Christiana Care Health System’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery will provide a free knee replacement to a local patient who cannot afford joint replacement surgery as part of Operation Walk USA 2017.
Operation Walk USA 2017, held Thursday, is a collaborative effort between the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and participating hospitals and health systems, including Christiana Care. Through this effort, all aspects of treatment – surgery, hospitalization, and pre-and post-operative care – are provided at no cost to participating patients who cannot afford joint replacement surgery on their own.
“Operation Walk USA is a wonderful way for our orthopedic surgeons at Christiana Care to give back and help our neighbors achieve optimal health,” said Andrew Gelman D.O., an orthopedic surgeon with Christiana Care and the local physician leader for Operation Walk USA. “This program enables our patients to overcome the disabling arthritis in their knees, and receive the gift of mobility and a brighter future since they can return to employment and an active lifestyle.”
As part of Operation Walk USA 2017, Craig Smucker, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon with Christiana Care, will perform a knee replacement at Christiana Care’s Center for Advanced Joint Replacement at Wilmington Hospital.
The center performs nearly 2,900 total hip and knee replacements annually. Annually, Christiana Care performs about 100 orthopedic surgeries for patients who cannot afford orthopedic surgery on their own.
