News Release

Surgeons from Around the Globe Seek Training on Knee Replacement from Naples Orthopaedist Morton Bertram

Gainesville, FL, June 3, 2010 — A group of Japanese orthopaedic surgeons are visiting Naples this week to learn Exactech's Accelerated Recovery Technique (ART®) for knee replacement surgery from local orthopaedic surgeon, H. Morton Bertram, M.D. These visitors are among more than 50 orthopaedic surgeons from across the U.S., Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom and India who have received one-on-one training with Bertram on the technique, which is a complement to Exactech's Optetrak® knee replacement system, at Naples Community Hospital.

The Accelerated Recovery Technique is a unique surgical protocol developed by Bertram that combines the use of platelet rich plasma with advanced pain management treatments, closure techniques and wound management. It was designed to reduce blood loss, decrease post-operative pain and speed recovery for joint replacement patients.

"The number one thing the patients are afraid of, especially for knee replacement surgery, is pain," Bertram said. "We wanted to come up with a technique that would help with the pain and decrease our risk of complications—make it safer for the patients. We've taken the procedure that is normally associated with a three to four–day hospital stay and we're getting the patients out of the hospital more quickly, they're more comfortable, back to activities more quickly. While of course all patients are different and may experience different results for various reasons, most have done remarkably well."

In addition to training other surgeons, Bertram recently presented a patient education seminar that drew more than 80 individuals interested in today's advancements in joint replacement. The seminar included a golf clinic by one of Bertram's most well–known patients, professional golfer Peter Jacobsen. Jacobsen shared his personal experience of living with arthritis and returning to the golf course just six weeks after Bertram performed knee replacement surgery.