Specialty Surgical Center

The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, lies diagonally in the knee, forming an “X” with the posterior cruciate ligament. These two ligaments are responsible for controlling sideways movement of the knee and helping it remain stable and in place. An injury to the ACL is one of the most common sports injuries and can be extremely painful. At Specialty Surgical Center in Sparta, New Jersey, the orthopedic team performs outpatient surgery to repair the ACL and help patients get back into the activities they would like to be involved in.

The ACL can be strained, sprained, and torn. Most ACL injuries are complete or nearly complete tears. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries often occur in sports where players have to change direction or stop very quickly. Football and basketball players are generally at risk for ACL injuries. One of the most common indicators of an ACL injury is a “popping” sensation, and loss of strength in the knee. Pain, swelling, and loss of range of motion may also occur.

Some ACL injuries are minor and can heal with conservative treatments, but for those that require surgery, it is usually performed in an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) like Specialty Surgical Center. The most common procedure is arthroscopic repair, in which the surgeon will make a small incision and use a camera with the image projected onto a screen. This surgical approach is advantageous in that it requires a smaller incision, there is less blood loss, and healing time is often shorter than with traditional surgery.

Once the surgery is complete, patients will undergo a rehabilitation process that may include physical therapy to help rebuild strength, stability, and range of motion.

For more information on ACL repairs at Specialty Surgical Center, call us at 973-940-3166

Specialty Surgical Center is located in Sparta, New Jersey and our staff consists of board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists performing procedures in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Spinal Care, Podiatry, Urology, Pain Management, ENT, Hand Surgery, Lithotripsy, Brachytherapy, GYN and Laser Surgery.

For more information about Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166 or visit our Contact Page.

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As an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) or outpatient surgery center, Specialty Surgical Center in Sparta, New Jersey is committed to patient safety and continually participates in safety programs and safety training. However, according to Medscape, many patients are questioning whether an outpatient surgery center is the best option for their surgical procedure.

Outpatient surgery centers are becoming an extremely popular choice for many physicians to perform surgery in. Patients may be hesitant to have their procedures in these facilities for many reasons, one of which may be the very publicized death of Joan Rivers in an outpatient surgery center. According to the Medscape article, patients may also feel like they’re not “good enough” to go to “real” hospitals, and will have substandard care at an outpatient surgery center.

In general, outpatient surgery centers are great options for those who receive procedures that do not require an overnight stay. Away from the chaos and confusion of most hospitals, outpatient surgery centers often provide just as good or better medical care than traditional hospitals. Other benefits include that surgery centers are often cheaper for patients and insurance companies and usually have shorter waiting times.

At Specialty Surgery Center, there are many programs in place to provide the highest standards of patient safety and care. The staff continues to become certified through the Institute of Healthcare Safety, and have implemented several programs recommended by the Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute’s National CUSP Program to increase patient safety and reduce risk.

As the popularity of ASCs continue to rise, Specialty Surgery Center will continue to be on the forefront of patient safety programs and is committed to exceptional patient care.

Specialty Surgical Center is located in Sparta, New Jersey and our staff consists of board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists performing procedures in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Spinal Care, Podiatry, Urology, Pain Management, ENT, Hand Surgery, Lithotripsy, Brachytherapy, GYN and Laser Surgery.

For more information about Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166 or visit our Contact Page.

©Specialty Surgical Center, 2015
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Historically, a hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that requires open abdominal surgery, a hospital stay for several days to recover, and limitations to movement as the wound heals. At Specialty Surgical Center, hysterectomies are performed using minimally invasive techniques and on an outpatient basis, which means that the recovery time is shorter, pain is less, and patients are able to return home the same day of their procedure.

According to WebMd.com, more than 600,000 hysterectomies are performed every year in the United States, and only about 20% of those are minimally invasive. However, many physicians argue that more of the 80% of traditionally performed hysterectomies could be done using minimally invasive techniques, including total laparoscopic hysterectomy – in which a small incision will be made in the abdomen or the belly button – and laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy – which is done through the vagina using a laparoscope.

One of the greatest benefits in the use of minimally invasive techniques is the significant reduction in healing time. Patients who undergo traditional hysterectomies that are performed through a large abdominal incision generally take six weeks to recover, while those who undergo minimally invasive hysterectomies recover in two weeks or less. Other benefits include minimal blood loss, reduced risk of infection, and lower postop pain.

