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LITTLE ROCK,Ark.–Health experts say there is a shortage of women in Orthopedic Surgery, and to help change that, UAMS gave nearly 40 girls a chance to see what it’s like to be a surgeon.

The event is called the Perry Initiative, named after one of the first female Orthopedics in the nation.

With the help of medical experts, students had a chance to practice stitching on a pig’s foot, learned how to fix a spine, and how to put an external rod on a broken leg.

“Screwing stuff in is the hardest because you have to a lot of strength to push it through the bone and a lot of patience, because you can’t go all the way through it,” Alyssa Linam, Bryant High School said.

This is the fifth year for the event.

Each year, the event invites successful women in the medical field to speak to the girls so they know what it takes to reach their goal in medicine.

Rare Meniscus Transplant Performed as Outpatient Surgery in Danbury by Dr. Ross Henshaw, Danbury Orthopedics’ Sports Medicine Specialist

Patient Able to Avoid Long-Term Arthritis and Return to Normal Activities within 6 months

Rare meniscus transplant surgery is now being performed locally as an outpatient procedure by Dr. Ross Henshaw, fellowship-trained knee and shoulder orthopedic surgeon, and specialist in the treatment of sports-related injuries, at The Sports Medicine Center at Danbury Orthopedics. In the past, patients needing this type of rare surgery were required to travel outside the region. Dr. Henshaw is able to perform this surgery, for patients meeting the strict criteria, right here at the new, state-of-the-art Western Connecticut Orthopedic Surgical Center at 226 White Street in downtown Danbury.

The benefit of this surgery is to prevent early onset arthritis, which is an inevitable side effect when someone loses his or her meniscus tissue due to an injury. “I am excited to offer this option for my patients who meet the criteria so that they can have the surgery, recover in the comfort of their own home, and receive easily accessible follow up care by their own surgeon,” said Dr. Henshaw.

Dr. Henshaw recently treated a 16-year-old male patient who had no meniscus tissue and was facing significant arthritis by his early 20’s. Dr. Henshaw performed the minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery using regional anesthetic (24 hour nerve block) and monitored sedation. The successful meniscus transplant is a highly specialized procedure and one of the few in the state to be performed on an outpatient basis.

The meniscus is a C-shaped disk between the thigh and shin bones, which provides cushioning between the surfaces.  When damaged, the meniscus can lead to excessive wear and tear of the cartilage, and chronic arthritis as the two bones rub together.  The transplant procedure has been available for about 15 years, but the complexity of the procedure and the viability of the knee’s function short-term, without the meniscus, often leads doctors and patients to decide not to treat it.  For a young patient with an active lifestyle, who has healthy cartilage and good alignment to begin with, and who wants to prevent the early onset of arthritis, it makes much more sense.

“This surgery is for a select group of patients and is not for the general population with a meniscus injury,” said Dr. Henshaw. “But for healthy people who need the surgery and would like to recover at home, this is a big advantage. Most patients are able to return to normal activities within 6 months.”

The specialized meniscus transplant procedure involves taking exact measurements of the size of the patient’s bone through x-rays, submitting the measurements to a tissue bank which then provides a matching cadaver transplant graft. The donor meniscus and bone is then shaped to create a custom fit

within the patient’s knee.  Using a camera and specified instruments during surgery, the donor tissue is sewn to the patient’s knee.  The incisions, which are made to each side of the knee, are only 1 ½ to 2 inches in size, which leads to improved recovery time.

“The meniscus transplant procedure is not designed to get patients back to being a ski jumper or professional athlete. It helps restore the normal cushioning of your knee, while helping to prevent the progression of debilitating arthritis,” cautions Dr. Henshaw, “but for the right patient, this is an excellent option to enhance mobility and prevent arthritis.”

Dr. Henshaw is excited that more patients and medical professionals, including internists and primary care physicians, have become educated about this procedure. “This procedure and the fact that we can offer it on an outpatient basis without a hospital stay, is an extraordinary step forward in orthopedic care.  It truly marries advanced surgical technique with the benefits of the outpatient delivery system.  The patient is the one who benefits with reduced pain, improved function, less chance of early arthritis and a better surgical experience,” comments Dr. Henshaw.

