Fox Cities News

Dan Heinritz, a former athlete and physical education teacher, recently found relief from years of debilitating knee pain through robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery. The procedure was performed by Dr. David Liebelt at ThedaCare Medical Center-Orthopedic, Spine and Pain.

Heinritz's active lifestyle, which included playing contact sports and leading adventure education activities, took a toll on his knees over the years. Despite trying cortisone injections and an osteotomy, his symptoms persisted. When his ability to enjoy activities like walking and biking with his wife Jill was affected, Heinritz decided it was time for surgery.

"The pain in my knees got to the point where I finally decided, I’ve got to just do the surgery," Heinritz said. "I asked myself, ‘why walk around on knees that are killing you?’"

For his second knee replacement, Heinritz chose a surgeon specialized in robotic-assisted surgery. Dr. Liebelt explained that during the procedure, worn-out areas are replaced with synthetic materials shaped like healthy cartilage.

"We pride ourselves on getting patients like Dan in as soon as possible and creating a treatment plan that works for them," Dr. Liebelt stated.

The ROSA robotic knee system used in Heinritz’s surgery provided additional information to assist the surgeon during the operation. "It’s just another tool to help surgeons perform a better knee replacement," Dr. Liebelt noted.

Following his second knee replacement surgery in July 2023, Heinritz experienced a quick recovery and returned to work after six weeks. Now nearly 18 months post-surgery, he enjoys daily walks and frequent bike rides with his wife.

Reflecting on their recent travels to Alaska and Montana, Heinritz said: "It was true test of one year out... It was easy."

He advises others considering knee replacement not to delay: "If you’re in severe pain, don’t wait too long."

Dr. Liebelt expressed satisfaction seeing Heinritz return to activities he loves: "When a surgery is successful and a patient like Dan is back to the things that makes him happy, that’s the ultimate reward for a surgeon."

ThedaCare Medical Center-Orthopedic offers comprehensive orthopedic care options ranging from non-surgical treatments to complex surgeries within one facility.