While there may be factors that rule some patients out for minimally invasive hysterectomy surgery, many patients are candidates for this option. It’s important to find a surgeon who is experienced in the procedure and can answer all of your questions. At an outpatient surgery center like Specialty Surgery Center in Sparta, New Jersey, a minimally invasive hysterectomy can be an extremely safe option and can have patients on the road to recovery and back to their lives very quickly.

To find out if you are a candidate for a minimally invasive hysterectomy, speak to your surgeon or call Specialty Surgery Center at 973-940-3166.

Specialty Surgical Center is located in Sparta, New Jersey and our staff consists of board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists performing procedures in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Spinal Care, Podiatry, Urology, Pain Management, ENT, Hand Surgery, Lithotripsy, Brachytherapy, GYN and Laser Surgery.

For more information about Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166 or visit our Contact Page.

©Specialty Surgical Center, 2015
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As an outpatient surgery center, Specialty Surgical Center is equipped to safely provide a wide variety of medical procedures. Carpal tunnel surgery is a common procedure that is used to release pressure on the median nerve, which in turn relieves pain in the wrist and hand.

The carpal tunnel houses the median nerve in the wrist, and if inflamed, can narrow and cause pressure on the nerve, which then causes numbness, tingling, and pain. If left untreated, pain gets more severe and the patient may lose strength in their grip. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused by repetitive use of the hands, and those who are obese, pregnant, or have hypothyroidism, diabetes or arthritis may be at a higher risk to develop carpal tunnel.

At Specialty Surgical Center, carpal tunnel release surgery is done in a safe outpatient setting, and patients are able to return home the same day. The hand surgeon will make an incision where the hand and wrist are joined, and the surgeon will cut the transverse carpal ligament, which will relieve the pressure on the median nerve. The incision will then be closed with stiches, and the patient will spend time in the recovery area and then be allowed to go home. Patients may be prescribed physical therapy or specific exercises to help regain strength and mobility of the wrist.

Those who have carpal tunnel surgery may experience pain relief shortly after the surgery, or it may take a few months before pain goes away.

For more information on carpal tunnel release surgery at Specialty Surgical Center in Sparta, New Jersey, contact us at 973-940-3166 or complete our information request form.

Specialty Surgical Center is located in Sparta, New Jersey and our staff consists of board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists performing procedures in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Spinal Care, Podiatry, Urology, Pain Management, ENT, Hand Surgery, Lithotripsy, Brachytherapy, GYN and Laser Surgery.

For more information about Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166 or visit our Contact Page.

©Specialty Surgical Center, 2015
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As we age, our bones weaken and become more susceptible to fracture. Some will experience widespread weakening of their bones, which is due to arthritis, osteoporosis and other conditions. These conditions can result in higher risk for broken bones, and breaks can happen under common circumstances, like stumbling. Even if a fall doesn’t occur, the jarring motion can cause a break in weak bones.

For women over the age of 50 with osteoporosis, spinal compression fractures can be common. These fractures can occur during daily activities, like bending down, sneezing, or lifting groceries out of the car. Some will notice a sudden, severe pain in their back, while others will notice a gradual onset of symptoms that get worse over time. Other symptoms may include pain that improves when lying down, pain when bending, or pain that gets worse when standing. In severe cases, spinal compression fractures can cause a loss of height or a curved deformity of the spine that results in a “hunchback.”

If not treated, spinal compression fractures can cause further complications including affecting the ability to breathe, problems with the stomach, and pain in the hips.

At Specialty Surgical Center in Sparta, New Jersey, a minimally invasive treatment for spinal compression fractures is vertebroplasty, an outpatient procedure that will stabilize the fracture and restore the height of the vertebra.

In this procedure, the surgeon will guide a needle into the fractured vertebra through a small puncture in the skin. A medical grade acrylic cement will be injected into the fracture, stabilizing it and creating an internal cast within the structure of the vertebra. If fractures are present at multiple vertebral levels, the surgeon will repeat the procedure at the indicated vertebra. The cement hardens within minutes and after a short time in the recovery area, the patient will be allowed to return home.

Many patients will notice pain relief very quickly following the procedure, and will see an increase in their mobility and function.

Specialty Surgical Center is located in Sparta, New Jersey and our staff consists of board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists performing procedures in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Spinal Care, Podiatry, Urology, Pain Management, ENT, Hand Surgery, Lithotripsy, Brachytherapy, GYN and Laser Surgery.

For more information about Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166 or visit our Contact Page.