Western Connecticut Orthopedic Surgical Center (WCOSC) opened last year to offer the highest quality, state-of-the-art orthopedic surgery on an ambulatory basis to the community. The outpatient facility offers the most advanced technology to assist surgeons with routine and complex procedures. For more information on the center and the surgical center team, please visit www.wcosc.org.

About Danbury Orthopedics:

Danbury Orthopedics is a multi-specialty practice staffed by leaders in orthopedic care since it first opened in 1954; the practice is a member of Western Connecticut Orthopedic Specialists, along with New Milford Orthopedics and Coastal Orthopedics, providing comprehensive care to the community. The practice’s Centers of Excellence provide integrated treatment, offering individualized and compassionate care by a team of specialists. The goal of the practice is to help patients regain mobility, lead active lives and attain optimal well-being. To make an appointment with any of the practice’s specialists, or to learn more about this procedure, or other outpatient procedures at Danbury Orthopedics, please visit http://www.dortho.com/ or call 203.797.1500.

Woodbury-based Summit Orthopedics is recommitting to the community, and in a big way — a big, 7,250-square-foot way.

If all goes according to plans, Summit Orthopedics and the City of Woodbury will both sign a lease next month that will expand Summit Orthopedics’ operations into Bielenberg Sports Center for the next 10 years.

By Summit’s proposal, the medical group will occupy both the space that was vacated by the Minnesota United Football Club, and the second floor area that was previously designated for a restaurant. And Summit hopes to be in full operation at Bielenberg Sports Center by next spring.

Summit Orthopedics representatives shared their plans for the building with the Woodbury City Council during a Nov. 18 workshop.

The company plans to spend about $3.5 million to build out the interior of the space called the “annex” — the space that was originally built to house the Minnesota United’s practice facility. Work on the annex ceased last year when the United stepped out of the contract for the space. The annex includes a brick exterior shell, some basic electrical wiring, and a dirt floor.

Working with Hope Architects, the firm that originally designed the Bielenberg Sports Center expansion, Summit plans to construct a main level and mezzanine level in the vacant space. The company plans to have the main entrance, a reception desk, and spaces for fitness training, physical therapy and the associated equipment on the ground level. The mezzanine space will house doctor offices and X-ray equipment.

The idea, Summit Orthopedics Chief Operating Officer Bill Frommelt said, is to provide sports medicine clinics, sports and rehabilitation therapy, physician clinics, athletic training, strength and speed training, walk-in injury care, fitness classes, personal training, nutrition classes and counseling, and community education, all at BSC.

“From a doctor’s standpoint, we’re all thinking and clamboring about who gets to be there,” Dr. Peter Daly said.

Second floor

Not all of Summit’s plans can be carried out in the annex location, though. That’s why, in addition to the annex space, Summit Orthopedics also wants to lease the space on the second floor of Bielenberg Sports Center, where a restaurant was previously planned

Woodbury City Administrator Clint Gridley said the city did try to market the second floor space to food vendors. However, those who looked at the space thought it was too small, too far from the main level where the activity was, or too close to other food options like Jerry’s Foods or Jimmy John’s, across the street.

And it is for those same reasons, Gridley said, the city is not interested in running a food service operation at BSC, either. For the city, it would be, “very risky business,” he said.

Summit Orthopedics, however, sees a chance to use the space for an extension of its programs. In particular, Mike Weibel, director of ancillary services, said Summit would like to use that open space to hold some of its fitness classes, nutrition classes and community education classes.

The space will also be available for catered social events hosted by either Summit Orthopedics or through the City of Woodbury, but it will not be converted into a formal food service operation.

Woodbury City Council member Paul Rebholz likes everything that is proposed for Bielenberg Sports Center, and he understands the reasons why the second floor space may no longer be used as a restaurant. But he does have reservations about the decision, all the same.

“It’s not that I don’t think (the plan) sounds interesting,” he said. “It’s just that we talked about having food options out there, and I think that’s what people are expecting.”

Still, councilmembers are on board with the proposal from Summit Orthopedics. A few details still need to be ironed out, but the lease is expected to come before council for approval at the Dec. 9 regular meeting.

Commitment to community

The 30-year-old Summit Orthopedics has four locations around Woodbury, and calls the community home. The company employs more than 400 people, most of whom live or work in Woodbury.

