Rush Orthopaedics ranks #6 in U.S.
Transcription
Rush Orthopaedics ranks #6 in U.S.
ra Or R nk tho us s pa h #6 e in dic U s .S . In this issue Volume 2 • Issue 4 The Age of Aquarius New gender-specific knee implant promises better results for women..................................6 A Dedicated Life Surgeon wins acclaim and honors for medical contributions By Deborah Maxwell ....................................................................................................8 Preventing Youth Sports Injuries Pitching a ban on Little League breaking balls ...............10 6 The Incredible Rush Team physicians play their part in Chicago’s ArenaBowl victory By Paul Strandquist, Director of Marketing .......................................................14 Moving Up Rush orthopaedics program climbs to sixth in nation ..............................................................................17 The Gift that Keeps on Giving Human allografts improve quality of life for many patients By Steven Gitelis, MD .................................................................................................18 A Winning Group White Sox medical team honored for contribution to World Series success .......................22 14 Reducing Noncontact ACL Injuries Focus on entire kinetic chain corrects faults, improves performance By John L. Honcharuk, ATC, CSCS, and Joe Meier, PT, DPT, MS, NASM-PES, NASM-CPT, CSCS ..............................26 Directory ................................................................................................................34 22 Orthopaedic Excellence is published by QuestCorp Media Group, Inc., 885 E. Collins Blvd., Ste. 102, Richardson, TX 75081. Phone (972) 447-0910 or (888) 860-2442, fax (972) 447-0911, www.qcmedia.com. QuestCorp specializes in creating and publishing corporate magazines for businesses. Inquiries: Victor Horne, [email protected]. Editorial comments: Brandi Hatley, [email protected]. Please call or fax for a new subscription, change of address, or single copy. Single copies: $5.95. This publication may not be reproduced in part or in whole without the express written permission of QuestCorp Media Group, Inc. Orthopaedic Excellence 3 President’s Letter hings continue to flourish for Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush in 2006. The Chicago White Sox are off to another fast start this year, and it looks like the Chicago Bulls are poised for a championship run in the 2006-2007 season. T And at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, we continue to build and improve on our foundation as well. We have three new physicians starting with us in 2006. Jeffrey Mjaanes, MD, who has worked as a pediatrician at Rush, recently completed a primary care sports medicine fellowship and joined the Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush primary care sports medicine team, where he will work with Program Director Kathleen Weber, MD, and Trish Palmer, MD. Dr. Mjaanes will focus his efforts on our Central DuPage Hospital office located in Winfield. We believe Dr. Mjaanes has significantly improved our ability to take care of the younger athlete population that we see growing at a very fast rate. In addition, Johnny Lin, MD, recently became part of our foot and ankle section, joining Section Head George Holmes, MD, and Simon Lee, MD. Dr. Lin recently completed a foot and ankle fellowship at the Campbell Clinic in Tennessee but is also familiar with the Rush program, having completed his residency at Rush. Dr. Lin will be primarily based out of the Central DuPage Hospital office in Winfield, and his presence will enable us to continue to grow our subspecialty offerings at that location and in the western suburbs. Filling a role and a subspecialty that has been vacant and highly needed is Monica Kogan, MD, a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon. Dr. Kogan comes to us from Children’s Hospital in Oakland, California, where she was the staff pediatric orthopaedic surgeon. Dr. Kogan is familiar with Chicago, though, having completed her residency at Northwestern. Besides welcoming these highly qualified physicians, we are also expanding our practice locations. We recently opened a brand new office in Westchester at the just completed Prairie Medical Center at 2434 South Wolf Road (next door to our corporate offices). We are excited to be at this multispecialty facility centrally located in the Chicago area. We currently plan to offer sports medicine, shoulder, foot and ankle, and hand services at this facility. We believe the addition of these physicians and this new practice location will help us in providing the best, broadest, and most convenient menu of orthopaedic