©Specialty Surgical Center, 2015
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Most people who have a surgical procedure do not end up experiencing a surgical site infection. But, for those who do, it is extremely important to get the infection under control so it does not cause further medical issues.

One of the first steps to prevention of surgical site infection begins in the operating room. All medical staff who will be in the operating room should clean their hands and arms prior to surgery, and measures will be taken during the surgery to prevent infection, such as giving antibiotics before and after the surgery, and cleaning the skin at the site of the surgery. After the surgery, while you are in recovery, all medical personnel should again have clean hands before examining patients, using either soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Before surgery, it is important that patients do not shave with a razor in the areas near the intended surgical site, as it can irritate the skin and make the area more susceptible to infection. Additionally, patients who smoke should stop before the surgery, not only for general health reasons, but because patients who smoke are at a higher risk for developing postoperative infections.

After the surgery, it is important to have clean hands before touching the surgical dressing or surgical wound, and to follow your physician’s discharge instructions on how to care for the surgical wound. Instructions will be given on how soon patients are able to bathe, and proper procedure for cleaning the surgical wound and changing dressings.

If there are any symptoms of infection including redness, pain, swelling, drainage, fever, or heat at the surgical site, patients should call their doctor immediately.

At Specialty Surgical Center in Sparta, New Jersey, every precaution is taken to ensure patient safety, including ongoing training and program implementation across the facility. For more information on Specialty Surgical Center’s patient safety programs, call 973-940-3166

Specialty Surgical Center is located in Sparta, New Jersey and our staff consists of board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists performing procedures in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Spinal Care, Podiatry, Urology, Pain Management, ENT, Hand Surgery, Lithotripsy, Brachytherapy, GYN and Laser Surgery.

For more information about Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166 or visit our Contact Page.

©Specialty Surgical Center, 2015
©Medical Marketing Solutions, 2015

While most surgeries have no complications afterward, there are a few common complications that can happen even with minimally invasive, outpatient surgeries.

Likely the most common postoperative complication is pain. Minimally invasive surgeries generally result in less pain than those that require larger incisions, but patients may still experience pain after the procedure. Be sure to follow all postoperative instructions on what medications you may take following your procedure to help with pain.

Orthopedic procedures carry a higher risk of the development of clots, but clots can occur in any patient following any procedure. Those who smoke, are obese, or who are immobile are at the highest risk for clots. Postoperative clots usually form in the legs, but can move to the lungs where they can potentially become fatal. Swelling in the leg and calf pain are early indicators of a blood clot in the leg, and shortness of breath and chest pain are warning signs that the clot may have traveled to the lungs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 27 million surgeries are performed each year and of those, approximately 1% will experience a postoperative infection. Of these 1%, most infections are minor and only affect the skin, but serious infections can occur and cause 8,000 deaths per year. Symptoms of a postoperative infection include redness, heat, pain, fever, and drainage from the surgical site. If any of these symptoms occur, patients should call their doctor immediately to identify if their symptoms are truly an infection.

At Specialty Surgical Center in Sparta, New Jersey the medical team is focused on providing a safe environment for patients. Through the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and The Joint Commission, Specialty Surgical Center continues to implement programs that place patient safety as a top priority, with the end goal as reducing the incidences of postoperative complications. For more information about postoperative complications, patient safety programs, or Specialty Surgical Center, please call 973-940-3166 or visit our contact page

Specialty Surgical Center is located in Sparta, New Jersey and our staff consists of board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists performing procedures in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Spinal Care, Podiatry, Urology, Pain Management, ENT, Hand Surgery, Lithotripsy, Brachytherapy, GYN and Laser Surgery.

For more information about Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166 or visit our Contact Page.

©Specialty Surgical Center, 2015
©Medical Marketing Solutions, 2015

Chiropractic care is considered alternative medicine and can be extremely beneficial as part of a healthy living or pain management program.

Chiropractic care is based on diagnosing and treating disorders of the musculoskeletal system that are considered mechanical in nature. Chiropractic care does focus on the spine, but can treat other areas of the body. Headaches, migraines, sciatica, and conditions involving disc damage may all benefit from chiropractic care.

During a chiropractic appointment, the practitioner will generally perform an assessment of the patient to determine the focus of treatment. Range of motion and muscle strength may be evaluated, and based on the patient’s health history and prior treatments, x-rays or MRIs may be evaluated as well.