The thing is, some of Summit’s current facilities are at capacity, and the company is ready to expand. By building at Bielenberg Sports Center, Daly said, the medical group can serve up to 350 more patients, and start to offer more kinds of wellness and preventative services to the patients they already serve.

“It’s a perfect fit for us,” Daly said. “This commits us more to the community.”

As part of the lease agreement, Summit Orthopedics will commit $100,000 of funding to community wellness or exercise projects in the first year, and another $50,000 annually after that. Possible projects identified in the lease include the Madison’s Place all-inclusive playground, exercise trail management, community wellness events, and other projects to which the city and Summit Orthopedics agree upon in the future.

Summit will begin construction in the annex shortly after the lease is signed. The company has up to 120 days to work on the construction before it starts to pay the monthly rent on the site. By the terms of the lease, Summit will pay $8,625 monthly for the first year; thereafter, rent will increase annually by 1.5 percent. The lease is for a 120-month term.

Becker’s Hospital Review has named the following organizations to the 2015 edition of its list, “100 hospitals and health systems with great orthopedic programs.”

 

The hospitals on this list are national leaders when it comes to several aspects of orthopedic care. They have received recognition for excellence from various reputable organizations in orthopedic areas like joint replacements, orthopedic surgeries and general orthopedic care.

To develop this list, the Becker’s Hospital Review editorial team examined several ranking and award agencies, including U.S. News & World Report national and regional rankings for orthopedics, U.S. News’ common care ratings for hip and knee replacement, CareChex rankings for orthopedic care and major orthopedic surgery, Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement, Healthgrades orthopedic awards and Magnet designation for nursing excellence.

Note: Hospitals cannot pay for inclusion on the list. This list is not a ranking. Organizations are presented in alphabetical order.

ortho-programs-2015


Abbott Northwestern Hospital (Minneapolis). Each year, surgeons at the Orthopaedic Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital perform more than 4,000 orthopedic procedures. [READ MORE]

Advocate Lutheran General Hospital (Park Ridge, Ill.). Surgeons within Advocate Lutheran General Hospital’s Orthopedic Institute perform over 4,500 orthopedic surgeries every year. [READ MORE]

AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center (Atlantic City, N.J.). The AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center Joint Institute has earned numerous awards and accolades. [READ MORE]

Banner-University Medical Center Phoenix. Banner-University Medical Center Phoenix, formerly Banner Good Samaritan Hospital, provides orthopedic care through Banner CORE Center for Orthopedics, which is a partnership between Banner Health and The CORE Institute. [READ MORE]

Baptist Health Care (Pensacola, Fla.). Baptist Health Care includes five hospitals and the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Gulf Breeze, Fla. [READ MORE]

Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University (St. Louis, Mo.). Because Barnes-Jewish is an affiliated teaching hospital of Washington University School of Medicine, the hospital’s physicians are involved in the latest orthopedic science and clinical research. [READ MORE]

Baylor Orthopedic and Spine Hospital at Arlington (Texas). Baylor Orthopedic and Spine Hospital at Arlington specializes in comprehensive outpatient and inpatient treatment of orthopedic and spine disorders. [READ MORE]

Beaumont Hospital (Royal Oak, Mich.). The Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Beaumont Hospital is comprised of more than 40 board-certified specialists and subspecialists, encompassing every field of orthopedics, and a fully accredited residency program with 20 residents — five per year for five years. [READ MORE]

Bethesda North Hospital (Cincinnati). Surgeons at Bethesda North Hospital perform more orthopedic surgeries than any other system in the greater Cincinnati area. [READ MORE]

Boone Hospital Center (Columbia, Mo.). Boone Hospital Center has received numerous awards and recognitions for its orthopedic care. [READ MORE]

Boston Children’s Hospital. Boston Children’s Hospital’s orthopedic program dates back to 1903. [READ MORE]

Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston). Brigham and Women’s Department of Orthopedic Surgery staff of more than 40 physicians provides patients with expert, comprehensive care over four locations in the greater Boston area.[READ MORE]

Carilion Roanoke (Va.) Memorial HospitalWith roughly 30 physicians, Carilion Clinic has one of the largest orthopedics group for an academic medical center in the Commonwealth of Virginia. [READ MORE]

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles). The board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians of Cedars-Sinai’s Orthopaedic Center work to efficiently diagnosis and effectively treat some of the most complex cases involving orthopedic disorders and injuries. [READ MORE]

