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Page 1 - January 30, 2020 / McHenry County News
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VOLUME 10 • ISSUE 6
7124 WINDSOR LAKE PARKWAY, SUITE 5 • LOVES PARK, IL 61111
THURSDAY, JAN. 30, 2020
Knee replacement surgery aided by robot The area’s first robot-assisted knee replacement surgery occurred Jan. 15 at Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital. Dr. John Daniels, medical director of the Hip and Knee Replacement Center, performed the partial knee replacement procedure on Susanne McNicholas, a 50-year-old patient from West Dundee. The surgery was the first of its kind in the McHenry County and northern Kane County area. Daniels performed three robot-assisted knee surgeries on Wednesday, and Dr. Brian Flanagan performed one with several others planned. The system uses a 3-D model of the patient’s knee or hip and helps the surgeon place the implant in the most accurate position. The robot protects nearby ligaments and tissues from additional damage. “Today’s robotic surgery added a new level of precision that will definitely benefit patients,” Daniels said. “The robotic arm helped me fine-tune the implant placement so Susanne will have a natural feeling in her knee after she recovers. It’s exciting to know this will help patients experience less pain and recover faster.” Candidates for robot-assisted joint replacement surgery are patients who are no longer receiving adequate relief from conservative treatment options such as bracing, medication or joint fluid supplements. They may experience severe knee or hip pain as a result of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, traumatic arthritis or avascular necrosis, which is the death of bone tissue. Daniels said McNicholas’ surgery went exactly as planned and took just over an hour. Anthony Brown, vice president of operations at Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital, said the new robot, called the Mako robotic arm-assisted technology, cost $1.2 million. “The robotic arm is an investment in technology that will improve patients’ recovery and their long-term satisfaction,” Brown said. Brown also said the investment reflects Northwestern Medicine’s commitment to bringing advanced care to the community. “Since we joined Northwestern Medicine a year ago, we have been carefully re-examining the needs of our patients and community members to plan accordingly,” Brown said. “The purchase of this robotic arm is just the beginning of the investments that Northwestern Medicine is making to bring better care to the McHenry County and northern Kane County area.” A study released in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery said 90 percent of patients with knee osteoarthritis who would potentially benefit from knee replacement are waiting too long to have it and getting less benefit. The study’s lead investigator, Hassan Ghomrawi, associate professor of surgery at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, said people who wait too long lose function of their legs and become depressed as their osteoarthritis advances. People who delay surgery also receive fewer benefits from the procedure compared to those who get it at the most ideal time.
BOB WEDER PHOTO McHenry County News
The Illinois Railway Museum has come out with its 2020 schedule, including special events throughout the year. Visit www.irm.org for updates.
Railway museum lists schedule for 2020 The Illinois Railway Museum has announced that it has finalized its 2020 operating schedule. The schedule is available at www.irm.org/calendar. A list of special events planned for 2020 is on the museum’s hours and admission page. Popular family-themed special events including Bunny Trolley Hop, Day Out With Thomas™, Pumpkin Train and Happy Holiday Railway are returning. Some of these events are being expanded with additional dates and attractions. Other popular events including Diesel Days, Night Trains on
Labor Day Weekend, and Museum Showcase Weekend are also returning in 2020. Color coding on special event days has been changed to indicate whether the event requires a special ticket (coded red) or whether general admission rates apply (coded orange). Passes are not honored on specially-ticketed events. One addition to the general operating schedule is that electric train operation will occur on Saturdays in April, starting on Saturday the 18th, for the first time in many years. Another addition to the schedule
is that chartered train operation is now available on non-operating open weekdays (coded green) during the spring and fall. If you are interested in bringing a group to the museum and/or chartering a train on one of these dates, please contact our charter coordinator. The museum will add information on operating equipment for each day to the online calendar soon. All information on train operations is subject to change dependent on volunteer availability and mechanical considerations. Make sure to check back at www.irm.org for updates.
‘I voted’ sticker features Susan B. Anthony 4-H Knitting Class McHenry County Clerk Joe Tirio and his staff on Friday, Jan. 17, unveiled the first in a series of limited edition, commemorative “I voted” decals. The sticker features a bust of Susan B. Anthony, champion of women’s suffrage. “Recognizing a woman’s right to vote was a landmark moment in our country’s history, and a fitting subject for our first commemorative decal. Susan B. Anthony is the undisputed leader of the women’s suffrage movement and is an icon of our country’s commitment to diversity and inclusion,” Tirio commented. The decals will be deployed to all early voting locations in limited quantities. “In addition to honoring Miss Anthony and the 19th amendment, our hope is to get more of our citizens out to vote early, to reduce congestion on Election Day,” he added. Early voting begins in the Clerk’s office on Feb. 6. Between March 3 and March 16, you can vote at one of the 13 early voting locations. “We’ve expanded our early voting opportunities to make it easier than ever before to find a convenient place and time to vote.” Tirio continued. “We encourage early voting for its convenience, and because ‘life happens’ and sometimes it happens on Election Day. Voting early ensures your vote gets counted.”
in Woodstock
COURTESY PHOTO McHenry County News
Susan B. Anthony, suffrage pioneer, will be featured on a limited edition series of “I voted” stickers in McHenry County early voting locations.
The staff of the county clerk’s office encourages you to visit their website for the most updated information regarding early voting, Election Day voting
and any other election related topics at www.mchenrycountyil.gov/county-government/departments-a-i/county-clerk.
Meetings on Saturdays: Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22, March 7. Class begins at 9-11 a.m. in the small conference room at the Extension Office, 1102 McConnell Road, Woodstock. Participants will work on all levels of ability at each class. If you have to leave early, no problem. Youth wanting to participate can give feedback on what projects they want to do and what specifically they would like to learn. Youth and parents (encouraged to participate) should bring size 8 needles (long or short, their preference) and solid color, light colored yarn. Note: yarn is available that has been donated to the program. The extension asks for a $5 commitment fee per family at the first meeting to cover the cost of some supplies. New to 4-H members welcome. Enroll in the Knitting Club in 4HOnline. Select Fiber Arts or Heritage Arts as your project area. Enroll Online: 4-H Online is the online enrollment system. The online system is easy to use and there are guides below that help step you through the process. Visit web.extension.illinois.edu/ registration/?RegistrationID=21416. New to 4-H? Set up a family account using the online instructions for new families and new 4-H members. Contact the extension office at 815-338-3737 or maavang@illinois. edu if you need assistance.