Dr Nguyen - knee replacement - just had it done
 

I cannot speak highly enough about the skills of Dr Nguyen and his unique process of doing full knee replacement surgery. I had it done thursday (12/18) 1pm in Florida Hospital Altamonte Springs. Great staff, private room and very happy with the hospital itself. By 10pm, the night of surgery, I had my first PT and was walking (with walker) 600 ft. Friday I walked 1200 ft and was released from the hospital. Prior to release you do some group PT and its practical stuff...how to get in and out of a car, how to walk stairs, plus other exercises you should be doing. Normally after release, he would have sent me directly to outpatient PT but because of the holiday schedules I am doing home care first. It has been great. Knee flex the night of surgery was 101 degrees, friday 103, by sunday it was already 110 with a goal of between 130-135 degrees. Pain level has been minimal and moreso when I try to bend the knee to get flex. This is critical in your rebhab. Today 4 days after sugery I am pretty much off the walker and walking (slowly) on my own....no pain...but still on some pain meds. Biggest adjustment is trying to get greater knee flex and moreso training your mind to accept the fact that you have an artifical knee and you must learn to "trust" it.

Just compare what I have just stated above from first hand experience, to other local surgeons who perform this operation the normal or routine way over the knee cap. For the most part their patients are in (heavy) pain and discomfort for 2-3 weeks before they can start walking.

Dr Nguyen's procedures and protocols will definitely be the future of full knee replacements . I could not be more pleased. If you are considering Dr Nguyen, be preapred to wait for teh initial appointment and then the waiting list once approved by him for surgery is approx 6 months out.

Any questions, just ask!!

What is different about the way he does it?

I need a replacement as well, Dr. Kerina wants to do a partial, everyone says Dr. Nguyen is the best, but I'm not sure anymore. appreciate you input if you can call me 753 4028..I am scared to death to have it done!

The primary difference is that almost all doctors make the incision over the knee cap cutting all ligaments and muscle along the way and then stitching it up after the knee is replaced. THis is very painful and the time to recover and start walking is delayed. DR Nguyen uses the same prostesis knee as other Drs (Stryker), but he cuts the the side of the knee allowing him to simply move aside the ligaments and muscles. This procedure dramatically reduces the amount of pain the patient is in and allows much better and quicker recovery time to walk. He is the ONLY Dr in the States and worldwise to use this procedure and he is currently tryng to patten the procedure for use by other Surgeons.

I am bookmarking this thread. Thanks for the information, and merry Christmas and a speedy recovery to you, 784caroline!

How about a quick name, address and phone number?

Dr Nguyen - knee replacement - just had it done
 

Nothing against Dr. Nguyen at all, but I've been very pleased with my TKR done by Dr. Duke early this year. I had minimal pain, was out of the hospital on the second day, and up and around almost immediately. I'm convinced that success of the replacement (assuming the doctor does a good job of course) is almost totally dependent on the patient's commitment to the therapy.

Dr Steve Nguyen
Optimotion Orthopedics
1640 N Maitland Ave
Maitland, Fl 32751
407-355-3120

He also has office hours near The Villages on Fridays just off Rolling Acres Rd across from Home Depot. However, all appointments need to go through his maitland Office.

784... Congrats on getting that pesky knee fixed. Perhaps tennis is back in your future?

I have had both knees replaced by Dr Kerina...6 and 3 years ago. I did attend dr Nguyens seminar before my second TKR and it was intriguing. Given my success with Kerina I stayed with him but would have used Nguyen otherwise. I have heard similar success stories as yours from other Nguyen patients. The best thing is that you did it and can get back to the activities you enjoy. Good luck with the rehab.

My husband had a knee replacement by Dr. Nguyen on 5/22. He did so well he was back playing division 1 softball in August. Absolutely no pain, in fact he took only 1pain pill and that was only because the PT requested that he do so. I can't praise Dr. Nguyen enough.

Actually, there are 8 Orthopedic Surgeons in the US now using this method; my wife's surgeon in KC (Dr. David Paul) is now using it. It is the way to go if a person needs knee replacement.

