Florida Hospital DeLand Hosts Orthopedic Seminar

DELAND, Fla., October 20, 2017 On Oct. 16, more than 70 community members joined Florida Hospital DeLand as orthopedic surgeon Dr. Mark Hollmann discussed knee injuries and osteoarthritis.

Over dinner, Hollmann explained that hip and knee replacement are the gold standard for severe osteoarthritis and that cartilage in the knee is not able to regenerate.

As for supplements to ease joint pain, there is some truth to their effectiveness, but in reality, much is just hype, he said. For example, glucosamine is a popular supplement for joint pain associated with osteoarthritis. It is a natural compound found in healthy cartilage, particularly in the fluid around the joints. However, there have been studies assessing glucosamines effectiveness that show it doesn't provide more pain relief than a simple placebo.

Joint replacements are metal knee implants that imitate the movement of a natural joint and the newer, updated designs with improved materials may increase the implants' longevity.

Before undergoing a joint replacement, it is important to do your own research and find an experienced physician, Hollmann added. About 80 percent of knee replacements are performed by doctors who do less than 20 a year that's less than two per month.

By contrast, Hollmann performs more than 300 knee replacements each year at Florida Hospital DeLand.

About Florida Hospital DeLand

Florida Hospital DeLand is a member of Adventist Health System, a faith-based health care organization with 45 hospital campuses and 8,200 licensed beds in nine states, serving more than 5 million patients annually. With a mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ, Florida Hospital DeLand has 164-beds and is one of the seven Florida Hospitals in Flagler, Lake and Volusia counties that composes the Florida Hospital Central Florida Division - North Region. As the largest hospital system in the area, the Florida Hospital Central Florida Division - North Region has 1,226 beds and more than 7,800 employees.