Dr. Leone Resumes Hip and Knee Surgeries,

Patients Now Able to Receive Long-Awaited Procedures

As one of the nation’s top orthopedic surgeons, Dr. William A. Leone, head of The Leone Center for Orthopedic Care at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, treats patients suffering from complex hip and knee issues from all over the world.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and national safety mandates, The Leone Center for Orthopedic Care had to postpone dozens of surgical procedures. This decision was made to preserve PPEs (personal protective equipment) and surgical supplies which would be needed to perform these surgeries. Instead, the PPEs were dedicated to hospital workers caring for COVID patients.

“It’s unfortunate that so many patients had to suffer by delaying their surgeries through no fault of their own,” said Dr. William Leone. “During the quarantine lockdown many patients were understandably less mobile and more uncomfortable.  When someone is in pain it is a tremendous stress both physically and mentally, for them as well as their spouse and those folks around them that care. I have heard from many patients while they understand why their surgeries were cancelled, they “don’t consider taking care of their hip or knee problem elective but rather essential.”

Dr. Leone has resumed all hip and knee surgical procedures and his patients, many of whom have waited patiently for two months or longer, are tremendously thankful. The Leone Center for Orthopedic Care is once again fully operational and seeing patients for consultations at the office or virtually (if patients prefer) and running a full operative schedule.

Everyone’s temperature is checked before entering the HealthPlex, appointments are spaced apart and all precautions are being taken. All patients who have surgery must have a negative pre-surgical COVID test with a full medical work-up and clearance. While most patients go home later that same day, those individuals who stay, are admitted to our special orthopedic floor which is completely separated from that area of the hospital where patients who are sick go, with or without COVID are cared for.  All patient rooms are now private, the hospital is perpetually cleaned and anyone entering the hospital including staff, patients or visitors are checked.

“I had my right hip replaced February 5 of this year, before the Coronavirus impacted everyone’s life,” said Claire London who is from Coral Springs, Florida and a Medicare consultant (she helps seniors navigate their Medicare insurance in multiple states). “I recovered extremely quickly, and my plan was to have my left hip replaced by Dr. Leone in March. My second surgery was unfortunately postponed due to the pandemic, but I am so grateful to finally have my two new hips. I’ve regained my quality of life and am more active than I’ve been in years, all pain free.”

Dr. Leone and his team resumed their regular schedule, operating on average two or three days a week and his practice is back to approximately 80% capacity.  He has prioritized the most critical patients and anticipates he will be caught up with all previously scheduled surgeries by mid-July.

“I first met Dr. Leone by Zoom conference, he answered all of my questions and made me feel confident and self-assured with my decision to have hip double hip replacements.”  said Stephen Farrell, who resides in the City of Fort Lauderdale and is a CEO of a healthcare company.   “I had my right hip replaced on May 20 and my left just three weeks later. After both surgeries I was walking shortly after surgery and went home that very day. It’s truly been amazing. I feel great.”

One of the reasons Dr. Leone’s patients recover so quickly is that his patients are prepared for their surgery. “I firmly believe that someone who goes into surgery with more knowledge and confidence not only has a better experience but also gets well faster. They have a plan. My team personally spends considerable time with each and every patient so that they are prepared.” said Dr. Leone. “Many patients are eager to go home the day after their surgery. This is often the best care but in order to pull it off gracefully and safely, it requires tremendous coordination with hospital staff and outpatient services and my team has been nothing less than fantastic.”

Another major reason why patient are getting well so much faster than ever before is our multimodal pain management. This includes meds that are started before the surgery which pre-empt pain and potential complications like nausea and down regulate pain receptors. Most patients still get regional anesthesia (a short acting spinal) will all of its advantages, a local “cocktail” which we affectionately call “joint juice” injected into their tissues at time of surgery and in the case of knee replacements, an additional adductor nerve block. This combined with very gentle handling and balance of soft tissues and optimal placement of the components has results patients routinely walking just hours after their surgery with remarkably little pain. We’ve also eliminated Foleys (urinary catheters) and for knee tourniquets.

There is no substitute for excellent surgery to results in a predictably excellent result and very fast recovery. Dr. Leone uses the SPAIRE technique with the mini posterior approach when performing total hip replacement. This is the most soft tissues and muscle sparing approach (including the anterior or direct superior approach) there is for THR. Only a slngle tendon (obturator externus) is released (and repaired) and the short external muscles, which provide stability and strength, are not released so tradition hip precautions are not needed.

“Some patients who had their first hip reconstructed by me with using a pre-SPAIRE Mini Posterior technique and now they have had their second THR implanted using the SPAIRE technique,” said Dr. Leone. “They routinely ask me what is different? They tell me how their hip feels stronger and are getting well even quicker. They get rid of their cane and any residual limp even sooner than before. This is anecdotal but for a clinician, powerful. I honestly don’t think long term results will be any different, but if someone can feel better quicker and not have restrictions, then I think it’s a positive move forward.”

Dr. Leone encourages his patients to listen to their bodies and resume all their usual activates when they feel comfortable.

Computer navigation combined with OrthoSensor has been a game changer for total knees and the MAKO robot for partial and total knees simply fantastic.

The Leone Center for Orthopedic Care provides superb, highly personalized, end-to-end orthopedic care for people with hip and knee conditions. Dr. William Leone offers patients the latest, most-promising innovations in joint replacement surgery, in a compassionate, patient-focused setting. He has performed over 13,000 joint surgeries over the course of his career, restoring mobility and improving quality of life for thousands of patients from all over the world.

Check out Dr. Leone’s Video Library to watch videos that pertain to your specific questions. You can also find Patient Video and written testimonials. 

The Leone Center for Orthopedic Care at Holy Cross Hospital is located at 1000 NE 56th Street in Fort Lauderdale. For more information or to schedule a consultation please call 954-489-4575 or visit holycrossleonecenter.com.