7 columbushosp.org During a knee replacement surgery, the doctor removes the damaged surfaces of the knee joint and resurfaces the joint with a prosthesis, or artificial knee, that’s made out of metal and plastic. In Cremers’ case, the outer part of each of his knees was completely worn out, and he had lost a large amount of bone in that area. “We had to consider the severe bone loss,” Kolstad said. “We did that by using additional parts that were made of metal to fill in the bone loss. We also used a slightly different type of knee implant that made up for the damaged ligaments. You have to go into a surgery like this with a thorough plan, so you’re ready for any possibility.” An amazing transformation Cremers’ first surgery was a success, so Kolstad went ahead with his left knee replacement in May 2024. And oh, what a difference the surgeries made. Cremers progressed from needing to use a walker to being able to walk a mile without a walker or a cane. His wife, Marlene, said he gained four inches in height because his deformity was gone. “I’ve been just great since the surgeries and the physical therapy I had afterward,” Cremers said. “I’ve been really amazed and satisfied with how fast I can walk. All the people at CCH were tremendous to work with.” Kaare Kolstad Jr., MD, right, was able to successfully replace both of Jim Cremers’ knees, in spite of the challenges presented by the long-term damage they had sustained.
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