Innovative Surgical Table Helps Expand Local Access to Advanced Care

ThedaCare has new surgical equipment expected to benefit many patients needing to undergo hip surgery. 

That help comes in the form of a Guardian HipCheck Surgical Table. The new surgical tool is designed to help improve the patient experience during and after arthroscopic hip surgery. 

Arthroscopic hip surgery is a minimally invasive procedure used to diagnose and treat hip joint conditions. It is performed using a small camera and instruments that are inserted into the treatment area through tiny incisions. The camera projects images of the joint onto a large monitor to help the surgeon repair issues such as tears and cartilage damage. 

The Guardian HipCheck Surgical Table helps enhance the arthroscopic hip surgery experience, said Dr. Nickolas Linkous, a Sports Medicine Orthopedic Surgery Specialist at ThedaCare Medical Center-Orthopedic, Spine and Pain. He performs arthroscopic hip surgeries among other orthopedic procedures.

Dr. Nickolas Linkous

An Enhanced Procedure

“The hip is one of the tightest joints in the body,” Dr. Linkous said. “We have traditionally had to separate or distract the joint surfaces to create space for arthroscopic tools. That meant positioning a post between the patient’s legs, near the groin area, to help open the joint. With this innovative surgical table, we can distract the hip without the use of a post, avoiding potential complications such as nerve injury.” 

Patients who are best-suited for hip surgery using the Guardian HipCheck Surgical Table include those who suffer from hip pain with a labral tear or impingement in the joint, he said. 

Here’s how the surgical table is used, Dr. Linkous explained. 

“The patient lies on the table. Their feet are fitted inside special boot-like harnesses that are then secured to attachments at the end of the table,” he said. “The surgical table then uses the patient’s own body weight to help distract the hip joint, no post needed. This technology even allows us to manipulate related imaging in 3D and take real time measurements based off of that, which may help further enhance the overall surgical experience for our patients.” 

Access To Advanced Care

The surgical table was purchased for ThedaCare Medical Center-Orthopedic, Spine and Pain with support from the ThedaCare Family of Foundations. 

“The Foundation is proud to support such an innovative, technological service that is designed to help enhance the overall patient experience. It’s another effort to help improve the collective health of the communities ThedaCare serves,” said Barbara Beuscher, CFRE, Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer, ThedaCare Family of Foundations. “We are delighted to support endeavors that help expand local access to advanced care, ensuring more patients and their families are able to receive the high-quality health care they need and deserve.” 

Use of the surgical table may help reduce the risk of surgical complications, Dr. Linkous said. 

“Removing the traditional post and instead using the specialized, boot-like harnesses may help us minimize groin, foot or ankle-related issues and provide safer, more efficient access for hip arthroscopy,” he said. “We’re proud to offer our patients this innovative surgical table. It helps us make cutting-edge technology accessible to patients here in northeast and central Wisconsin and may help minimize people’s need to travel for similar services.” 

ThedaCare offers several options for Orthopedic care. Visit ThedaCare’s Hip Surgery program to schedule an appointment or explore care options.

About ThedaCare

For more than 115 years, ThedaCare® has been improving the health and well-being of the communities it serves in northeast and central Wisconsin. The organization delivers care to more than 650,000 residents in 17 counties, and employs approximately 7,000 providers and team members at 180 points of care, including 10 hospitals. As an organization committed to being a leader in Population Health, team members are dedicated to empowering people to live their unique, best lives. ThedaCare is a not-for-profit health system with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs, as well as primary care. ThedaCare also partners with communities to understand needs, find solutions together, and encourage health awareness and action. ThedaCare is part of Froedtert ThedaCare, Wisconsin’s most comprehensive health care system.