wonder if there is any publicly available information about infection rates? Any of our nurses out there care to comment?

I have also heard positives about Cowin and Duke...just so hard to tell if either of them would and could do a better job on my difficult knee than Dr Kerina. I've also heard that Gainsville has good ortho...might be worth looking into.

Thanks again.

[DickY]

In looking at The Villages magazine on line they have an article on joint replacement.
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/thevillages/0308/

[Jan Williams]

Dr. Riley in Ocala is excellent. He is in with Dr. Duke.

[Villages Kahuna]

I'd consider Dr. Joe Locker out of Ocala. Here's his bio...

http://www.anteriorhipflorida.com/physicians.asp

[designdiva46]

I would highly reccomend Dr. Duke in Ocala. He did both of mine at once in Aug 05 and my life has been so much better. He said I was his poster child for knee replacement. Just do ALL of the rehab you can. He's not bad looking either!!

[gingersmom]

Definitely Dr. Duke. He's the best in Ocala.

[macapecod]

My husband had both knees done by Dr Kerina (not at the same time). Excellent results. He is a great surgeon and have heard nothing but good results from his surgeries. He is a warm, loving man, who is very busy. The Physical Therapists all think he is the best. He does more knee replacements than any other Dr in this area. Two surgeries and NO infections for this household. In any surgery, the biggest fear is infections and they seem to do everything possible to prevent them, but it happens. Avoid Dr Hunt.

[mfp509]

I was with some ladies tonight and they were discussing total knee replacement and one of them highly recommended Dr Duke. She had just had hers done 6 weeks ago and was fine. She also recommended going to rehab for a week or so after if your insurance would cover it. She did not do that for her first knee replacement and her recovery took much longer. This time she went to the one on Lake Griffith Rd and her recovery was much quicker and she seemed very happy with the results. She stayed at the rehab center for about 10 days.

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by Hancle704

but stay away from his partner Hunt (he's not very gentle)

My experience too is that he conveys arrogance and a complete lack of skill in listening to what the patient is telling him. He was far more interested in what was going on in the hall outside than what I was telling him. When I told him that I had severe pain in the bicep tendon in my right arm, he said, "nonsense, the problem is in your shoulder." He injected my shoulder twice with cortisone. I even stopped him before the second injection and said, "Doctor, the pain is not in my shoulder, its in my bicep." He inject anyhow. Then, can you imagine, my bicep tendon got so bad, it snapped and broke away from from bicep muscle.

[gailanded]

I had a total knee replacement less than 3 months ago, and have been very pleased with my experience. Dr. Mitchell, Dr. Kerina's partner, did my surgery, and did a fine job, no problems at all. I highly recommend him, and also Rehab GV, next door to his office on 27/441. The therapists there are excellent, and very encouraging and supportive. I, too, recommend inpatient rehab after leaving the hospital. I went to Arbor Village in Wildwood for 10 days, and feel like I got off to a great start. The staff was great, and I had 2 hours of very good therapy each day, including the weekend. I also had an hour a day of occupational therapy, where I learned practical things like dressing myself, getting in and out of bed unassisted, and negotiating steps with a walker.

Hope this helps.

[Brooklyn Senior]

I moved to the Villages a few months ago and need a double knee replacement. I see that most people recommend Dr. Duke and Dr. Kerina. But that was back in '07.
Are there any more recent recommendations? I went to Dr. Kerina for an initial consult and he was not very warm and fuzzy, which I need. Thanks. Betty

[villages07]

I started this thread almost 3 years ago. I ended up doing a total knee replacement with Dr Kerina in Dec 2008 and had fantastic results. The leg is now perfectly straight, strong, and pain free. 3 months to golf and a little longer for tennis.

Alas, my other knee is now acting up and Dr K says it needs replacing too. I wouldn't hesitate to go back to him to get it replaced.

I still believe Kerina and Duke are the two best knee docs around.

Kerina told me he did 400 knee replacements in 2010. He is a warm and caring person but extremely busy, so, don't expect to get a bunch of feel good time from him. His surgical skills are what are important. Warm and fuzzy you need from the rehab folks that get you through the therapy.

Good luck.

[Carla B]

The State of Florida has an interesting website that you may find helpful in regard to knee and hip replacements, since so many of these are done here.

On viewing that website, you'll see how many hip and knee replacements were done in 2009 by doctors statewide. Dr. Kerina did 208 knee replacements and Dr. Duke did 320.

I certainly would choose a surgeon who does many of them...to me, that is more important than their bedside manner. In fact, when I had my knee done by Dr. Zann in Boca Raton, I only saw him in the office BEFORE the surgery. Afterwards, the followups were always with his physician assistant or nurse, except for the very last followup two years later when he magically appeared.

I agree with Villages07 that you'll need the emotional support to get through the therapy, which can be brutal.

The website is: www.floridahealthfinder.gov, if you're interested.