services possible for both you and your patients. If there are ever any issues or deficiencies with the services we are providing to you, please contact me or our CEO, Dennis Viellieu, at (708) 236-2611, and we will help you in any way possible. Go Sox, Charles A. Bush-Joseph, MD Managing Member, Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, LLC [email protected] 4 Orthopaedic Excellence A publication from Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush www.rushortho.com Central DuPage Hospital 25 North Winfield Rd. Winfield, IL 60190 Toll free: (877) MD-BONES Phone: (630) 682-5653 Fax: (630) 682-8946 Chicago — South Loop/River City 800 South Wells, Ste. M30 Chicago, IL 60607 Toll free: (877) MD-BONES Phone: (312) 431-3400 Fax: (312) 427-6116 Oak Park Hospital Medical Office Building 610 South Maple Ave., Ste. 1400 Oak Park, IL 60304 Toll free: (877) MD-BONES Phone: (312) 243-4244 Fax: (312) 942-1517 RUSH University Medical Center 1725 West Harrison St., Ste. 1063 Chicago, IL 60612 Toll free: (877) MD-BONES Phone: (312) 243-4244 Fax: (312) 942-1517 Chairman’s Letter Physician Listing Howard An, MD Spine, Back, and Neck Joshua Jacobs, MD Joint Reconstruction Gunnar Andersson, MD Spine, Back, and Neck Simon Lee, MD Foot and Ankle Bernard R. Bach Jr., MD Sports Medicine Gregory P. Nicholson, MD Sports Medicine and Shoulder Richard Berger, MD Joint Reconstruction Trish Palmer, MD Sports Medicine and Women’s Sports Medicine Charles A. Bush-Joseph, MD Sports Medicine Mark S. Cohen, MD Hand, Wrist, and Elbow Brian Cole, MD Sports Medicine, Cartilage Restoration Craig Della Valle, MD Joint Reconstruction John Fernandez, MD Hand, Wrist, and Elbow April Fetzer, DO Physical Medicine/Pain Management Joseph Fillmore, MD Physical Medicine/Pain Management Jorge O. Galante, MD Joint Reconstruction Steven Gitelis, MD Orthopaedic Oncology/Joint Reconstruction Edward Goldberg, MD Spine, Back, and Neck George Holmes Jr., MD Foot and Ankle Wayne Paprosky, MD Joint Reconstruction Frank M. Phillips, MD Spine, Back, and Neck Anthony Romeo, MD Sports Medicine, Elbow, and Shoulder Aaron Rosenberg, MD Joint Reconstruction Mitchell Sheinkop, MD Joint Reconstruction Kern Singh, MD Spine, Back, and Neck Scott Sporer, MD Joint Reconstruction Nikhil Verma, MD Sports Medicine and Shoulder Walter W. Virkus, MD Orthopaedic Oncology/Trauma Kathleen Weber, MD Sports Medicine and Women’s Sports Medicine Yejia Zhang, MD Physical Medicine/Pain Management his year continues to be both exciting and challenging. First and foremost, our plans to develop a dedicated orthopaedic ambulatory destination on the Rush campus continues to move forward and take shape. We have selected the developer, architects, and construction managers that will help us realize this dream. We expect this facility to be completed and come online in the first quarter of 2009, but there is much planning and work to be completed first. T Rush’s plans for a new hospital and campus renovation are also moving forward. Rush has already received $167 million in pledges or donations toward a goal of $300 million. Rush plans include a new hospital facility that will incorporate a brand new concept called an “interventional platform.” Two floors extending from the new hospital into the renovated Atrium building will be devoted to surgery, imaging, and specialty procedures. Nearby will be the facilities and equipment required for interventional radiology, cardiology, and neurosurgery, fostering increased collaboration and a multidisciplinary approach for specialists who are doing similar procedures. The interventional platforms will locate key services close to one another on two easily accessible levels, minimizing the need for patients and their families to travel to multiple locations in the medical center. Rush’s new hospital also will include a state-of-the-art emergency services facility designed to care for victims of major catastrophes. It will be named the McCormick Tribune Center for Advanced Emergency Response in recognition of the foundation’s $7.5 million contribution in 2004. Rush and the John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital in 2002 were named bioterrorism preparedness Centers of Excellence by the Chicago Department of Public Health. Each hospital has received grants to improve hospital capabilities in preparedness planning, disease detection and surveillance, infection control, communications, collaborations, education and training, and more. The campus redevelopment also includes implementation of a new information technology system. New electronic software applications (Epic) will ensure the integration of clinical and financial information, providing streamlined