Centura Health-Penrose St. Francis Health (Colorado Springs, Colo.). Penrose St. Francis Health is home to the Total Joint & Spine Center, an exclusive hospital wing with 33 private rooms designed specifically for hip, knee, shoulder and spine patients. [READ MORE]

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. U.S. News & World Report ranked Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as the best program for pediatric orthopedics in the country for 2015-16. [READ MORE]

Christ Hospital (Cincinnati). Christ Hospital was ranked among U.S. News & World Report’stop 50 hospitals in the nation for adult orthopedics, CareChex’s top 100 hospitals for orthopedic surgery and Healthgrades’ 100 best hospitals for joint replacement on each organization’s most recent lists. [READ MORE]

Christiana Care Health Services (Newark, Del.). U.S. News & World Report ranked Christiana Care Health Services the No. 1 hospital in Delaware and also named it as high-performing in orthopedics for 2015-16. [READ MORE]

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is the No. 4 hospital in the country for pediatric orthopedics, according to U.S. News & World Report‘s 2015-16 rankings. [READ MORE]

Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland Clinic’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery focuses on pediatric orthopedics, hand and upper extremity, musculoskeletal tumors, foot and ankle, joint replacement and adult reconstructive surgery, sports medicine and spine health. [READ MORE]

Delray Medical Center (Delray Beach, Fla.). The physicians at Delray Medical Center provide an array of orthopedic services, including joint replacement, sports medicine, back and spine care, foot and ankle care and orthopedic rehab. [READ MORE]

Duke University Hospital (Durham, N.C.). Duke has long served as a national leader in orthopedic care. [READ MORE]

Emory University Hospital (Atlanta). The highly trained orthopedic surgeons, nonsurgical specialists and physiatrists at Emory University Hospital’s Orthopaedics & Spine Center use innovative approaches to treat patients — many of which were pioneered right on Emory’s own campus. [READ MORE]

Florida Hospital Orlando. Florida Hospital Orlando is home to the Florida Hospital Orthopaedic Institute Orlando, which takes in common and complex orthopedic patients 24/7 and sees more than 4,000 orthopedic patients annually.[READ MORE]

Good Samaritan Hospital (Cincinnati). The Good Samaritan Hospital Orthopedic Center of Excellence focuses on hip and knee replacement, though also offers shoulder replacement and shoulder repair as well. [READ MORE]

Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center. Each year, the HackensackUMC Orthopaedic Institute sees more than 7,000 patients with all kinds of orthopedic conditions. [READ MORE]

Hoag Orthopedic Institute (Irvine, Calif.). The Hoag Orthopedic Institute boasts 70 beds and nine operating rooms specifically designed and equipped for orthopedic cases, more than 300 specialty physicians (including 81 orthopedic surgeons) and a nursing staff that is trained in orthopedic surgical care. [READ MORE]

Holy Cross Hospital (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). The Holy Cross Orthopedic Institute is widely recognized for its quality care. [READ MORE]

HonorHealth Scottsdale (Ariz.) Shea Medical Center. The Scottsdale Healthcare-Shea Medical Center houses a nationally recognized total joint replacement center. [READ MORE]

Hospital for Joint Diseases, NYU Langone Medical Center (New York City). The Hospital for Joint Diseases was originally established in 1905 and has been pioneering new treatments for people with musculoskeletal and neurological disorders ever since. [READ MORE]

Hospital for Special Surgery (New York City). Surgeons at the Hospital for Special Surgery — the oldest orthopedic hospital in the country, as it was founded in 1863 — perform more than 22,000 surgical procedures each year. [READ MORE]

Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania-Penn Presbyterian (Philadelphia). Penn Presbyterian Medical Center includes Penn Orthopaedics, which has physicians in 10 orthopedic subspecialties covering each joint condition, spinal disorder or sports injury. [READ MORE]

Houston Methodist Hospital. The orthopedics and sports medicine team at Houston Methodist is the official healthcare provider of the area’s major sports teams, including the Houston Texans, Houston Astros, Houston Dynamo, Houston Dash and the Houston Ballet. [READ MORE]

Huntington Memorial Hospital (Pasadena, Calif.). Included among the orthopedics services at Huntington Memorial Hospital are total joint replacement, femoral nerve block, carpal tunnel syndrome treatment and autologous chondrocyte implantation. [READ MORE]

