Pictured is Cecilia Lutz, resident of Swarthmore and former patient of Taylor Hospital’s Rehabilitation Unit. Lutz is surrounded by members of her rehab therapy team: (left to right) Rhonda LaGamba (occupational therapist), Mark Prodoehl (physical therapist), and Nancy Thomas (physical therapist).
Ridley Park, Pa. — Cecilia Lutz, of Swarthmore, is an active woman. An avid gardener and golfer, the 15-year veteran of Taylor Hospital’s Volunteer department is also the recipient of two brand-new knees—thanks to Stuart Gordon, M.D., co-chief of the Section of Orthopedic Surgery at Taylor Hospital and physician for the Crozer-Keystone Human Motion Institute.
Prior to her surgery, Lutz was having a hard time walking, experienced pain while walking up and down steps, and generally could not enjoy her favorite activities. Lutz is very familiar with joint replacement rehabilitation, having spent her 15 years of volunteer service in the hospital’s Occupational Therapy department. Since she sees first-hand the difficulty that patients experience during the rehabilitation process, she was understandably hesitant about having her own surgery done. However, on March 16, 2006, Dr. Gordon performed bilateral total knee replacement on Lutz—which means she had both knees replaced at the same time.
Lutz spent four days in acute care at The Orthopedic Center at Taylor Hospital, where physical and occupational therapists helped her learn how to dress herself using her new knees, get out of bed and up/down from chairs, walk with a walker, do steps, and stretch and strengthen her knees. This therapy was necessary to give her back the mobility and strength needed to safely return to her prior level of function.
Lutz then proceeded to Taylor’s inpatient Rehabilitation Unit for continued physician, nursing and rehabilitation care. This stay maximized her overall function so she could safely become independent again. Following her discharge from Taylor Hospital, she visited Taylor Made Physical Therapy, a full-service outpatient rehabilitation center, for three additional weeks of outpatient physical therapy.
Lutz’s strong will and determination paid off; she made remarkable improvement in her functional mobility. She no longer walks with a walker and does not need adaptive equipment to get dressed. She rates her improvement at a perfect “100 percent” since having her knees replaced. She says, “I was dancing at my grandson’s wedding six weeks after surgery. I felt that I was well prepared for my surgery and what was to come afterward.”
More than a year later, Lutz has returned to all the activities she loves to do. She also participates in a maintenance program three times a week. Her program consists of lower extremity strengthening, bicycling and walking on a treadmill. “I continue to volunteer at Taylor Hospital, I golf and have returned to gardening,” she says. “I was able to return to my active lifestyle thanks to Dr. Gordon and the skilled professional staff at Taylor Hospital.”
For more information about rehabilitation services at Taylor Hospital, call 1-877-CK-MOTION (1-877-256-6846).