registration and scheduling, faster and more accurate test results, and real-time access to complete medical histories. The department also continues to benefit from Rush’s philanthropic endeavors with a recent contribution of $4.5 million. Donations such as this enable us to advance our research efforts to the benefit of patients. We hope that these coordinated efforts and improvements, along with the implementation of new technologies, by Rush, the Orthopaedic Department, and Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush will enable us to improve the care and treatment of your patients both today and far into the future. Best regards, Gunnar Andersson, MD, PhD Chairman, Orthopaedic Department Rush University Medical Center Orthopaedic Excellence 5 The Age of Aquarius New gender-specific knee implant promises better results for women flexibility. We simply have not had an implant that meets these unique requirements.” The Zimmer Gender Solutions High-Flex Knee is the first knee replacement shaped to fit a woman’s anatomy. Illustrations courtesy of Zimmer, Inc. ccording to the National Center for Health Statistics, women comprise nearly two-thirds of the 400,000 knee replacement surgeries performed annually. Even more surprising is that in spite of experiencing a higher incidence of knee pain, women are also three times less likely than men to undergo joint replacement surgery. A That has changed with the launch of a new gender-specific implant designed to better match the structure of a woman’s knee joint. This implant can be placed using minimally invasive surgical techniques, which typically produce smaller scars, shorter hospital stays, and quicker recoveries. “Less invasive procedures are helping patients get back to enjoying their lives faster than ever before,” adds Dr. Rosenberg. “Now that we have a knee in women,” says Aaron Rosenberg, MD, Director shaped to fit a woman’s anatomy, we expect that of the Section of Adult Reconstruction at far more women will consider knee replacement.” Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush. “Women’s knees are different from men’s in that they’re nar- Advantages of Women’s Implant rower side to side for a given front-to-back dimension. More importantly, women’s joints are The implant was developed through the extensive shaped differently in all sizes and exhibit more research efforts of the Midwest Orthopaedics at Although the current implant technology has functioned well for both men and women, providing pain relief and significantly improving function, these implants are less likely to fit, feel, and function naturally for female patients. Relative to the knee joint, female anatomy is significantly different from male anatomy. Women have wider hips than men, changing the angle at which the femur connects to the knee. Women’s knees have less cartilage, so women are more likely to experience osteoarthritis, a leading factor in knee replacement surgery. Lifestyle factors such as pregnancy and wearing high-heel shoes are additional contributing factors. Meeting Women’s Needs Since the implants are not precisely suited for the female anatomy, the procedures are more difficult — for both the surgeon and patient. “I think the lack of a gender-specific knee implant has contributed to the lower utilization rate 6 Orthopaedic Excellence All other total knee implants being used today fall within the same size and proportion ranges, which are based on an average between the sizes of women’s and men’s knees. This approach does not optimally address the differences in shape between women’s and men’s knees. The Gender Solutions High-Flex Knee from orthopaedics leader Zimmer is the first and only implant to address the three distinct and scientifically documented shape differences between women’s and men’s knees. Rush joint reconstruction team in collaboration with Zimmer, Inc., the world’s leading manufacturer of knee replacements. According to Zimmer, the Gender Solutions High-Flex Knee implant offers the following three advantages: TM • Narrower shape, proportioned to female anatomy: Surgeons typically choose a knee implant size based on the front-to-back measurement of the end of the femur, which is key in allowing the knee to move and flex properly. However, an implant that provides a good fit for a woman’s knee from front to back often will be too wide from side to side. This leads to the implant overhanging the bone and potentially pressing on, or damaging, surrounding ligaments and tendons and possibly causing pain. The Gender Solutions High-Flex Knee is proportionally contoured to the entire bone to provide a more precise fit. but still feel “bulky,” which may result in pain and decrease