Optimal Health Uncovered

E30: Orthopedic injuries with surgeon Dr. Ted Blaine

December 15, 2020
Optimal Health Uncovered
E30: Orthopedic injuries with surgeon Dr. Ted Blaine
Show Notes Transcript

In this week's episode, Todd and Mike are joined by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Ted Blaine to discuss the latest orthopedic surgeries, techniques that are being used, and what to prepare for if you need surgery.  They also discuss what to do if you're facing an upcoming orthopedic surgery.  

Introduction

Theodore Blaine or Ted Blaine

Columbia Days

Interest to be an orthopedic stems from injuries early on

Had severe injury in college and had surgery

Surgery and injuries in athletics led him to being a physician

University of Connecticut undergrad

University of Rochester

Fellowship training in New York

Spent 3 years a the Mayo Clinic

Columbia 2003-2007

Shoulder replacement was prevalent in Columbia

Brown for 4 years 

No shoulder program at Yale so worked a few years there

Bone & Joint Institute in Hartford

HSS (Hospital for Special Surgery) currently

Shoulder is challenging to treat which is what makes it so interesting

Most common upper extremity injuries were AC joint

Almost as high as labrum tears

Clavicle fractures

Arthroscopy with the labrum and get them back on the field

Face-off athletes seems to have a high rate of injury because of the forces

Collegiate athletes are like professional athletes

Darien football program is successful because of the training these athletes have

With COVID, people cant train in the same way as before

Overuse injuries are higher

Weekend warriors are being seen more often and having more surgeries

Repair tendons in the shoulder

Preservation of the bone or anatomy so future procedures can happen

Shoulder replacements

When you replace the shoulder joint, you can now simply resurface the ball and/or socket are of the joint

Reverse shoulder replacement can be effective and started in Europe

Started them here in US in 2004

Ball and socket joint of the shoulder

Reverse replacement isn’t a lose of function, just cant do things as well anymore

Catalyst implant is impressive as future replacements

New research for different carbon materials and have been effective

Biologics is in the media PRP or stem cells or growth hormone

No clear studies that show value

Stem cells and where they come from – variety of different stem cells

What stem cells grow and heal

The doctor is who is responsible for the patient outcome

The doctor is the gatekeeper

Consumer of healthcare

Primary care doctor

Where do individuals start with asking for advice for getting to who they need?

Referred by friends or family

US News and World Report is a vetted source for information

Those who work with providers are most informed 

The doctor or hospitals complication rate

The hospitals or doctors that have the highest complication rate usually see the most complex or difficult patients