Show notes
Episode 15.35?with Hosts Steve Kashul and Dr. Brian Cole. Broadcasting on ESPN Chicago?1000 WMVP-AM Radio, Saturdays from?8:30 to 9:00 AM/c.
http://sports.localwp-content/uploads/2015/12/show15-35-1128.mp3
Segment One: The History and Future of Allograft Healing
AlloSource?s Senior Medical Director and renowned orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Ross Wilkins, speaks?about how he has seen the use of allograft tissue evolve. ?Some of that evolution through donor availability, some of that evolution through research and development, but all of it all driven by the passion to help patients heal.
The use of allografts, or donated human tissue, to heal the human body from trauma and disease goes back more than 100 years. ?The first known case is from 1878 where Dr. Macewen, age 32, had a 3-year-old boy with a bone infection. ?Dr. Macewen removed the boy?s infected humerus shaft, but with no bone regrowth, his limb was useless and his parents requested amputation. ?Instead, Dr. Macewen performed a bone transplant, whereby two-thirds of the humerus shaft was restored. ?Life-enhancing transplants using allografts still take place today, but have progressed through the availability of more sophisticated biologic solutions provided by such companies as AlloSource?.
As Dr. Wilkins mentions, the evolution of allograft use is best seen through tissue recipient stories, such as the 3-year-old boy mentioned above. ?He also talks about Kacey. ?Kacey is a survivor of the Columbine High School shooting and Dr. Wilkins and his team were able to save her arm by using allografts. ?You can read more about her on allograftpossibilities.org.
Recognized internationally as an expert on limb preservation, bone and soft tissue tumors and bone transplantation, Dr. Wilkins serves as an Orthopedic Surgeon for Colorado Limb Consultants, Medical Director for The Denver Clinic for Extremities at Risk, Chairman and Founder of The Limb Preservation Foundation.
If you are suffering from trauma or disease, talk to your surgeon about the potential of allografts. ?It might be the solution you have been looking for.
Segment Two:?Are Meniscal Injuries the New ACL Injury?
Steve and Dr. Cole with?Dave Heidloff,?ATC, PES from Athletico?and?Dominican University Athletic Trainer & Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Knee injuries are back in the news. With recent injuries to high profile players, water cooler chat is shifting from ACL injuries to meniscal injuries. If you want to be the resident sports medicine expert in the office, keep reading for a brief overview of meniscal tears and what they mean for athletes.
When people talk about meniscus injuries, they are typically referring to either the medial or lateral meniscus of the knee. These structures are a special type of cartilage in the knee that serve three very important functions.
3 Functions of the Meniscus
1. The first function is as a shock absorber.
The material that makes up the meniscus is called fibrocartilaginous tissue, which is a lot like a dense rubber. Since the meniscus is located between the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone), it is in the perfect place to keep the shock from athletic movements from causing damage.
2. The second function of the meniscus is to provide a smooth surface for the femur and tibia to move on.
The rubbery, fibrocartilaginous tissue is smooth and reduces friction between the bones that for the knee joint. This not only makes makes movement fluid, but prevents damage to the bones of the knee.
3. Finally, the meniscus helps provide stability to the knee.
The shape of the meniscus creates a sort of C-shaped cup on each side of the tibia, for the end of the femur to sit in, helping to keep everything where it should be.
Knee meniscal injuries typically happen in one of two ways ? an injury event to the knee or degeneration. An injury during activity usually happens with bending and twisting of the knee, like an awkward squat. Degenerative meniscal injuries happen as we age. Over time, the meniscus loses its rubbery properties and can become easier to tear.
There are a few options to treat a torn meniscus.
1. If the meniscus is torn in an area that has a good blood supply, a surgeon may opt to repair the tear. This will help to maintain the overall health of the knee, but comes with a longer recovery time as the meniscus can be slow to heal.
2. If the tear is in a location with poor blood supply, the chances of a repair being successful are slim. In this case, most surgeons will perform a meniscectomy, which simply means removing the torn portion and smoothing out the remaining meniscus. Although you are losing some of the natural anatomy of your knee, you will regain function and have a shorter recovery time than a repair.
3. If you are less active, some surgeons may opt to try injections,?physical therapy, or a combination of both to help avoid surgery.? This plan can help alleviate the discomfort of a torn meniscus and let one get back to their typical routine.
If you have knee pain catching, locking, or giving way in your knee, it is always a good idea to get the opinion of a health care professional. They can help you figure out a course of action that best fits your lifestyle. Schedule an appointment to see an Athletico physical therapist today.
The post The Miracle of Tissue Transplantation; Are Meniscal Injuries the New ACL Injury? appeared first on Sports Medicine Weekly By Dr. Brian Cole.
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The Loyola University Chicago Athletic Training Sports Medicine Department is dedicated to promoting comprehensive health care for every LUC student-athlete to promote physical and mental well being. A dedicated, compassionate, and enthusiastic team of professionals utilize a multi-disciplinary approach to skillfully combine evidence-based practice and emerging technologies to ensure each student athlete has the opportunity to compete in their sport safely and at the highest level possible. As part of a university community rooted in the Jesuit tradition, the Sports Medicine Department commits itself to the total development of the student transformation experience. We create an environment that is welcoming and supportive for all student athletes while adhering to the professional standards set forth by Loyola University Chicago, the NATA and within the guidelines of the NCAA and the Missouri Valley Conference.
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Steve Kashul discuss prevailing trends in young athlete injuries and transitioning from fall to winter sports: occurrence, treatment and prevention of ACL Tears; defining Stress Fractures in young athletes, symptoms, evaluation and treatment.