optimal function. The Gender Solutions implant is thinner in shape in the front, so the knee replacement more appropriately matches the natural female anatomy. The femur, or thighbone, portion of a typical woman’s knee (left) tends to be narrower from side to side and more trapezoid shaped, while a man’s (right) is wider and more rectangular shaped. The Gender Solutions High-Flex Knee is the first knee replacement shaped to fit a woman’s anatomy. • More natural tracking: The angle between the pelvis and the knee affects how the patella tracks over the end of the femur as the knee moves through a range of motion. Women tend to have • Thinner shape: The bone in the front of a different angle women’s knees is typically less prominent than men due to To accommodate the different shape of women’s knees, the front of the Gender Solutions Knee Implant (right) is narrower than a traditional implant (left). than in men’s. Therefore, when a traditheir unique shape Rosenberg. “The gender-specific implant is the tional implant is used to replace the damand contour. Before the Gender Solutions best of both worlds. It’s based on the current aged bone, the joint may end up feeling High-Flex Knee, all implant designs were implant we use, a highly successful implant with and functioning better than before surgery based on an average of women and men. great mechanics and 10 years of clinical success, Therefore, the tradibut the shape of this new implant is different to tional artificial knee make it feel more natural.” may tend to track at an angle that leads to The Future of Knee Replacements a woman’s knee feeling unnatural as it The development of the new gender-specific moves. The Gender implant comes at the forefront of a major Solutions knee groundswell of demand for joint replacement. As implant was designed baby boomers transition from middle age to sento accommodate the different tracking ior citizenship, the number of candidates for artiangle and function ficial joints will increase markedly. more like a woman’s natural knee. According to a new study by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the “Knee implants have total number of knee implants performed in the been functioning very United States will reach nearly 3.5 million by the w e l l f o r m e n a n d year 2030. The majority of these will undoubtedly women, but we want to be women. meet women’s unique needs by making knee In addition to the aforementioned contributing replacements that feel, factors for joint replacement, women in the The bone in the front of women’s knees is typically less prominent than in men’s. The Gender Solutions implant is thinner in shape in the front, so the knee fit, and function even United States live longer than men on average, replacement more appropriately matches the natural female anatomy. b e t t e r, ” s a y s D r. continued on page 12 Orthopaedic Excellence 7 A Dedicated Life Surgeon wins acclaim and honors for medical contributions By Deborah Maxwell idwest Orthopaedic at Rush joint replacement surgeon Joshua J. Jacobs, MD, was elected President of the Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) at its recent annual meeting in Chicago. Dr. Jacobs served on the ORS Board of Directors for five years prior to his election. According to Dr. Jacobs, “ORS is a complex organization that provides an international forum for the dissemination of rapid developments in orthopaedic research that may ultimately have a dramatic impact on the diagnosis and treatment of both common and rare musculoskeletal diseases.” M “It is an honor to be selected for the Knee Society and join my distinguished partners Dr. Galante, Dr. Rosenberg, and Dr. Paprosky in this influential organization,” says Dr. Jacobs. Staying at the Forefront Dr. Jacobs’ accomplishments are even more significant when viewed in light of the overall field of adult joint reconstructive surgery, a constantly changing orthopaedic subspecialty. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) states that joint replacement surgery “…has been one of the most significant advances in musculoskeletal surgical treatment over the past 30 years.”2 Furthermore, AAOS statistics show more than 500,000 total joint replacements are performed each year in the United States.2 As President, Dr. Jacobs will manage the fiscal and strategic mission of ORS. Founded in 1954 and incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1982, ORS promotes Dr. Jacobs holds hip prostheses that were recovered from a patient who underwent revision surgery Despite these statistics, the orthopaedic research, pro- and received new implants. