For Your Benefit
For and about Hawaii's military
See also: In The Military
VA supports knee surgery,
but it’s done on mainlandQuestion: I read about some questionable knee surgery the other day. Is Veterans Affairs involved in this type of surgery?
Answer: Yes, but not in Hawaii. That has to be done on the mainland at Stanford University. Arthroscopic surgery for osteoarthritis of the knee was questioned by VA researchers. The study found that patients who underwent "placebo" arthroscopic surgery for osteoarthritis of the knee were just as likely to report pain relief as those who received the real procedure. This is one of the most common surgical procedures for osteoarthritis of the knee.
The research was done by VA and the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and the results were published in the July 11 New England Journal of Medicine. In the study, 180 patients with knee pain were randomly divided into three groups. One group received surgery in which worn, torn or loose cartilage was cut away and removed with the aid of a pencil-thin viewing tube called an arthroscope. The second group underwent arthroscopic lavage, in which the bad cartilage was flushed out. The third group underwent simulated arthroscopic surgery, in which small incisions were made, but no instruments were inserted and no cartilage removed.
During the two years of follow-up examinations, patients in all three groups report moderate improvements in pain and ability to function. However, patients receiving "placebo" surgery reported the same decrease in pain and improvement in function as the other two groups. In fact, the placebo patients reported better outcomes at certain points during follow-up. The VA research results cast doubt on the benefit of this common procedure.
Q: My husband is currently in Afghanistan. Can he expect any health problems such as those who served in the Gulf War?
A: Troops will be at risk for infectious diseases, including viral hepatitis (A and E), and malaria. Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan are high-risk countries for infectious diseases and high-altitude illnesses. Other diseases that some veterans may encounter include typhoid fever, diarrhea diseases such as cholera, and insect-borne disease such as malaria and dengue fever. High-altitude problems include cold injuries and respiratory disorders. Veterans from this conflict should contact the nearest VA medical center for a medical examination. There is no charge.
If you have questions about your benefits as a veteran,
call Fred Ballard at the Veterans Affairs at 433-0049
or the Star-Bulletin at 529-4747.Gregg K. Kakesako, who covers military affairs for the Star-Bulletin,
can be reached by phone at 294-4075
or by e-mail at gkakesako@starbulletin.com.
