May/JUNe 2013 - Jersey Shore Medical Center

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Ocean Medical Center When a stubborn wound on Joe Whelan’s foot wouldn’t heal, his doctor prescribed hyperbaric oxygen therapy at Ocean Medical Center’s Center for Wound Healing. Thanks to the treatment, Joe is back on his feet and back to playing golf, a hobby he loves. Saving Limbs, Lives MeridianHealth.com • 1-800-DOCTORS 16 For 20 years, Toms River resident Joe Whelan successfully managed his diabetes. As part of his routine, he regularly inspected his feet for sores. He noticed a spot on one of his toes that wasn’t healing, so the 70-year-old sought treatment. Thankfully, Ocean Medical Center’s Center for Wound Healing opened in 2012, offering advanced therapies close to home. Joe learned from his podiatrist, Frederick Rothberg, DPM, that his wound was infected. Joe was admitted to Ocean for intravenous antibiotics, but these didn’t heal the infection, which had spread to the bone. Dr. Rothberg referred him for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. “It was very important we treated Joe’s wound aggressively,” A Healing Place A podiatrist will discuss how to care for your feet and explain how a wound care center can help foot and other sores on May 24. See page 26 for details. Or, call 1-800-DOCTORS ® to find a Meridian wound care center near you. Dr. Rothberg says. “Without effective treatment, the infection would have progressively gotten worse and potentially lead to amputation.” Hyperbaric oxygen therapy heals hard-to-treat wounds by boosting the body’s natural healing abilities. The treatment involves breathing 100 percent oxygen while in a pressurized chamber. Under pressure, oxygen is better absorbed into the body. “Because bone does not have blood supply, it’s difficult to get antibiotics to the infection. As a result, chronic bone infections like Joe’s are very difficult to heal,” explains Kenneth Kronhaus, M.D., a physician at the Wound Care Center. “However, increasing oxygen levels in the body with this therapy helps destroy bad bacteria that thrive in low-oxygen environments like bone.” In addition, the therapy works to heal wounds by increasing the growth of blood vessels that circulate to the area. Joe began hyperbaric oxygen therapy in November 2012. Kenneth E. Kronhaus, M.D. Board certified in Family Medicine Brick • 732-458-8000 Frederick J. Rothberg, DPM Board certified in Podiatric Surgery Toms River • 732-840-5196 “The therapy felt a little like I was going down in a submarine or taking off in an airplane, but didn’t bother me a bit,” says Joe, who attended the two-hour therapy once a day. “The chamber is like a capsule with Plexiglas at the top, so it’s not confining at all. It also has a built-in TV, so I brought DVDs of my favorite shows to watch. Some people used the time to nap.” Before Joe’s prescribed sessions were complete, his wound and infection had healed completely. “Statistics show that if people lose a limb, they have decreased quality of life and tend to die earlier,” Dr. Rothberg says. “However, the healing rate with hyperbaric oxygen therapy is more than 90 percent. Not only does this therapy preserve limbs, it preserves life.”
Surgical Expertise Offers Life-Changing Results As a young boy living in Sea Girt, Charlie Thoma was used to spending time at the beach. But around age 9, his parents began noticing visible signs that his chest was not developing normally. And Charlie was beginning to become self-conscious about it. Charlie’s family made an appointment with Saad Saad, M.D., pediatric surgeon-in-chief at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center and a part of Meridian Pediatric Network. Dr. Saad diagnosed Charlie with a rare congenital defect called pectus carinatum — an excessive growth of cartilage that causes the sternum to protrude. “At the beginning, Charlie’s condition was subtle and we decided to wait until he was completely ready for surgery to treat it,” explains Charlie’s mother, Laura Thoma. “But by the time Charlie was 14, his condition had become very pronounced. One side of his chest was sticking out much farther than the other.” Not only did Charlie no longer take off his shirt to play at the beach, he was beginning to experience physical side effects of the condition. “Children with pectus carinatum often experience shortness of breath and decreased stamina. They may also have pain around the breast bone,” Dr. Saad explains. Surgical Excellence Although apprehensive, Charlie decided to move forward with the surgery in December 2012. Dr. Saad performed the four-hour procedure at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital, meticulously removing diseased cartilage and reshaping his breast bone. “The surgery is just as much an art as a science,” says Dr. Saad. “And although it is a difficult surgery, the rewards are great. It makes a tremendous difference in a child’s life.” Dr. Saad is the only surgeon in the area who treats pectus carinatum, performing one to two corrective surgeries for the defect about every month. However, he credits a multidisciplinary team for surgical success. “From the anesthesiologists to the staff in the operating room, the Intensive Care Unit, and the pediatric floor, the teams ensure each child gets the very best comfort and care,” he says. Saad A. Saad, M.D. Board certified in Pediatric Surgery Eatontown • 732-935-0407 A New Beginning Four days after surgery, Charlie was back at home recovering, and proud to flaunt his new physique. “The surgery has given Charlie so much self-confidence. We’re really proud of him and how strong he’s been through recovery,” says Laura. “We couldn’t be happier with Dr. Saad and his staff. Our hospital stay and experience went very smoothly.” Dr. Saad was equally pleased with Charlie’s results. “I watched Charlie get his photo taken in the hospital just days after surgery. He was so happy, outspoken, and relaxed,” says Dr. Saad. “It brings me joy to help children like Charlie. I love to see him smile.” K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital In Good Hands No matter your age, surgery can be scary. You can rest easy knowing that K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital offers pediatric specialists who provide round-the-clock surgical services. Hear more patient stories at MeridianPediatricNetwork.com. Fourteen-year-old Charlie Thoma, diagnosed with a rare congenital defect, underwent surgery to repair his breast bone. The successful procedure also went a long way to restoring Charlie’s confidence. Meridian Health Views • May/June 2013 17
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May/JUNe 2013 - Jersey Shore Medical Center

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