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press. vides mentorship for AAOS Research Committee young researchers, and (2003) reports that joint 1 publishes the Journal of Orthopaedic Research. International Hip Societies (along with Midwest replacement surgery is not yet fully utilized across ORS also lobbies for increased federal research Orthopaedics at Rush physicians Jorge Galante, all ethnicities and geographic areas.2 However, funding for musculoskeletal diseases and works MD; Aaron Rosenberg, MD; and Wayne Paprosky, patients who do receive orthopaedic prostheses to increase public awareness of the impact MD), Dr. Jacobs is considered among the elite are so accepting of the technology that not much orthopaedics has made on patients’ lives. adult reconstructive orthopaedic surgeons in the thought is given any more to the work, science, world — those who have made significant contri- or scientists behind these modern-day miracles. Also recently inducted into the Knee Society and butions to the body of orthopaedic research, Significant improvements in the scientific and an already established member of the U.S. and knowledge, and clinical practice. clinical body of knowledge in adult arthroplasty 8 Orthopaedic Excellence OrthoFact The Research Department at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago is dedicated to the pursuit of outstanding biomedical research to advance knowledge and optimize patient care. Rush aims to foster centers of excellence that combine clinical, basic, and population science to study areas of importance to the community. Several programs have been created to support and encourage Rush investigators involved in more than 1,600 research studies, and Joshua J. Jacobs, MD, of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, serves as the Director of Orthopedic Residency Program and the Director of the Section of Biomaterials for the Rush Research Department. over the last generation have contributed to improved quality of life for patients and therefore have contributed to this sea change of almost universal acceptance by patients. Leading Research Efforts One of Dr. Jacobs’ major contributions, a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is a unique effort, according to Dr. Jacobs, who is the principal investigator of the study. This longitudinal study, initiated approximately 15 years ago by Dr. Jacobs’ partner Dr. Galante, studies wear patterns and particulate debris generated by prosthetic implants and the effect of this debris upon surrounding body tissues and distant organs. This study is ongoing and has already yielded translational results in the ability for physicians to gauge how well an orthopaedic implant is working via serum and metal blood levels. “My work is at the interface of medicine and engineering.” — Joshua J. Jacobs, MD Review of the literature shows that particulate debris can induce prosthetic failure; therefore, one can expect Dr. Jacobs’ eventual results regarding particulate debris to increase scientific understanding of cellular and systemic response to implants and quite possibly the strengths and weaknesses in prosthetic materials and design.3 Ultimately, these results will be utilized to develop longer-lasting, better performing prostheses. yet his impact on current and future patients’ lives has yet to be fully realized and will not be for years to come. Deborah Maxwell holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in management from Elmhurst College. She has worked with the physicians of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush for 16 years and currently serves as Marketing Analyst for the group. She Putting Knowledge to Work has previously written on other medical topics, including osteoporosis and Rett Syndrome, and An undergraduate degree in material science and has served as editor for “Common Call,” the engineering from Northwestern University has newsletter for the Oak Park-River Forest meshed perfectly with Dr. Jacobs’ clinical Community of Congregations. work and research with orthopaedic implants. His knowledge of metallurgy has been helpful in understanding many of the clinical problems that develop in individuals with metal implants, such as the relation between prosthetic failure and metal allergy.4 Dr. Jacobs says, “My work is at the interface of medicine and engineering.” In addition to his clinical and research duties, Dr. Jacobs is active with various orthopaedic societies and Dr. Jacobs (right) has met with House Speaker Dennis Hastert (left) and will travel to Washington later this year to advocate for federal policies to prochairs the AAOS Council on mote musculoskeletal health. Research, Quality Assessment, and Technology. Consistent with the council and the mission of ORS, References Dr. Jacobs has met with House Speaker Dennis 1. Orthopaedic Research Society. (2006). [WWW document]. Retrieved: http://www.ors.org/Welcome.asp. Hastert and will travel to Washington later this year to advocate for federal policies to promote muscu- 2. AAOS Research Committee. (June 2003). Future directions in musculoskeletal research: a summary report of the AAOS loskeletal health. Health care policy, economics, research committee panel studies. 