Rescue Your Knees

With help from Dr. LaButti, there is no reason for your knees to be achy another day of your life.

Ronald LaButti, D.O., has been changing patients’ lives by offering the Stryker surgical navigation system for total knee replacement surgery.  Specializing in orthopedics at Central States Orthopedic Specialists, Dr. LaButti is one of the first surgeons in the Tulsa area to perform this computer-assisted knee and hip replacement procedure.  His first priority is to improve the quality of life for patients by vastly reducing pain and restoring mobility.

The Stryker surgical navigation system is the most advanced system of its kind and has helped obliterate much of the guesswork in knee and hip replacement surgery.  The revolutionary procedure promises shorter hospitalizations, fewer post-operative complications and improved knee joint stability and longevity.  

“I became extremely interested in hip and knee surgery, which led me to seek a one-year fellowship in lower extremity and joint reconstruction,” Dr. LaButti says.  “I studied under Kenneth Krackow, M.D., an internationally recognized for innovative advancements in hip and knee replacement surgery.”  Fellowships are optional and require six months to several years of extra training, depending on the specialty.

“It was a rare opportunity to learn first-hand alongside one of the forefathers of this amazing technology,” Dr. LaButti added.  “Working so closely with one of the Stryker system’s originators has enabled me to fully understand and utilize this remarkable technology to the fullest potential.”

The Stryker navigational system, which is FDA-approved for both knee and hip replacement surgery, restores mobility while minimizing the risks to the patient.  “The two main variables attributed to a successful knee replacement are proper alignment and balance of the knee ligaments,” Dr. LaButti says.  “This system greatly minimizes or, in some instances, completely eliminates those variables.  It’s like having a powerful surveyor tool in the operating room.”

The Stryker navigational system is much like the Global Positioning System used in cars.  It acts as a precise guide for surgeons by using an infrared camera, markers and unique instrument software.  The position and mechanical alignment of the implant components relative to the patient’s knee anatomy is continually monitored.  Just as a wheel alignment affects the life of automobile tires, precise alignment is the key to smooth movement and long-term wear in knee replacements.  

The system has greatly enhanced doctors’ abilities to restore the range of knee function and return patients to active lifestyles.  An added benefit of the Stryker system is that there is no need for pre-operative MRI or CT scanning.  The computer system gathers all the information required during the procedure.

“Knee replacement surgery is already successful, but this system helps us get even closer to perfection,” Dr. LaButti says.  “It allows surgeons to map out the knee before any bone is cut and monitor progress throughout the operation.  We can give patients new knees with the best possible strength, stability and range of movement, even in different or abnormal anatomic situations.”

In addition to knee replacement surgeries, Dr. LaButti has also found the Stryker navigational system to be extremely useful in other minimally-invasive procedures required by many of his patients.

Dr. LaButti says, “I am committed to providing the best orthopedic care to all of my patients.  Realizing the uniqueness of each patient, my goal is to empower patients to make informed decisions regarding surgery.  Physical, emotional and socioeconomic needs need to be assessed.”

For more information about Dr. LaButti or the Stryker surgical navigation system, call Central States Orthopedic Specialists, Inc. at (918) 481-2767 or visit www.hipandkneedoc.com.