Elizabeth Morton

Grinding knee pain was depriving Elizabeth Morton of an active lifestyle. She underwent two arthroscopic knee surgeries and many other non-operative therapies, searching for any treatment that could provide relief. Eventually, she had to walk with a cane, avoided stairs, and couldn't play with her children. There were nights that the pain was so severe that Elizabeth literally cried herself to sleep.

The type of condition that Elizabeth suffered from was known as patellofemoral arthritis. This is painful arthritis behind the kneecap. After exhausting all her conservative treatment options, orthopedic surgeons told Elizabeth that total joint replacement would be the next step but that she was too young. They recommended waiting before getting a total joint replacement.

The pain and the feeling of "shards of glass" in her knee were intolerable. Elizabeth wondered if there was a joint implant that would help her specific condition. She began her search for an implant system that would relieve her pain without replacing the entire joint.

When Elizabeth found the Vanguard™ PFR implant, she says, "I just knew it was the answer," and her seventh orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Charles Bryant, agreed. After Dr. Bryant thoroughly explained the procedure, Elizabeth decided to have patellofemoral joint replacement with the Vanguard™ PFR.

Elizabeth recalled her experience after surgery and said, "I expected it to be absolutely horrible and it wasn't. I just kept telling everybody that the only pain I had was the discomfort of having just had surgery, but that nagging nightmarish pain I had suffered for over two years was completely gone."

Three months after surgery, Elizabeth was once again able to dance and play with her children. While she still exercises to maintain strength, she is once again able to enjoy the activities that her knee pain took away from her.

Elizabeth says, "my first three days [after surgery] were very hard... but on the fourth day I turned a corner and I've never looked back."

For more information on the Vanguard™ PFR from Biomet®, click here.

This article is meant solely for educational use and is not meant to replace or promote one orthopedic surgeon's advice or practice over another. Individual results may vary. Surgery involves potential risks and requires recovery time. The life of any joint replacement will depend on your age, weight, activity level, and other factors. Only an orthopedic surgeon can determine if surgery is right for you. Please click here to search for a local orthopedic surgeon.

The persons named in this article have consented to be named and have given Biomet, Inc. the exclusive right to use their personal and medical information for educational purposes.