Inova Fair Oaks Hospital (Fairfax, Va.). Inova Fair Oaks Hospital is a Blue Distinction+ Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, and U.S. News & World Report named it a high-performing hospital in hip and knee replacement in 2015-16. [READ MORE]

IU Health Academic Health Center (Indianapolis). In addition to being a Blue Distinction Center+ for Knee and Hip replacement, IU Health Academic Medical Center has the only program in Indiana to appear among the top 50 hospitals for adult orthopedics on U.S. News & World Report‘s 2015-16 list. [READ MORE]

John Muir Medical Center (Walnut Creek, Calif.). Ranked among the top 50 hospitals in the country for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report for 2015-16, JohnMuirMedicalCenter has the largest, nonacademic orthopedic program in California. [READ MORE]

Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore). The Johns Hopkins Department of Orthopaedic Surgery was founded in 1900.[READ MORE]

Lancaster (Pa.) General Hospital. In addition to sports medicine and total joint replacements, the Orthopedic Center at Lancaster General features a geriatric fracture program, focused specifically on detecting early risk to minimize negative effects of geriatric bone fractures and improving patient outcomes. [READ MORE]

Lehigh Valley Hospital (Allentown, Pa.). Lehigh Valley Hospital is part of the Lehigh Valley Health Network and has two locations in Allentown. [READ MORE]

Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston). Orthopedic physicians at Massachusetts General treat more than 80,000 patients annually and the hospital’s orthopedic program is over 100 years old. [READ MORE]

Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.). Two of Mayo Clinic’s main campuses — in Rochester, Minn., and Phoenix, Ariz. — were nationally ranked for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report for 2015-16. [READ MORE]

McLaren Orthopedic Hospital (Lansing, Mich.). Part of McLaren Greater Lansing, the McLaren Orthopedic Hospital is the largest dedicated orthopedic hospital in Michigan. [READ MORE]

Mercy Health Anderson Hospital (Cincinnati). Anderson Hospital is a Blue Distinction Center+ for Knee and Hip Replacement, and CareChex ranked the hospital among its top 100 for both orthopedic care and orthopedic surgery for 2016.[READ MORE]

Mercy Medical Center (Baltimore). The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital at Mercy Medical Center is home of the first orthopedic surgeon in Maryland to perform a MAKOplasty minimally invasive partial knee procedure. [READ MORE]

Morristown (N.J.) Medical Center. Each year, physicians at Morristown perform more than 1,800 joint replacement surgeries and treat more than 1,500 patients with complex skeletal injuries.[READ MORE]

Mount Carmel New Albany (Ohio) Surgical Hospital. This specialty hospital focused on orthopedic, neurologic and musculoskeletal care has been named among Healthgrades’ 100 best hospitals for joint replacement annually since 2014.[READ MORE]

Nebraska Orthopaedic Hospital (Omaha). Ranked the No. 47 orthopedic hospital in the nation for 2015-16 by U.S. News & World Report, as well as being rated high-performing for hip and knee replacement in the publication’s common care ratings, Nebraska Orthopaedic is the first facility in the region dedicated to orthopedic care. [READ MORE]

Nemours Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children (Wilmington, Del.). Nemours has provided leading orthopedic care since 1940. [READ MORE]

New England Baptist Hospital (Boston). Ranked No. 10 in the nation for orthopedics in U.S. News & World Report‘s 2015-16 rankings,New England Baptist is dedicated to research efforts and is home to the NEBH Registry. [READ MORE]

NewYork-Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell (New York City). New-York Presbyterian offers orthopedic services at both its Columbia University Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medical Center through Columbia Orthopaedics and Weill Cornell Orthopaedics. [READ MORE]

NorthShore Evanston (Ill.) Hospital. The Orthopaedic Institute at NorthShore Evanston Hospital offers a wide array of orthopedic services including joint care, spine care, sports medicine, hand and upper extremity care, foot and ankle care, pediatrics and trauma care. [READ MORE]

Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital (Winfield, lll.). Central DuPage Hospital became part of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare after Cadence Health joined the Chicago-based system in 2014. [READ MORE]

Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago). The Center for Comprehensive Orthopaedic and Spine Care at Northwestern Memorial Hospital features six centers of excellence, including an orthopedic surgery program, a geriatric fracture program and a joint replacement program. [READ MORE]

Novant Health Charlotte (N.C.) Orthopedic Hospital. Founded in 1976, Charlotte Orthopedic Hospital provides a full range of services for orthopedic injuries and conditions and is the region’s only orthopedic hospital. [READ MORE]

Ochsner Medical Center (New Orleans). The only orthopedics program in Louisiana and Mississippi to be ranked among the nation’s top 50 by U.S. News & World Report for 2015-16, the Ochsner Medical Center has more than 20 orthopedic surgeons. [READ MORE]

The Orthopaedic Hospital of Lutheran Health (Fort Wayne, Ind.). The Orthopaedic Hospital of the Lutheran Health Network is fully accredited by the Joint Commission and is one of the few hospitals in the U.S. dedicated to orthopedic care. [READ MORE]

Parkview Ortho Hospital (Fort Wayne, Ind.). Parkview Ortho Hospital, a part of Parkview Health, is a specialty hospital focused solely on orthopedics.[READ MORE]

Porter Adventist Hospital (Denver). Porter Adventist Hospital, which is Magnet-recognized for nursing excellence, serves as a referral center that specializes in joint replacement and spine surgery, among other specialties.[READ MORE]

Poudre Valley Hospital (Fort Collins, Colo.). A 270-bed regional medical center, Poudre Valley Hospital has been recognized by Healthgrades as one of America’s 100 best hospitals for joint replacement, orthopedic surgery and spine surgery for the past three years. [READ MORE]

Providence-Providence Park Hospital (Southfield, Mich.). Providence-Providence Park Hospital, previously Providence Hospital & Medical Center is part of the St. John Providence health system. [READ MORE]

Rady Children’s Hospital (San Diego). Rady Children’s Hospital includes orthopedic specialists who treat the full range of pediatric orthopedic disorders and conditions, including traumatic injuries.[READ MORE]

Roper Hospital (Charleston, S.C.). Designated a Blue Distinction Center+ for Knee and Hip Replacement, Roper Hospital was founded in 1829 as the first community hospital in the Carolinas. [READ MORE]

Rush University Medical Center (Chicago). Recognized for its pioneering work on minimally invasive hip surgery and specialization in minimally invasive techniques, Rush University Medical Center was named No. 6 in the nation for orthopedic care for 2015-16 by U.S. News & World Report[READ MORE]

Saint Helena (Calif.) Hospital. Part of Roseville, Calif.-based Adventist Health, Saint Helena Hospital is designated a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement. [READ MORE]

Sanford USD Medical Center (Sioux Falls, S.D.) The Sanford Center for Joint Success at Sanford USD holds a Gold Seal of Approval in hip, shoulder and knee joint replacements from The Joint Commission. [READ MORE]

Scripps La Jolla (Calif.) Hospital. This Magnet-designated hospital was ranked the No. 23 hospital in the nation for adult orthopedics in U.S. News & World Report‘s 2015-16 rankings. [READ MORE]

Sharp Coronado (Calif.) Hospital. More than 500 elective joint replacement surgeries are preformed at Sharp Coronado Hospital each year, and eight out of 10 of the hospital’s orthopedic patients return home within two days of surgery. [READ MORE]

St. Charles Medical Center-Bend (Ore.). With roots dating back to 1918, St. Charles Medical Center-Bend opened in its current location in 1975.[READ MORE]

St. Cloud (Minn.) Hospital. Founded in 1886 by the Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict, St. Cloud Hospital has grown from a small, community hospital to a 489-bed regional medical center.[READ MORE]

St. Francis Downtown (Greenville, S.C.). Part of Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, St. Francis Downtown has established itself as a leader in orthopedic care.[READ MORE]

St. Francis Hospital (Roslyn, N.Y.). The Orthopedic Surgery Department at St. Francis Hospital covers the full range of services and is one of the busiest departments at the hospital, playing host to more than 2,000 surgical procedures each year.[READ MORE]

St. Francis Hospital & Medical Center (Hartford, Conn.). With roots dating back to 1897 when the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Chambéry opened a two-room hospital in Hartford, St. Francis Hospital & Medical Center has grown into a regional referral center and major teaching hospital.[READ MORE]

