TESTIMONIALS

If you’re going to climb trees for a living, you need good knees. Robbie, a tree surgeon for the town of Nutley, NJ, was suffering from terrible knee pain.

After 23 years working for the Shade Tree Department and a lifetime of athletic assault from years of playing ice hockey, Robbie was left with a deteriorating left knee at the age of 47. His days at work were painful; his nights ended with ice bags on his knee. The mornings were excruciating; getting out of bed became a daily chore. Even arthroscopic surgery could not help.

“I couldn’t walk properly, and I was in constant pain,” Robbie said. When he met with Dr. Femino Robbie wasn’t sure what to expect.

“He took his time in explaining to me exactly what I needed to have done,” Robbie expressed. “He was very reassuring; it’s obvious he cares about people.”

Total Knee Replacement

Robbie’s total knee replacement took less than one hou and Robbie is quick to proclaim “it was the best thing I ever did.” His pain disappeared after one month and the swelling in his knee became a distant memory.

“When I went back to work I would bring an ice pack, but I didn’t need that. Then I would do my exercises, but I didn’t need to do that. Now, when I see the doctor, it’s never about my knee.”

It’s also a lot easier to keep up with his young son Robbie.

“I have my life back.”

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Fifty-one year old Andrea had almost gotten used to the hip pain that that she suffered for years. Avascular necrosis, a degenerative condition, had gotten the best of both her hips, to the point she referred to her pain as “an old friend.”

This “friend,” however, was not kind. Gradually, Andrea was able to get around less and less. Gone were the thrills of riding roller-coasters around the country, a favorite hobby she shared with her husband. Gone were trips to the mall. Even shopping at the local grocery store had become unbearable.

Finally, Andrea’s right hip dislocated, causing her gait to become lopsided with subsequent pain in her knee. She needed more and more medication to help manage the pain. That was when her physical therapist referred her to an orthopedist for further examination. “He told me that my case was too complex, and that he wouldn’t touch me with a ten-foot pole,” Andrea remembered.

Turning Point

Then he referred her to the specialist who was known to take on complex, challenging cases -- the doctor that orthopedists turn to with difficult cases.

The day she hobbled into Dr. Femino’s office was the turning point for Andrea, the day she was reassured that surgery would indeed change her life for the better. Within a short time Andrea had surgery to replace both hips. Three months after her last surgery she was not only back at the mall, she was back to her favorite hobby – riding those wicked coasters.

“Since I’m never in pain anymore, I forget that I have new hips,” Andrea now says matter-of-factly. “I was afraid to have surgery, but Dr. Femino was very reassuring, and I always felt comfortable. He is wonderful.”

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For an avid tennis player like Charles, a deteriorated hip meant that eventually he would have to give up a game he loved so much. The pain was getting too unbearable, and he struggled even to get through a game of doubles at the local tennis club.

But Charles was a believer in medicine and technology. He had beat Stage 3 lung cancer at the age of 73 and was not about to let his bad hip stop him. His primary doctor, whom he acquired during his cancer treatment, referred him to a surgeon he believed could work another “miracle” in his life – Dr. Femino.

Promising Surgery

Charles underwent hip replacement surgery – with Dr. Femino utilizing a technique called “The Anterior Approach.” This highly innovative procedure, practiced by few orthopedic surgeons because of the technical skilled required, promises less pain and faster recovery.

“It was spectacular, the best thing that happened to me,” Charles said, recalling the surgery that changed his life. After two days in the hospital and less than a week of therapy, Charles reported that his pain had disappeared. As simple as that.

In April Charles went down to Florida and began playing tennis – this time without pain. By August he was playing in tournaments and he never looked back.

“I couldn’t even play singles, and now I was playing in tournaments.”

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For Dr. Ronald Viscuso, a nephrologist at Clara Maass Medical Center, it was becoming difficult making rounds at the hospital with his bad knee. Luckily, help wasn’t too far away. In fact, it was right next door.

Dr. Viscuso needed a partial knee replacement, and a prestigious NYC hospital told him he would need a three-day hospital stay. He opted to have Dr. Femino perform the surgery, and he is not afraid to tell you he made the right decision.

“Before I had surgery I looked like an old man limping, I couldn’t keep up with my wife. Now I can keep up with anybody,” he proudly stated.

Dr. Viscuso was especially happy with his speedy recovery following Dr. Femino’s surgery. He was walking at home five hours after surgery and in his office seeing patients eight days after surgery. In two weeks he was back at the hospital doing his normal rounds. Pain, for him, had become a distant memory.

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For Madeline, it was never a matter of “if” she was going to have hip replacement surgery, but more like “when.” Her job as Dr. Femino’s Office Manager put her closer to every detail of the hip surgery process than most patients.

Madeline’s hip pain had started to become a nuisance, getting in the way of her busy job, active lifestyle and time spent with grandchildren. She recalled the quick decision she made to have the surgery, taking advantage of a last-minute cancellation on Dr. Femino’s schedule.

“The doctor didn’t think I would be able to get all the pre-admission tests in less than a week, but there was no way I was going to wait to have my surgery,” she said.

Madeline got all the required tests and underwent anterior approach hip replacement surgery. She tossed away a cane she was using shortly after surgery and was soon driving friends around, much to their astonishment. She was back at work in two weeks and has never looked back.

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For years, Lenny was having trouble with constant pain in his shoulders. A truck driver for 15 years with UPS, it didn’t help that his job required him to lift packages and pull pallets.

