New Orthopaedic Surgery Table
edit – IMG_5688
Nichole Hull, Orthopaedic Resource Nurse
The Orthopaedic Surgery Department at Niagara Health performs over 1000 joint replacements and fracture repairs each year.
To meet the ever-growing need for these procedures, Niagara Health Foundation donors have raised $180,000 to purchase a brand-new orthopaedic surgery table. 
“We perform elective joint replacement surgeries and also have to keep up with emergencies that come in,” explains Nichole Hull, resource nurse for joint orthopaedics. “To meet both of those demands, we recently hired more orthopaedic surgeons but also needed more equipment. We are thrilled that Foundation donors were able to help.”
The new table is used for surgeries for fractured hips, trauma cases and certain hip replacements. “It is very different from a table used in general surgery,” Nichole explains. “It has leg holders that are highly adjustable, which is very important in orthopaedic surgery. We need to be able to manipulate the leg we are working on – increase and decrease traction during surgery, check the rotation – these are all things that can easily be adjusted with the table.”
The new equipment has also been designed with X-ray use in mind. “We use specialized, C-shaped X-ray devices for these procedures that provide real-time imaging. They fit around this table perfectly, so incorporating X-ray into surgeries is quick and easy.”
The addition of staff and this second orthopedic surgery table have significantly increased Niagara Health’s capacity. “It allows so many people to get their surgeries in a timely manner,” says Nichole, adding that she is grateful for Niagara Health Foundation donors who made this possible.
“These gifts help more people get the surgeries they need, which benefits both patients and our community as a whole. I want donors to know that they’re making a huge difference.”
For Nichole, working in orthopaedics means helping people get back to their regular lives – lives without pain and full of the things they love. “I often hear from people who cannot wait to get back to things like playing golf or going for walks. For me, that is the beautiful thing about orthopaedic surgery. People come in in pain, sometimes barely able to walk, and I know that this surgery gives them their life back. I am grateful to know that I played a small part in that journey back to health.”
New Orthopaedic Surgery Table
The Orthopaedic Surgery Department at Niagara Health performs over 1000 joint replacements and fracture repairs each year.
To meet the ever-growing need for these procedures, Niagara Health Foundation donors have raised $180,000 to purchase a brand-new orthopaedic surgery table.
“We perform elective joint replacement surgeries and also have to keep up with emergencies that come in,” explains Nichole Hull, resource nurse for joint orthopaedics. “To meet both of those demands, we recently hired more orthopaedic surgeons but also needed more equipment. We are thrilled that Foundation donors were able to help.”
The new table is used for surgeries for fractured hips, trauma cases and certain hip replacements. “It is very different from a table used in general surgery,” Nichole explains. “It has leg holders that are highly adjustable, which is very important in orthopaedic surgery. We need to be able to manipulate the leg we are working on – increase and decrease traction during surgery, check the rotation – these are all things that can easily be adjusted with the table.”
The new equipment has also been designed with X-ray use in mind. “We use specialized, C-shaped X-ray devices for these procedures that provide real-time imaging. They fit around this table perfectly, so incorporating X-ray into surgeries is quick and easy.”
The addition of staff and this second orthopedic surgery table have significantly increased Niagara Health’s capacity. “It allows so many people to get their surgeries in a timely manner,” says Nichole, adding that she is grateful for Niagara Health Foundation donors who made this possible.
“These gifts help more people get the surgeries they need, which benefits both patients and our community as a whole. I want donors to know that they’re making a huge difference.”
For Nichole, working in orthopaedics means helping people get back to their regular lives – lives without pain and full of the things they love. “I often hear from people who cannot wait to get back to things like playing golf or going for walks. For me, that is the beautiful thing about orthopaedic surgery. People come in in pain, sometimes barely able to walk, and I know that this surgery gives them their life back. I am grateful to know that I played a small part in that journey back to health.”