This procedure is done by several ortho surgeons in the US. It involves robotic navigation and 3D images, computer assisted. Dr Nguyen was trained by Stryker to use this minimal invasion TKR. The hospitals invest millions for the robotic navigation system, not Dr Nguyen. There are other companies that have developed robotic navigation, Maco and Praxim are two. This procedure is not for everyone, your doctor will tell you if you are a candidate.

I called for an appt. in August and couldn't get one until January. At that time, they were scheduling surgeries for March but my time would not happen until after I saw him. Ridiculous! That would mean almost a year from first call to surgery. Dr. Duke did my right knee on Dec. 8. So far, things are great.

That length of time is typical for the great Ortho. Doc's that are in high demand; it was the same way with my shoulder Doc in KC; he's the best in the Midwest at what he does.

I'll second that!!!!

I saw Dr Nguyen's PA on Dec. 8th, and am on the schedule for May 28th. One thing that has somewhat helped me is an injection of Syn-Visc done by a different doctor. It does not take the pain away, but i think it is actually helping some.

Was this procedure covered by ins.? how much did it end up costing you?

Are you talking about the knee replacement or the injection?

I had my knee replacement by Dr Duke in July 2014. The lower part of my knee is still numb from cutting the muscles and nerves. Some days it still hurts to stand long times. I have a friend that went to Dr Nguyen with far greater success. I was in a local rehab with a lot of Nguyen patients. They were far more progressed than I was since my muscles/nerves were cut.
I am seeing Nguyen in March for my other knee. Dr Duke is a great surgeon but technology changes and it seems that Nguyen's patients are much quicker to recover.

Sorry to hear that. With all due respect, I appear to have had much better results with Dr. Duke. I have no numbness and recovery was surpassingly quick.

knee replacement

several factors are involved in the replacement. one is a skilled surgeon, mine was dr. duke, who does not cut muscle, tendons, or ligaments, i am not overweight, age, i was 60 when i had the surgery, i trained hard for the surgery, strength, worked hard after in rehab at home, walker for one day, cane for two weeks, golfing from forward tees at 6 weeks, full swings at 12 weeks, now, one year later, ran and walked a mini marathon, do a workout on the elliptical than is second to none. very happy. you are only going to get out of the replacement what you want. i want all that i can get out of that.

Have a neighbor that says the same about Dr. Nguyen....and BTW, I would feel far more confident about the outcome with any surgery at Florida Hospital Altamonte (or Orlando) or even Florida Hospital Waterman.

I totally agree, the skilled surgeon is key, with either conventional or robotic TKR. Both surgeries muscle, tendons and ligaments are cut. Excess weight in the area requires a larger incision, as with all surgery. Physical condition before surgery will make it much easier with PT after. Dedication to PT is what makes the difference if you just want to be pain free or be active, sports, dancing, golfing or long walks. Stationary bike, to me, was a necessity to loosen up the leg before PT. It is no walk in the park and not entirely up to the surgeon, you have to give 100%.

The flex the OP is referring to is the passive motion machine, only moves the leg up and down, no big deal. The worse part is yet to come, flexing backward. Bring the heal of the foot back and up to the butt. That is the real flex.

Knee Replacement with Dr. Nguyen
 

There is no comparison with the results you will get with Dr. Nguyen. I had a full knee replacement nine years ago. My husband had the surgery on Sept. 19th with Dr. Nguyen and we both can tell you there is a world of difference. He was walking 1000 steps the same evening as surgery (which was late in the day) and put down the walker in two days. The outpatient therapy was 3 weeks and he has 125 degrees mobility. I have never had that result with my knee. Yes it is a long way or the surgery but he has offices here for the followup visits. Be prepared to see Physican Assistants for most of the followup. I guess he is just too busy to see everyone afterward.

Actually results can be very comparable. The recovery stats you mention are almost identical to mine. I think the most important number you mention is "nine years ago".

Sorry, but it's apples-and-oranges to compare surgeries from then and now, regardless of the surgeon.