Once a diagnosis or cause of pain has been determined, a treatment plan is usually formed and may include a variety of approaches. In general, the goal of care will be to either restore or improve function of the area that has limited mobility or is causing pain.

There are several techniques that may be used, including spinal manipulation, which is a controlled sudden force to a joint and usually results in a popping sensation and noise; spinal mobilization, which is a milder form of manipulation; forms of electro stimulation such as the use of a TENS unit; and forms of massage.

At Specialty Surgical Center in Sparta, New Jersey, the chiropractic team works with patients to determine their exact source of pain and uses chiropractic care to help relieve pain and restore mobility. Additionally, chiropractic care at Specialty Surgical Center may be done concurrently with clinical pain management therapies to best benefit the patient.

For more information on chiropractic care at Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166

Specialty Surgical Center is located in Sparta, New Jersey and our staff consists of board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists performing procedures in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Spinal Care, Podiatry, Urology, Pain Management, ENT, Hand Surgery, Lithotripsy, Brachytherapy, GYN and Laser Surgery.

For more information about Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166 or visit our Contact Page.

©Specialty Surgical Center, 2015
©Medical Marketing Solutions, 2015

Otolaryngology is also known as ENT, or ear, nose, and throat. Specialists in ENT focus on diagnosis and treatment of conditions that affect that region of the body, including allergy testing and management, polyps, and tonsillectomy.

One of the most common ENT procedures is the removal of the tonsils, two masses of tissue that are located at the back of the throat, one on each side. While tonsillectomy used to be performed more frequently in children for recurring tonsillitis, it is more common now to only remove the tonsils if they cause obstruction or breathing problems while sleeping. However, there are still some cases of recurring tonsillitis that are not cured with antibiotics, and it may be the recommendation of your child’s doctor to have their tonsils removed. Recurring, frequent infections can also cause the tonsils to become enlarged, which can then cause difficulty while breathing and difficulty swallowing.

The surgery is performed on an outpatient basis and is generally fairly straightforward. General anesthesia will be used; the tonsils will be removed with a scalpel or another surgical tool that uses heat to remove the tonsils from the surrounding tissue. After time in recovery, the patient will be allowed to return home.

Pain is the most common symptom following a tonsillectomy, and will usually be located in the throat, at and around the site of surgery. Pain may also be referred into the jaw or neck areas. Pain medications, rest, and soft foods are recommended to recover from tonsillectomy.

For more information about tonsillectomy at Specialty Surgical Center in Sparta, New Jersey, call us at 973-940-3166

Specialty Surgical Center is located in Sparta, New Jersey and our staff consists of board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists performing procedures in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Spinal Care, Podiatry, Urology, Pain Management, ENT, Hand Surgery, Lithotripsy, Brachytherapy, GYN and Laser Surgery.

For more information about Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166 or visit our Contact Page.

©Specialty Surgical Center, 2015
©Medical Marketing Solutions, 2015

Active release technique (ART) is a therapy that is commonly used to treat conditions that are a result of overuse. Conditions including tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, and shin splints may benefit from active release technique.

Active release technique focuses on muscles and soft tissues to help relieve pain, increase or restore range of motion, and allow the patient the ability to regain strength in that area. According to ActiveRelease.com, overused muscles and soft tissues produce scar tissue after trauma to the area, which then makes it difficult for the tissues to move as freely as they once did. This built up scar tissue can also cause recurring pain, tendonitis, and can trap nerves, which could cause tingling, numbness, and loss of feeling in the affected limb.

Active release technique breaks up this scar tissue through use of hands-on therapy in which the therapist will use very specific movements to correct problems and pain that patients are experiencing. What is unique about active release technique is that it is a patented, specific technique with over 500 specific move unique to ART. The moves used on patients are not arbitrary – they are applied based on the specific issues each patient is experiencing.

The use of active release technique is offered as part of the chiropractic program at Specialty Surgical Center in Sparta, New Jersey. Patients who are experiencing pain or muscle tension due to overuse conditions may benefit from active release technique and other chiropractic and surgical services. For more information on how active release technique may help you, call 973-940-3166

Specialty Surgical Center is located in Sparta, New Jersey and our staff consists of board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists performing procedures in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Spinal Care, Podiatry, Urology, Pain Management, ENT, Hand Surgery, Lithotripsy, Brachytherapy, GYN and Laser Surgery.

For more information about Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166 or visit our Contact Page.

©Specialty Surgical Center, 2015
©Medical Marketing Solutions, 2015