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Patient Testimonials

BuddyBuddy
Arlington
Knee Osteotomy

PamPam
Great Falls
TRUMATCH Knee
Replacement

BarbaraBarbara
Annandale
Knee Replacement

DennisDennis
Amissville
Total Hip Replacement

BlancaBlanca
Leesburg
Bilateral Hip Replacement

SarahSarah
Burke
Fractured Elbow

Ca'DellCa'Dell
Reston
Achilles Repair

CarolynCarolyn
Alexandria
Bilateral Hip and
Knee Replacements

HishamHisham
Reston
ACL Repair

BrianBrian
Herndon
Torn Biceps Tendon

JohnJohn
Springfield
Spine Surgery

HikoHiko
Fairfax
Detached Thumb Ligament

MatthewMatthew
Fairfax
Shoulder Repair

CourtneyCourtneyMcLean
Fractured Leg

LisaLisa
Centreville
Minimally Invasive
Spine Surgery

MauriceMaurice
Clifton
Osteoarthritis

MaureenMaureen
Oak Hill
Non-Surgical
Pain Management

BrianBrian
Reston
Minimally Invasive
Total Hip Replacement

JamesJames
Arlington
Knee Replacement

CherylCheryl
Oak Hill
Reconstructive
Hand Surgery

ChrisChris
Arlington
Carpal Tunnel Surgery

VilmaVilma
Vienna
Fractured Wrist

KelseyKelsey
Centreville
Spondylolysis

JeffJeff
Alexandria
Shoulder Repair

JennaJenna
Centreville
ACL Repair

VickiVicki
Manassas
Torn Rotator Cuff

DanaDana
Manassas
Dupuytren’s
Contracture

LeroyLeroy
Falls Church
Osteoarthritis

JeanetteJeannette
Fairfax
Spinal Fusion

TomTom
Sterling
Computer-Assisted
Robotic Spine Surgery

JeffBrian
Arlington
Knee Arthroscopy

DonnaDonna
West Springfield
Pilates and
Core Stabilization

KeithKeith
Stafford
Torn Rotator Cuff

RachelRachel
Vienna
Broken Wrist

PatsonPatson
Annandale
Herniated Disc

JerriJerri
Alexandria
Muscle-Sparing Total
Knee Replacement

MatthewMatthew
Lucketts, VA
Ankle Replacement

GarrettGarrett
Vienna
Shoulder Rehabilitation

KarenKaren
Alexandria
Shoulder Repair

JamesJames
Annandale
Distal Biceps
Tendon Repair

LaurieLaurie
Potomac Falls
Minimally Invasive
Hip Arthroscopy

KevinKevin
Alexandria
Lacerated Extensor
Tendon Repair

MaryMary
Herndon
ACL Reconstruction &
Meniscus Transplant

SamSam
Edgewater, MD
Shoulder Repair Surgery

PhilPhil
Springfield
Clavicle Fracture

KelleyKelley
Sterling
Dislocated Kneecaps

BrianBrian
Vienna
Skier's Thumb

StephanieStephanie
Vienna
Knee & Hip Replacement

CatherineCatherine
McLean
Spine Deformity

JimJim
Clifton
Twisted Pelvis

SpiroSpiro
Washington, DC
Multi-ligament
Reconstruction

WennersWenners
Manassas
Achilles Tendon
Reconstruction

DebbieDebbie
Haymarket
Anterior Hip
Replacement

SusanSusan
Great Falls
ACL Tear

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Patient Testimonials - Jerri

Alexandria – Muscle-Sparing Total Knee Replacement

Jerri For more than five years, Jerri ignored the increasing pain in her left knee. The 64-year-old psychotherapist from Alexandria knew she’d ultimately need a knee replacement, but she wasn’t ready to give up her active, athletic lifestyle. She spent busy days seeing patients, performing community work with the homeless, and keeping up with her six grandchildren. Running, swimming, biking, and boating were often on her schedule.

But when the pain finally forced her to limit her activities, she knew she had to take the plunge. “The most important thing for me was finding a physician and a team that were eager to partner with the patient and focus on early mobilization to ensure the best possible outcome,” she says.

A three-month search led her to Commonwealth Orthopaedics and surgeon Mark Hartley, MD, who performed a state-of-the-art, minimally invasive muscle-sparing total knee replacement in 2008.

“From the beginning, their focus is on wellness and restoring a high level of function,” she says. “They ask what you want to do afterwards and work with you to make a plan to get it done. It’s a true partnership.”

This innovative technique combines the latest minimally invasive methods with a surgical approach that leaves key muscles and tendons intact. Instead of dividing or cutting the quadriceps tendon, surgeons make a small incision on the side of the knee, separate the tendon, and go in under the quad muscle. Patients quickly regain knee function, and recovery is much faster and less painful.

When she woke up from surgery, Jerri began lifting and flexing her leg right away. A few hours later, she walked from her hospital room out into the hallway and back to her bed. “My goal was to become very active, very quickly and Dr. Hartley and his team gave me plenty of opportunities to realize my capacity and achieve my objectives,” she says.

After two nights in the hospital, she returned home and began physical therapy. Within three weeks, she was back at work part-time and climbing the stairs to her office. Soon, she was walking two miles a day. A month later, she helped her husband set up hypothermia shelters for the homeless, a task that involved much physical labor.

Jerri calls her Commonwealth experience “quite amazing” and praises Dr. Hartley and his team. “From the beginning, their focus is on wellness and restoring a high level of function,” she says. “They ask what you want to do afterwards and work with you to make a plan to get it done. It’s a true partnership.”