Surgical Services
For nearly 100 years, Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center has transformed the surgical experience for patients in East Tennessee.
From the area’s first robotically-assisted surgery system to our state-of-the-art hybrid operating room, Fort Sanders Regional provides patients with more options and the best surgical technology available. We also offer traditional surgical options including advanced laparoscopy and day surgery procedures.
General Surgery
You may undergo general surgery for a wide array of common conditions and diseases, typically impacting the breasts, endocrine system, gastrointestinal tract, colon, liver, pancreas, and rectum.
At Fort Sanders, we have advanced technologies, including robotically-assisted surgery and laparoscopic surgery, plus highly-trained staff to provide you with the excellent surgical care you deserve.
Robotically-Assisted Surgery
Fort Sanders Regional was the first hospital in East Tennessee to introduce robotically-assisted surgery in 2004. With the robotics system, the surgeon’s hand and finger movements are performed on a computer console that is directly linked to robotic instruments positioned inside the patient through tiny incisions. The small incisions mean:
- Less pain
- A shorter hospital stay
- A quicker recovery for patients
Laparoscopic Surgery
Laparoscopic surgery has become the procedure of choice for many patients and surgeons in our area because it also offers less scarring, less pain, and a more rapid recovery than traditional surgery.
Laparoscopy can be used for several different types of procedures, including removal of:
- The gallbladder
- The appendix
- The adrenal gland
- Several types of hernias (hiatal, incisional, inguinal, etc.)
Most laparoscopic surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis, with patients in the hospital for less than 24 hours. Recovery time is greatly minimized with many patients returning to work in just three to five days.
Learn more about surgical services at Fort Sanders Regional here.
Orthopedic Surgery
Fort Sanders Regional’s Joint Center is a leader in hip and knee joint replacement providing pain relief and increased mobility and activity. Our team of experienced orthopedic surgeons, nurses, clinicians, and therapists work together to stay on top of the latest technological advances and minimally invasive surgical techniques to provide better care for patients.
Additionally, Fort Sanders Regional is home to Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center. The Center’s orthopedic program is dedicated to providing services to persons who have undergone hip and knee replacements. Orthopedic inpatient rehabilitation is generally of short duration with follow-up care provided by home health agencies or outpatient clinics. Covenant Health has therapy centers located throughout our region, so convenient rehabilitation after your surgery is easily available.
Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery can often benefit morbidly obese people or those with obesity-related illnesses who have been unable to lose weight through other methods. Fort Sanders Center for Bariatric Surgery is accredited as a Comprehensive Center under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement and is led by Mark Colquitt, MD.
Dr. Colquitt is a board-certified surgeon who has helped patients lose thousands of pounds.
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
At Fort Sanders Regional, we use the most advanced techniques available for spinal surgery. Our minimally invasive spine procedures lead to less pain, shorter hospital stays, and a quicker recovery.
Our minimally invasive spine center performs more than 300 elective surgeries each year. Of those patients, 93% go directly home after one night in the hospital, rather than being transferred to a rehabilitation hospital or nursing facility for recuperation.
Gamma Knife: An Alternative to Traditional Brain Surgery
Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center is a regional referral center for patients with the most complex neurological and neurosurgical conditions.
In addition to traditional surgical methods, Fort Sanders Regional is proud to be home to the newest and most-advanced Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion® unit, a non-invasive stereotactic radiosurgery procedure used to treat brain tumors and other neurological disorders. Gamma Knife uses diagnostic imaging and 3D treatment planning software to deliver targeted beams of gamma radiation to affected areas inside the brain. The beams converge, destroying cancer cells, while minimizing the damage to healthy brain tissue.
Gamma Knife treatment is typically performed in one outpatient appointment, with minimal side effects as compared to traditional brain surgery.
Patient Stories
| Tracy Shelton is a business owner and mom of two teenagers who leads a busy lifestyle. In 2018, she underwent bariatric surgery at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center and has since lost 175 pounds. > | Brenda Chandler is thankful to the Fort Sanders Regional team for saving her life. After surgery to remove cancer in 2021, she is feeling great. > |
