Team Approach Saves Life and Limb for OKC Man

When Jerry Kernahan of Oklahoma City arrived at OU Health University of Oklahoma Medical Center for emergency treatment and consultation on his leg, he looked "like a dead person, like a ghost," said OU Health orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Yingling, D.O., assistant professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.

Dr. Yingling was shocked at the state of the elderly gentleman who was quite literally dying from infection before his eyes.

What began as a concerning infection had turned life-threatening. Bacteria from Jerry’s hip had entered his bloodstream, sending him into shock. But this crisis point was the culmination of a decade-long medical ordeal that would ultimately showcase the innovative power of modern medicine and teamwork.

A Decade-Long Enigma

Jerry’s problems began in 2013 with what should have been a routine hip replacement. However, the implant material proved problematic.

"It was determined after several years that the material they used was not titanium. It was aluminum, and I was having some metal poisoning as a result," Jerry said.

After getting the aluminum hip replaced with titanium at another Oklahoma City clinic, Jerry began experiencing a new challenge. His femur kept breaking. Doctors attempted to stabilize the bone by placing concentric rings around it, but the solution proved temporary.

"I went through all the post-operative training, and I came home. I was home about 20 hours and broke my femur again," Jerry said.

Another surgery followed, but the complications weren't over. By June 2023, Jerry developed a severe infection at a rehabilitation facility.

"When they squeezed the leg, all this brown liquid came out," he said. The situation had become critical, leading to his transfer to OU Health.

The OU Health surgical team faced a daunting challenge. They needed to remove not just the infected hardware in Jerry’s leg, but nearly his entire femur.

"By the time you get to these implants that are multiply revised, there's more and more metal that's taken care of missing bone," Dr. Yingling said. "We practically had to remove his whole femur. It was at the point we considered amputating the whole leg."

Innovative Surgery at OU Health

The solution required a custom approach that went beyond standard medical devices in order to save Jerry’s leg. The team created a specialized prosthetic on the spot, coating an endoprosthesis with antibiotics. They also had to develop an innovative way to reattach muscles that would normally connect to bone, securing them to a metal plate attached to Jerry’s side.

For Jerry, who spent months in various rehabilitation facilities from February through October 2023, the results have been life changing.

"I can walk with it now," he said. "Dr. Yingling designed a piece of stainless steel in two pieces that goes up either side of my femur, and they're held together with a series of spikes. I can put as much weight on it as I want. I don't have to worry about how delicate it is."

The Power of a Team Approach

The success of such complex cases, Dr. Yingling emphasizes, relies heavily on OU Health's team approach. Because of its position as the state’s flagship academic health system, OU Health fosters collaboration and innovation, allowing for advanced treatments and research-driven care. Additionally, as a Level I trauma center, OU Health provides 24-hour coverage by general surgeons and quick availability of care in specialties such as orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology, internal medicine, plastic surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and more. This combination of academic excellence and comprehensive trauma care ensures that patients receive the highest level of medical expertise and coordinated care, leading to successful outcomes even in the most challenging cases.

"I'm just one component," he said. "Every single team member in these cases is important, and you don't have that kind of specialized expertise in one place anywhere else in the state."

This team spirit extends beyond the operating room. Dr. Yingling regularly shares updates with his staff about patients' progress, recognizing that cases like Jerry’s are "stressful for everybody."

"Everyone at OU Health genuinely gives a hoot," Dr. Yingling said. "We're not motivated by money or anything other than utilizing our skills and God's gifts to take care of people."

Gratitude and Recovery

For Jerry, now 78, the experience has left him with deep gratitude for the care he received.

"They took excellent care of me,” he said. “I have no complaints and nothing but gratitude for not only the fact that they took care of me, but how professional and thorough they were. For that, I'll always be very grateful."

Today, Jerry continues his recovery, walking independently and pain-free. His case showcases not just medical innovation at OU Health but the power of a coordinated healthcare team working together to save both life and limb.

Ask your doctor for a referral to meet with an OU Health orthopedic specialist, learn more about orthopedic services, or call(405) 271-BONE (2663).