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Beverly-based doctor offers customized knee replacement treatment 

Beverly, Mass. - MaryEllen Scannell wanted to enjoy the simple things in life: being able to get out of bed by herself, walking the dog or driving her car. And more than anything she wanted to be able to dance. The Lynn resident was in excruciating pain and needed a double total knee replacement, but she couldn't find a doctor willing to perform the surgery. Until, she met orthopedic surgeon Dr. Hugh O'Flynn.

O'Flynn specializes in hip and knee replacements and has been in practice in Beverly for more than 13 years. For the last couple of years O'Flynn has been offering a new and exciting product by ConforMIS, Inc. He performed his first total knee replacement using ConforMIS products a little less than a year ago, and he operated on Scannell on April 4.

Burlington-headquartered ConforMIS offers knee replacement products that use personalized instruments and custom made implants to create an artificial knee that is custom-made to each individual patient. The knee replacement is the closest match to the patient's anatomy. Their latest product is the iTotal G2 Knee Replacement System, the only patient-specific total knee replacement available on the market today, according to the company.

"Other companies offer eight or so sizes and try to match the closest implant to your knee. ConforMIS is custom made as opposed to fitting you into one of eight sizes," explains O'Flynn. "They've made some great advancements."

How it works: A CT scan is taken of each patient to make sure they get a knee that fits them. In addition, the tools used by the surgeons are customized for each case. Because of these advancements, ConforMIS products tend to feel more natural to patients.

"They're trying to recreate your exact knee. It's not a routine procedure yet but the company is exciting. The knee replacement gives them a new surface to walk on that feels like their own knee," said O'Flynn.

This was essential for Scannell, 61, a local Scottish Country dancing teacher. She injured her knees from overuse while training in Scotland. A member of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, she teaches a large class at Springstep, a community arts center in Medford, as well as a class in Salem at the First Universalist Society. Scottish Country dancing includes gigs and reels which are quick time dances in sets of three and four couples. Scannell describes it as "lots of bouncing around and traveling steps, like skipping and traveling at same time."

"All knee replacements take the pain away. Conventional knee replacements have been very successful for most people, it's the bulk of what I do, but some people are looking for a little bit more," said O'Flynn. For people who don't want to give up activities like running and dancing and who are young and healthy, ConforMIS may be a better option.

"Only select patients are healthy enough to do a total double knee replacement once. We can't do that on everyone," explained O'Flynn.

O'Flynn admits he's not doing a lot of total replacement surgeries using ConforMIS because it's cost prohibitive for some patients.

"With any new operation you have to justify the cost benefit," said O'Flynn, who presented the new technology to Beverly Hospital to convince them to offer the surgery.

"It was very important for MaryEllen to have the ConforMIS system. On her behalf we asked if this was something they [Beverly Hospital] would allow," said O'Flynn. "You're always [as a doctor] trying to use what's best for the patient and also be aware of the cost, but you also have to try new innovations that might be better for your patients."

Scannell said she was suffering terribly and spent unnecessary time in excruciating pain before her surgery.

"Not being able to teach [dance classes] or drive, and falling down. It really took a big chunk out of my life. It was demoralizing and disheartening not being able to run with my dog," she said. "Now I can, and I'm so happy I can't stand myself."

Scannell was able to teach her dance classes after six weeks and was up and dancing in eight weeks.

"It didn't hurt and it didn't bother me. I went slower at first but there was no pain and discomfort. Lots of people in our dance group have had knee replacements and a lot couldn't go back even in twice the amount of time. I felt so fortunate," she said.

Becoming a surgeon

O'Flynn grew up in Ipswich and still lives in town. He is a proud member of the Ipswich School Committee. After graduating from Ipswich High, O'Flynn went on to Harvard University where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry and a master's degree in mechanical engineering. While at Harvard he played football and got to see the injury side of medicine.

O'Flynn received his medical degree from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1993 and completed his Orthopedic Residency at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. He completed a Total Joint Replacement fellowship at Mass General Hospital in Boston in 1999, where he researched artificial knees, their parts and how they can work better.

Now working with fellow physicians at Coastal Orthopedics, he has offices at The Medical Building #201, adjacent to Beverly Hospital on Herrick Street, as well as at the Beverly Hospital at Danvers.

Source: Beverly Citizen / http://bit.ly/T26hrK