St. Luke’s Boise (Idaho) Medical Center. St. Luke’s Boise Medical Center, part of St. Luke’s Health is the No. 2 hospital in Idaho, according to U.S. News & World Report‘s 2015-16 rankings. [READ MORE]

St. Vincent Hospital & Health Services (Indianapolis). St. Vincent Hospital provides orthopedic care at its St. Vincent Orthopedic Center, which is home to both joint replacement and spine programs.[READ MORE]

Stanford (Calif.) Hospital. Stanford Health Care’s Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine Clinic’s 45 physicians offer a host of orthopedic services, ranging from arthritis and joint replacement to orthopedic surgical oncology.[READ MORE]

Sutter Medical Center (Sacramento, Calif.) Sutter Medical Center is the recipient of many awards in recognition of its excellence in orthopedic care. [READ MORE]

Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital. For the 11th consecutive year, Tampa General Hospital was ranked one of the best in the country for orthopedics for 2015-16 by U.S. News & World Report, and the publication also named it as high-performing in knee replacement in its common care ratings this year. [READ MORE]

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital (Plano). Texas Health Plano recently completed a $25.4 million expansion project adding five specially designed orthopedic operating rooms to its campus. [READ MORE]

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (Philadelphia). Thomas Jefferson University Hospital houses the largest orthopedic surgery program in the Delaware Valley and is consistently ranked as a top hospital for orthopedic care by U.S. News & World Report. [READ MORE]

UC Davis Medical Center (Sacramento, Calif.). The University of California, Davis Medical Center is a leader in orthopedics on the West Coast. [READ MORE]

UC San Diego Medical Center. UC San Diego Medical Center is the No. 1 hospital in the San Diego metro area and No. 5 hospital in California, according to U.S. News & World Report‘s 2015-16 rankings. [READ MORE]

UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital (Santa Monica, Calif.). The UCLA/Orthopaedic Hospital Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is an alliance between UCLA Health and Orthopaedic Hospital that started in 1998. [READ MORE]

UCSF Medical Center (San Francisco). Physicians at the UCSF Orthopaedic Institute at UCSF Medical Center treat a wide range of orthopedic conditions, including disorders of the ankle, foot, hip, knee and spine.[READ MORE]

University Hospital (Augusta, Ga.). Part of the University of Health Care System, University Hospital includes orthopedic and neurosurgeons who provide medical care for numerous conditions, including degenerative joint disease; arthritis of the hip, knee, shoulder or ankle; or conditions requiring joint replacement. [READ MORE]

University Hospitals Case Medical Center (Cleveland). University Hospitals Case Medical Center’s Department of Orthopaedics offers a spectrum of care for adult and children’s orthopedic needs through nine specialty divisions.[READ MORE]

University of Alabama Hospital at Birmingham. The University of Alabama Hospital at Birmingham is one of the 20 largest in the nation and is what the health system calls “the centerpiece of UAB’s clinical enterprise.” [READ MORE]

University of Colorado Hospital (Aurora). University of Colorado Hospital was named No. 25 in the nation for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report in 2015-16, and the publication also called out the hospital as high-performing in hip replacement in its common care ratings this year. [READ MORE]

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (Iowa City). University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, a Magnet-designated, Blue Distinction Center+ for Knee and Hip Replacement, provides team-based care for multiple orthopedic conditions and pediatric orthopedic conditions. [READ MORE]

University of Kansas Hospital (Kansas City). University of Kansas Hospital — ranked No. 34 in the nation in 2015-16 for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report — provides award-winning care to award-winning teams including 2015 World Series Champion Kansas City Royals and the Kansas City Chiefs NFL team. [READ MORE]

University of Virginia Medical Center (Charlottesville). UVA Medical Center offers a range of orthopedic services from total hip and knee replacements to bone cancer treatment to finger implants. [READ MORE]

University of Washington Medical Center (Seattle). University of Washington Medical Center is the No. 1 hospital in the state, according to U.S. News & World Report‘s 2015-16 rankings, and is also No. 27 in the nation in orthopedics. [READ MORE]

University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics (Madison). The physicians in the department of orthopedics and rehabilitation at UW Hospitals and Clinics provide a full range of surgical services, including joint reconstruction and replacement, trauma surgery, surgery of the foot, ankle, hand and upper extremity and pediatric orthopedic surgery.[READ MORE]

