Orthopedics

How unproven orthopedic treatments impact health care costs

Physician
July 31, 2023

I am a clinically retired orthopedist who completed my residency training in the mid-80s. I trained at a university residency program with faculty who were both forward-thinking and innovative, yet always grounded in evidence-based medicine. It was understood that many traditional concepts in orthopedic surgical care had not been challenged and lacked convincing clinical data to justify their continued advocacy. Examples included post-operative immobilization, avoidance of internal fixation in the …

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Optimize your knee injury recovery without surgery

Conditions
July 24, 2023

Recently, growing attention has been given to the fact that some types of surgery may be overrated. This article succinctly summarizes the situation, citing dozens of studies showing that some orthopedic surgeries popular in past decades had no better results than non-invasive treatments.

This issue is deeply personal to me. In 2020, during the pandemic, I sustained an injury to my left knee, experiencing severe pain, swelling, and loss of …

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Cracking the code to a healthy spine: Revealing the secrets of aging gracefully [PODCAST]

Podcast
June 14, 2023
YouTube video

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Join us in this enlightening episode as we welcome orthopedic surgeon and author Yoshihiro Katsuura, who sheds light on the process of spinal degeneration and the secrets to aging gracefully. With a focus on back and neck …

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The incredible journey of pregnancy: endurance, resilience, and unconditional love

Conditions
May 13, 2023

“Pregnancy is the longest duration and highest energy expenditure that humans can experience. Mothers probably aren’t surprised by this.”
-Herman Pontzer

How fast you can run depends on why, for how long, and, more importantly, the drive that sets the purpose for why you are running in the first place. In all emergencies, trying to avoid becoming a tiger’s lunch does not take long: You either run as hard as ever to …

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Reversing the aging process with neuroplasticity [PODCAST]

Podcast
May 1, 2023
YouTube video

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Join orthopedic surgeon Michael Day as he shares his insights on how to reverse the acceleration of aging through lifestyle, habits, and even thoughts. Michael explains the role of neuroplasticity in enhancing the performance of our bodies …

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The sacred work of a quality doctor: lessons in contemplative medicine

Physician
April 17, 2023

This past year I was fortunate to begin a fellowship in contemplative medicine at the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care. Maybe this isn’t the extra-curricular activity you would expect from an orthopedic trauma specialist. Since I entered medical school almost 30 years ago, this has been the most rewarding experience by far.

Why? We all know our system is broken, but its brokenness goes beyond the “for-profits, occasionally also …

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United by medicine: a journey of friendship, success, and the power of character [PODCAST]

Podcast
April 13, 2023
YouTube video

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Join us in this episode as we dive into the incredible bond between Sharyar Baradaran, a periodontist, and Arya Shamie, an orthopedic surgeon. Despite their different religious backgrounds and specializations, these two childhood friends from Iran have …

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Lessons from an orthopedic surgery journey [PODCAST]

Podcast
March 30, 2023
YouTube video

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Today’s episode features John Chase, an orthopedic surgeon and author of You What?!: Humorous Stories, Cautionary Tales, and Unexpected Insights About A Career in Medicine.

John shares some of his most memorable moments interacting with patients throughout his …

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Discover the power of breathing: How a lesson in pediatrics helped me find inner calm

Physician
March 7, 2023

“Until I know you better, I will tell you how to breathe!”

It’s my first day at the pediatric orthopedic hand specialty clinic on my pediatric ortho rotation in my third year of residency.

I have just been barked at by the professor emeritus, a retired Army colonel, who runs the service.

He didn’t tell me how to breathe, but he affected it.

Prior to this, my upper-level resident told me that I have …

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The physician-patient connection: Ensuring mutual understanding

Physician
February 28, 2023

Do patients truly understand?

The question is not meant to be rhetorical. I have many conversations throughout the day with patients across all socioeconomic backgrounds and with varying levels of education.

The discussions include details surrounding their disease-specific particulars, treatment options, and surgical protocols. Patients digest my thoughts and then respond with specific questions of their own. They ask for instructions as well as the nuances of the healing process.

I confess that …

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Unlocking the potential of occupational therapists: a solution to undertreated hand conditions

Physician
February 13, 2023

Hand disorders and injuries often result in significant functional deficits if not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner. Unfortunately, in Canada, hands are often undertreated or treated too late, with potentially serious consequences for both the patient and society due to prolonged disability.

Hand conditions are complex and require specialized knowledge to diagnose and treat correctly. Unfortunately, primary care physicians rarely have the training or expertise to accurately diagnose and …

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Patients’ hilarious comebacks: a doctor’s perspective

Physician
January 30, 2023

I’ve had the opportunity to interact with a wide variety of patients. Along the way, I’ve heard some pretty memorable and interesting things. I thought it might be fun to share a few of my favorites.

One of the most common things I hear from my older patients is something like, “Doc, it’s just hell getting old!” Our standard response is usually …

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The endless race: How to find peace in a world obsessed with productivity

Physician
January 16, 2023

I live in a state of chronic dissatisfaction and disillusionment, particularly when it comes to time. Is it the curse of the modern age to try to do too much? Is it just my location or life path? Have people always struggled with this?

If this constant struggle with time was a crime against anything else, I might be seen as an oddity or someone who doesn’t learn from their experiences. …

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The key to reversing the aging process

Physician
December 26, 2022

There is no escape from our ultimate decline and death. The sooner we accept and embrace that reality, the freer we are to live life to the fullest now. So when I speak of reversing the aging process, I’m really referring to reversing the acceleration. If you recall the Newtonian physics from your high school physics class, acceleration is the velocity …

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An empowered woman’s guide to better health [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 9, 2022
YouTube video

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“It is well known that men and women have different communication styles, and learning how to effectively communicate with each other is important. This is one of the main focuses of our book, which aims to give …

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7 things I’ve learned after 12 years of private relationship-based direct care in Canada

Physician
December 4, 2022

I’m a hand surgeon. After six years of academic practice, I opted out of the public and universal health care system my country is famous for to create the first private hand surgery practice in Montreal, Canada. That was 12 years ago.

Opting out of the system means that I do not get any payment or reimbursement from the government in a country where private insurance does not pay for private …

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The impact of hand surgery on human identity and expression

Conditions
November 26, 2022

One weekend, while taking hand trauma call, we received a pre-arrival page about an incoming patient, a plastic surgeon, who had injured himself while moving a glass table. The information we received was devastating — a wrist laceration through the median nerve of his dominant hand. After his arrival in the ED and the formulaic introductions at the beginning of any encounter, he frankly asked, “So, honestly, do I need …

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When should you consider surgery for scoliosis?

Conditions
August 24, 2022

Most people with scoliosis will never require surgery. But who does need surgery, and how do you know?

Often diagnosed in childhood, scoliosis is characterized by an abnormal curve in the spine that can range from as small as 10 degrees to more than 100 degrees. In pediatric patients, this can result in pulmonary problems if the curve is severe.

However, pediatric patients’ complaints are mostly centered around their appearance due to …

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Computers and your hands: Dispelling common myths

Conditions
August 21, 2022

Have you heard that computer use causes carpal tunnel syndrome? In fact, there is a near-universal belief that technology gadgets can cause all sorts of hand problems. Both the lay public and most healthcare providers believe that entities such as “Blackberry thumb” and “repetitive strain injury” truly exist and that common hand problems such as flexor tendonitis and basal joint arthritis of the thumb are caused by repetitive typing or …

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