Lenny took medication to help alleviate the pain, but it was soon apparent that the damage to his shoulder after years of wear and tear and taken its toll. “My quality of life just reached new lows and I had trouble sleeping through the night,” Lenny remembers. A radiologist who examined Lenny’s x-rays referred him to Dr. Ducey, who informed him he would need shoulder replacement surgery, a procedure that replaces the degenerative shoulder joint with titanium and plastic parts.

Life-Changing Surgery

Lenny underwent surgery for his right shoulder and remembers how Dr. Ducey’s caring bedside manner helped calm his apprehensions. During his recuperation, which included outpatient therapy three times a week for six months at a local physical therapy center, Lenny began to feel so much better that he decided to have his left shoulder joint replaced also.

“I had such a good experience with Dr. Ducey that I was not as apprehensive going in the second time,” Lenny said, adding that it was “definitely worth it.” “I felt very confident in Dr. Ducey’s skills, and would highly recommend him.”

Lenny’s surgery on his left shoulder took place several months later and the 63 year-old truck driver is now back at work with new shoulders -- and without pain.

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As a nurse on the orthopedic floor at Clara Maass Medical Center, Hazel knows that lifting patients comes with the territory. But while she was helping other patients recover from surgery, the physical stress she experienced on her job was slowly wearing away her own shoulder joints.

Hazel began experiencing pain in first her right shoulder, then her left shoulder, caused from torn rotator cuffs, a system of muscles and tendons that attach the arm to the shoulder joint and enable it to move. When the time came to see a doctor, see didn’t have far to look.

“I knew his reputation just from working in the unit,” Hazel explained. “I was able to see first hand the kind of doctor he is.”

Repairing the Damage

Hazel’s pain was so severe that she had trouble doing even the simplest functions, like combing her hair, or dressing herself.

Hazel had arthroscopic surgery first on her right shoulder and shortly after on her left shoulder. Dr. Ducey was able to repair the damage through minimally invasive techniques. She had a speedy recovery and returned to work three months after each surgery.

“Dr. Ducey is not only a very good surgeon, he is pleasant, explains everything, and was so encouraging during my recuperation. “I tell people that Dr. Ducey is the best.”

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When Desmond , a programming manager for Mandee Shops, twisted his knee shoveling in his back yard, he knew it wouldn’t bode well for his running avocation. This was troublesome, considering he ran six days a week and trained year-round for running events like the Boston Marathon.

A runner since 1982 and president of the Essex Running Club, Desmond was soon unable to run and the pain became worse. His primary physician advised him to find a good orthopedic surgeon. As luck would have it, he found Dr. Ducey on the Lacrosse field, where both his son and Dr. Ducey’s son were competing on the school team.

Running Again

In his office, Dr. Ducey carefully explained how he would arthroscopically repair the torn meniscus, a piece of cartilage that absorbs shock inside the knee joint. By using the arthroscope, the repair could be made quickly and with minimal pain. Desmond had the surgery and was running again in five weeks. Within three months he was training for his next marathon – without any pain. “I feel very lucky because I have full mobility in my knee,” Desmond explained. “I have a friend who had the surgery last year and is still suffering .”

Desmond ran the Boston Marathon at an impressive 3 hours and 33 minutes, and will continue to challenge himself, thanks to the expertise of Dr. Ducey.

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A Bloomfield police officer for 17 years, Michael of West Caldwell was no stranger to trauma.

On-the-job accidents over a period of five years, including a fall through a roof and fall at a gas station had wreaked havoc on his shoulders, leaving him in desperate need of pain relief.

Like so many patients in search of good medical care, Michael found himself paging through lists of potential doctors, unable to work and experiencing relentless pain. Thankfully, he soon heard about Dr. Ducey through colleagues in the police department who knew of his expertise in arthroscopic surgery.

Another Accident

Dr. Ducey sucessfully performed Michael’s left shoulder arthroscopic surgery. However, no sooner had Michael returned to work than the patrol car he was riding in spun out of control on a patch of ice and crashed, resulting in injury to the right shoulder .

This time Michael didn’t waste any time calling Dr. Ducey, who performed right shoulder arthroscopy. All along, Dr. Ducey was there to help and encourage Michael.

“I hadn’t had much luck with other doctors, I thought they were disrespectful,” Michael remembered. “Dr. Ducey’s demeanor is very compassionate, he doesn’t let you leave the office until all your questions are answered. He’s a special guy,” he said.

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"My ankle hurt when I walked. It even hurt to drive. I had been to other doctors and they diagnosed me with tendonitis. After ankle arthroscopic surgery by Dr. Queler, I recently went back to the dance studio. It’s so nice to be able to return to what I love most and to not be in pain while I’m doing it."
Caitlin, ankle arthroscopy

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"I wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you did for my Mom throughout her illness. It was the worst, most frightening time of my life, and your presence was the only calming factor. Dr. Queler, you are clearly a gifted surgeon, but beyond that, your empathy, honesty, and compassion are immeasurable. You were like a breath of fresh air any time you walked into her room. You explained things honestly, but with true care and concern. I know how hard you worked with Mom, and how much time out of the hospital you spent thinking about her and her condition. You also put together a wonderful team of doctors to work with her, and I know that it’s thanks to all you did that we had my Mom for another year and a half."
Debbie, severe bone infection in both feet

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"Having served in the military, I can objectively and unequivocally state that the demeanor, efficiency and professionalism of your office staff, the nurses and in particular Dr. Queler were of the highest quality."
Roy Horowitz, MD, ankle fracture surgery

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