LITTLE ROCK – Facing surgery can be a scary prospect at any age. For people whose religious faith is important to them, prayer can be an important way to prepare. It can mean even more when their doctor prays with them.

 

George R. Martin, 82, Little Rock, has had two knee replacement surgeries, one in 2005 and one in 2007. He appreciated having not only a skilled surgeon who took plenty of time to answer questions, but a surgeon who also understood the importance of prayer. Before surgery, Kenneth A. Martin, M.D. (no relation to George Martin), an orthopedic surgeon with Martin Knee and Sports Medicine Center, prayed with his patient.

 

"Before surgery he came in and had prayer with me," George said. "He knows I'm a Christian. I appreciated that very much. Dr. Martin has a real fine reputation in the state. He's number one in my book in all respects."

 

George had very favorable surgical outcomes. Before the surgeries he had trouble walking up stairs at his home without pain. 

 

"Now I don't have any difficulty at all," George said. "I can bring up a load of groceries with no problem at all. I can work out in the yard. I'm very pleased with the way it has turned out. When I saw Dr. Martin for follow-ups, it was like he had all the time in the world to answer any questions. And his office was good about following up to see how things were going."

 

George exercised prior to the surgery to strengthen his knees and legs. He was advised that the real secret to complete recovery was to be conscientious with physical therapy after the surgery. He followed that advice, and was please to completely recover his mobility.

 

Martin says patients who do diligent, appropriate physical therapy have the best outcomes. 

 

"Physical therapy is critical to maximum recovery from bone and joint surgery," Martin said. "A good physical therapist is key. You get the best results when the operation is done correctly, followed by the proper physical therapy. We are blessed in Arkansas to have so many good therapists. Patient results are much better when the appropriate therapy is received."

 

Joint disease typically develops over many years as a part of the natural aging process. It is often accelerated by the stress of athletic injuries—even those suffered decades earlier. The demand for adult reconstructive surgery is expected to increase significantly in the near future as the Baby Boomers reach retirement age and adults continue to be athletically active throughout their lives.

 

Surgery isn't something most people take lightly. Some people who have joint replacement surgery have suffered for years before undergoing the replacement.

 

Most people say they wish they had done it sooner, said Martin, adding, "Recovery from total knee replacement is difficult. It is stressful surgery for the joint, and a challenging rehabilitation process that takes six to eight weeks. But after that, patients are glad they had the procedure."

 

A native of Rison, Ark., Martin graduated from Pine Bluff High School in 1971. He earned his medical degree from the University of Arkansas Medical School and completed his residency in orthopedics there in 1983. After a fellowship in adult reconstructive surgery with Carl Nelson, MD, in Little Rock, he moved to Pine Bluff where he was in private practice until relocating his practice to Little Rock in 1990. He has been a solo practitioner most of his career.

 

Martin, who has a staff of fifteen, specializes in knee replacement and arthroscopic surgery. He has seen techniques and materials for joint replacement surgery improve considerably since he started practicing.

 

"In orthopedics we have seen advances in the materials used for reconstruction and the development of less invasive techniques that cause less trauma to the surrounding tissue," he said. "The patients have faster recoveries with less invasive procedures. The instrumentation we use is better. The accuracy of the surgery is better than it was when we first started."

 

In sports medicine, the primary improvement in recent years has been in the area of ligament reconstruction, Martin said. Today's newer techniques are more precise, allowing more accurate reconstruction of ligaments. He adds that arthroscopic shoulder surgery has also improved in accuracy and reduction of trauma to the joint.

 

In the future, Martin expects even greater advances. Examples include the development of better materials for prosthetic implants and advances in the use of natural cartilage in joint replacement instead of plastic and metal.

 

Asked about his main hobbies, Martin first lists work. 

 

"I like what I do," he said. "I serve a number of high schools and small colleges as their team's sports medicine specialist. I enjoy attending the games and interacting with the coaches and players. It is almost like a hobby I like it so much. Surgery is fun, and it is very rewarding to see patients recover and resume a pain-free normal lifestyle."

 

Martin lists running and reading as favorite pastimes.

 

Although some people, especially as they age, feel like jogging is too hard on their joints, Martin said if you have normal knees, there is no increased damage to knees from running in moderation.

 

Martin and his wife of 34 years, Susan, are active members of Fellowship Bible Church. They are the parents of four grown children. All have graduated from college, and two have entered the medical profession.

 

"We have someone in every time zone in the continental United States," Martin said.