UPMC (Pittsburgh). The department of orthopedic surgery at UPMC offers comprehensive services for the full spectrum of musculoskeletal conditions. [READ MORE]

Valley Medical Center (Renton, Wash.). Valley Medical Center has an entire floor dedicated to joint and spine patients. [READ MORE]

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Nashville, Tenn.). Vanderbilt University Medical Center is ranked as high-performing in orthopedics in U.S. News & World Report‘s 2015-16 national rankings, and is also considered the No. 1 hospital overall in Tennessee, according to U.S. News. [READ MORE]

Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center (Richmond). Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center was ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 hospital in Virginia and in the top 50 in the nation for orthopedic care in 2015-16. [READ MORE]

Washington Hospital (Fremont, Calif.). Washington Hospital is one of the nation’s top 100 hospitals for joint replacement and orthopedic surgery, according to Healthgrades’ 2016 awards.[READ MORE]

Washington Regional Medical Center (Fayetteville, Ark.). The Total Joint Center at Washington Regional includes surgeons and staff who focus on helping joint replacement patients. [READ MORE]

Yale-New Haven (Conn.) Hospital. U.S. News & World Report ranks Yale-New Haven Hospital the No. 1 hospital in Connecticut and named it high-performing in orthopedics in its 2015-16 rankings. [READ MORE]

The likelihood of shoulder injury and shoulder surgery was increased when professional baseball players had insufficient shoulder external rotation on the throwing side, according to study results.

“In the past, clinicians and people dealing with individuals with shoulder injuries related to baseball and overhead sports have often looked at the loss of internal rotation, commonly referred to as GIRD [glenohumeral internal rotation deficit], as a reason for shoulder injuries and this paper portrays it as the complete opposite: do not worry so much about the loss of internal rotation, but the loss of external rotation seems to correlate more so with injuries,” Kevin E. Wilk, PT, DPT, FAPTA, associate clinical director at Champion Sports Medicine in Birmingham, Ala., told Orthopedics Today.

Passive range of motion

Wilk and his colleagues assessed passive range of motion of the glenohumeral joint during spring training among 296 professional pitchers between 2005 and 2012. Overall, 505 examinations were performed, with researchers recording passive range of motion data for external and internal rotation in 288 pitchers. Researchers also measured external and internal rotation, as well as forward shoulder flexion, in 287 pitchers.

After initial passive range of motion examination, 17% of pitchers had 75 shoulder injuries that placed them on the disabled list. Overall, 7% of the pitchers on the disabled list required surgery.

Kevin E. Wilk, PT, DPT, FAPTA
Kevin E. Wilk

Compared with the non-throwing shoulder, results showed pitchers had less internal rotation, total rotation and flexion, but they had more external rotation in their throwing shoulder. Researchers found 18% of 288 pitchers had glenohumeral internal rotation deficit, of which 12% were placed on the disabled list and 4% required surgery. Total rotation deficit was found in 46% of 288 pitchers. Of these, 21% were placed on the disabled list and 8% underwent surgery, according to study results.

Among 287 pitchers with forward flexion measurements, flexion deficit was found in 18%. Researchers found 12% of pitchers with a flexion deficit were placed on the disabled list and 6% required shoulder surgery. Insufficient external rotation was noted in 46% of 288 pitchers. Results showed pitchers with insufficient external rotation were 2.2-times more likely to be placed on the disabled list, as well as 4-times more likely with undergo shoulder surgery when compared to pitchers without insufficient external rotation.

“What we found was … [that] external rotation was actually protective to the shoulder and we were surprised that we did not find association with the loss of internal rotation or the loss of cross-body motion,” Wilk said.

Future research

Wilk said these are not absolute findings and more research is needed on the topic that should span across gender, teams and levels of sport.

“This is a group of individuals on one particular team over an 8-year period. It would be interesting to look at this with either other teams or other levels, such as college, high school players or even recreational athletes,” Wilk said. “We may find completely different findings in the female softball player in college vs. the recreational male baseball player, as well, and it may also vary based on skill level. These are all professional [players] so the question is are there individuals at lesser skill levels that maybe will not have these adaptations.” – by Casey Tingle

Disclosure: Wilk reports no relevant financial disclosures.