What is a "Center of Excellence?"
A "Center of Excellence" is a physician practice in which decisions are made and advice is given based on the best scientific evidence available at the time (Evidence Based Medicine). Although past experience is helpful, science is usually a better way to predict what treatment strategy will give the highest possibility of success. A Center of Excellence is not a Research Center such as treatment centers in a University setting, where research studies are often being done. Although helpful to science and future patients, research studies are not part of the Center of Excellence concept as they invite potential for less than optimal results and may even harm a patient. A Center of Excellence is also not a practice in which the latest advertised treatment option or procedure is utilized. New procedures have often not been proven over time to be as safe or as successful as time-tested "work-horse" procedures.
Knee Arthroplasty:
Dr. Abrahamsen uses the posterior cruciate substituting design to improve correction of alignment and motion in the deformed knee. Dr. Abrahamsen utilizes a knee replacement that has been implanted in over 1,000,000 patients worldwide over a 25+ year period with no material or design changes for 10 years. There is no knee design with a better track record. DePuy PFC Sigma Total Knee
Hip Arthroplasty: The cemented stem Dr. Abrahamsen employs has been used for over 30 years with a 100% success rate in over 3,000 patients with a minimum 10 year follow up. DePuy Cemented Hip Stem
Revision Hip Arthroplasty: Dr. Abrahamsen has incorporated Impaction Grafting using the Depuy Hip Stem. Impaction Grafting has a 95% success rate at 10 years. DePuy Impaction Grafting Using the C-Stem
Shoulder Arthroplasty: One of the most exciting recent developments in orthopaedic surgery is the Reverse Total Shoulder. This new design is a solution for painful shoulders in which the rotator cuff is either absent or retorn after surgery. Dr. Abrahamsen has completed formal training and has adopted this surgery into his practice. Patients who could not touch the top of their head can resume painfree activities and live a comfortable life again. DJO Reverse Shoulder
Arthroscopic Knee Surgery: Dr. Abrahamsen has been a faculty instructor at the AAOS Orthopaedic Learning Center in Chicago for advanced arthroscopic knee surgery. He performs arthroscopic meniscectomy and meniscal repairs and patellar re-alignment. He has incorporated state-of-the-art ACL reconstruction into his practice using hamstring tendons or tibialis anterior allografts to avoid problems from patellar tendon autografts such as patellar fracture and patellar arthritis. Biomet Sports Medicine ACL Femoral Fixation ACL Tibial Fixation
Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery:
One of Dr. Abrahamsen's special interests is arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery. He also performs total shoulder replacements, as well as surgery for the shoulder instability (including dislocations). Biomet Sports Medicine
An exciting advance is the use of PEEK biomaterials to allow implants without metal (which interferes with MRI testing) and without the risk of foreign body reaction seen in 'bioabsorbable' implants. PEEK Biomaterials Rotator Cuff Repair Labral Repair
Hand Surgery: Carpal Tunnel Release, Trigger Fingers, CMC Arthroplasty (for base of the thumb arthritis), and Ganglion Cysts
Fracture Treatment: Adults and children, upper and lower extremities.
One of the most exciting advances in treating wrist fractures is the use of locking plates to restore wrist anatomy and function without the severe stiffness and prolonged treatment time associated with external fixateurs. Synthes 2.4 mm LCP Volar Column Distal Radius Plate