Dr. Nguyen is Amazing
 

Had my right knee done a year ago by a highly recognized Tampa surgeon. Pain was a 9/10 for 2-3 weeks, and I was in PT for 12 weeks...on pain meds for all that time. Had my left knee done this past November by Dr. Nguyen. Pain was 2/10, went to PT 3 times before being released by P.A. with 125 degree flex. Was line dancing at Spanish Springs at 3 weeks post surgery. Off pain meds after 2 weeks, and only used them to sleep. You don't need to wait many months to see doctor and schedule surgery if you are willing to have your initial appointment scheduled with the PA instead of the doctor. At least that way, you can get on the surgery schedule. Only concern I have is that there is a fair amount of disorganization within this practice, probably because Dr. Nguyen takes on too many patients for the staff he employs. It is important to check and double check appointment times, etc. Things seem to change quickly, and not always with advanced notice. None the less, the ends justify the means, in my opinion.

I am still waiting to have the replacement done.

who did you go with

Dr Nguyen--down to 4 months....and counting

Be sure to let us know a couple days before so we can perform some TOTV good wishes for a successful operation.:MOJE_whot::pray::pray::wave:

How will this impact sports activity? Could a person easily play golf, tennis, softball, or other sports with the new knee?

Just had my 6 week follow up with Dr Nguyen and got cleared for golf, water volleyball and whatever I would routinely do. IN finishing up PT at Physio Med near Home Depot, they told me I met all goals and they asked me was there anything else they could help me with. I wanted to get back to water volleyball and golf which involve twisting and jumping. So the PT at my last session included jumping on a trampoline both holding on and well as hands free, and twisting exercises(within limits) . This was more of a confidence builder (mental) that I could do what I wanted with no pain. Enjoyed PT at this location....very personal staff.

BTW: For new patients of Dr Nguyen, they are scheduling surgery for September....that is 7-8 months out.

I had my knee replacement on 12/4, done by Dr. Duke at Marion community Hospital in Ocala. I was off pain meds in less than a week, no muscle or tendons cut. I used the walker for about ten days and then a cane for a week. I was golfing at six weeks from front tees. Have been released at eight weeks for full golfing, water volleyball and working back into pickleball. I couldn't be happier with Dr. Duke who has done over 7,500 knee replacements.

I have been going to Dr Duke's practice for a year now for steroid injections every 3 months, for both knees. They are deteriorating very quickly. The steroids no longer give me relief for more than 6 weeks.

I called last week to make an apt to see Dr. Duke. Now, mind you, I have been a patient there for a year and never seen by him, just his PA, which was fine with me because steroids were what I needed. But things have changed.

I was told that he would only see me after I did my pre op clearance by my PCP, Chest x ray and pre op labs. We would not see me, period, until those things were done.

That really turned me off. He has been signing off on my care for a year now and yet will not see me?? I am a RN and I get the need for PAs and NPs. But my MD should see me if I want to be seen. i don't know if I am ready for TKR, or if there are other options. That is why I wanted to be seen by him.

I called Dr Nguyen on the same day. I have an appt with HIM for next week in Maitland as he no longer comes up here on Fridays. But I don't mind driving an hr if I will be seen by the surgeon and we can discuss my options, waiting, not waiting, bilateral TKR, etc.

I set my appts for the pre op stuff that Duke wants and he will see me in late April. Dr Nguyen is seeing me a month earlier and I have never been to his practice.

I have the feeling that I will already be on the surgical schedule with Dr Nguyen by the time Duke is willing to see me.

This has been a big turn off for me.

I had a TKR in November of 2013 performed by Dr. Nguyen at the Florida Hospital Altamonte. I am 100% satisfied and I cannot recommend Dr Nguyen highly enough!!! Just make sure you do the rehab as instructed.

With all due respect, I was told that that very uncertainty is why the first step toward a TKR is to see the PA for just such a discussion. Seemed very reasonable to me and it worked out well.

Dr Nguyen
 

Where is Dr Nguyen and where does he operate? What is his first name?

HIs business card shows Dr Steve V. Nguyen. He operates from The Florida Hospital in Alamonte Springs on Monday, tuesday and thursdays...very nice hospital about 1:20 - 1:30 mintues from TV. His PAs have office hours in TV off of Rolling Acres Rd on Fridays while Dr Nguyen and his other PA has office hours in Maitland Florida on Wednesday and Friday.