BIONIC PARTS: Knee replacements are getting less invasive, less painful and faster-healing, thanks to advances in strategies and instruments. Dr. Terence Delaney, an orthopedic surgeon at Community Hospital of Los Gatos is one of the practitioners of those newer methods.
Delaney, who lives in Saratoga, has practiced in Los Gatos since '93. He received training in knees, shoulders and hip replacements through The Zimmer Institute. Zimmer is a leading creator of orthopedic surgical products.
In the newest surgical procedures, the size of the incision made is 3-5 inches, compared to 8-12 inches in traditional surgery. Tendons aren't cut in the newer versions and muscles are not manipulated. Shorter hospital stays and swifter rehabilitation result.
Implants used are the same in both types of surgeries.
When damage is confined to only one part of the knee, the patient may qualify for a partial knee replacement, called Uni Knee by Zimmer. Uni Knee can even be performed on an outpatient basis. Zimmer training is so specialized it's by invitation only.
Earlier, Delaney completed a joint reconstruction fellowship at Stanford U. He served his orthopedic surgery residency at the Catholic Medical Center/Cornell U. in NYC. Surgical internship and residency was at St. Luke's Hospital/Columbia U.
Delaney attended medical school at the NY Medical College and his BA is from Holy Cross College in Massachusetts.
He is married to Caroline, who works in corporate investments, and they have two sons.
The less invasive techniques may well become standard procedure in the future, but the learning curve for the doctor is a steep one, Delaney warns.
It's a much trickier, more delicate job because the surgeon's field of vision is so restricted with the smaller incisions. It takes a highly trained, experienced surgeon.
TOUR DEVOTEE: Saratogan Peter Knight witnessed part of the Tour de France for the second year in a row up close and personal. His interest is in the hill climbs--in the Alps, Pyrenees and Massi Central--where the bikers face strenuous uphill battles, but still manage clips of 25-30 mph.
The Knight way to see the race ideally is at a medieval village hotel, where one can sip champagne, see the race flash by--in two minutes or less--and then watch it on TV for the remainder of the day. Failing the finding of an appropriate hotel, a village cafe with outdoor tables fulfills the same function.
One fascinating by-product of the tour is the bizarre caravan that precedes it that is seldom mentioned, Knight says. Jeeps and other vehicles are decorated in outlandish ways and whiz by while the riders throw gifts out the windows for the crowds, much like a revved-up Mardi Gras sailing by.
Knight is tri-lingual, which helps in following the tour. He and wife Fay were born in England and lived in France for five years and also Holland, before settling in California. Their grown children are Alanda Orozco, Merisa Halperin and Walter Knight.
The last two went to Saratoga High and Merisa was valedictorian at SHS in '94. Today she and her husband farm in Hollister and live in a solar passive designed house they had built. No energy bills for them.
The most amazing human energy expended remains that exhibited during the three-week-long Tour de France.
HOW TO BE HAPPY: Genie Dee, executive director of the Saratoga Senior Center, is offering a three-day course in a new psychology called positive psychology.
The class, titled the Happiness Seminar, will be offered Aug. 17, 24 and 31, 9:30-11:30 a.m., at the center. Cost is $39.
The computer-based course will examine what makes people truly happy and why acquiring sought-after goals doesn't always lead to satisfaction. Ability to use a computer mouse is required. Sign ups will be taken at the center or at 408.868.1253.
Dee took a positive psychology course online based on the book Authentic Happiness, written by University of Pennsylvania professor Martin Seligman. The Saratoga class will be a distillation of her take on the course. Another version will be given later on for those not conversant with the mouse.
NEW OFFICERS: New officers for the Community Concert Association are Sue Rizzi and Patty Weber, co-presidents; Lea Frey and Diana Pleasant, co-vice-presidents; Ray Aylesworth, membership; Eve Stephens, secretary; and Saul Miano, treasurer.
New board members are Janet Engle, Joyce and Bill Goodrow and Kevin Hayashi. For season tickets for the coming year the contact is Ray Strong at 408.377.1106.
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By Mary Ann Cook