53, 93. and research funding are vital issues for Dr. Jacobs and AAOS, particularly as the demand for 3. National Institutes of Health. (2000). Improving medical implant performance through retrieval information: chalorthopaedic implants and health care services is lenges and opportunities. [WWW document]. Retrieved: projected to increase as the population ages. http://consensus.nih.gov/2000/2000MedicalImplantsa019html Dr. Jacobs also heads the Orthopaedic Postmortem Retrieval study at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Study participants agree to removal of their prostheses as well as the bone and tissue around the implant and possibly remote tissue samples from their bodies shortly after death. .htm, paragraph 2 of Explant Analysis section. From his work with the ORS to his federally funded research, the halls of Congress, and 4. Jacobs, J. (2005). Commentary & perspective on metal-on-metal bearings and hypersensitivity in Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, Dr. Jacobs is a patients with artificial hip joints: a clinical and histoconstant advocate for orthopaedic science and morphological study. The Journal of Bone and patient care. His contributions to orthopaedic Joint Surgery. [WWW document]. Retrieved: research, knowledge, clinical practice, and policy http://www.jbjs.org/Comments/2005/cp_jan05_jacobs.shtml. are extensive. Dr. Jacobs’ mission is far from over, Orthopaedic Excellence 9 Pitching a ban on Little League breaking balls he breaking ball is a devastating weapon in a Little League baseball game. To even the best players, the pitch is nearly unhittable. Unfortunately, the pitch’s nasty effect goes beyond baffling opposing hitters. T Overuse Abuse Among pitchers younger than 12 years of age, nearly 45% complain of chronic elbow pain. According to a study published by the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, overuse and incorrect throwing mechanics are the primary causes of elbow injuries in young pitchers. “In youth baseball, there are certain motions that are repeated over and over again that are likely to create an overuse injury,” says Bernard R. Bach Jr., MD, Director of Sports Medicine at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush. “Even in a normal throwing motion, the elbow is under a tremendous amount of stress. Factor in abnormal mechanics, such as the motion used to throw a breaking ball, and the stress is multiplied.” Boys are often able to learn the curve ball at 10 or 11 years of age, which is, according to Dr. Bach, well before their arms are ready for the strain. Competitive coaches encourage their pitchers to throw breaking balls and also exhibit a tendency to overuse their better hurlers. Patrick McKune, Treasurer of Oak Park Youth Baseball, has witnessed the trend of injury and overuse. “In the Little League World Series, it was reported that 60% to 65% of the pitches thrown were curve balls,” says McKune. “You just have to shake your head. Another wake-up call for me was last year when I witnessed my son throw six straight curve balls in a game.” 10 Orthopaedic Excellence Taking Action When the condition is not treated, it can cause long-term problems.” Disturbed by this growing trend, McKune decided to take action. Along with Dr. Bach and represen- Dr. Bach adds, “It seems that every parent thinks tatives from AthletiCo, McKune arranged a meet- his or her kid is on the fast track to a Division I scholarship, and, ultimately, a professional baseAmong pitchers younger ball career. There is a ‘graveyard’ of talented kids careers ended prematurely because of than 12 years of age, near- whose throwing-related elbow and/or shoulder injuries. ly 45% complain of chronic We advocate throwing a fast ball and a change elbow pain. According to a up but no curve balls until approximately 13 or 14 years of age. The kids should focus on pitchstudy published by the ing mechanics and control. Kids mature at differJournal of the American ent rates, and mechanics can change Academy of Orthopaedic dramatically when adolescents go through rapid growth spurts, which may result in significant Surgeons, overuse and muscle imbalances.” incorrect throwing mechanics are the primary causes of elbow injuries in young pitchers. McKune initially thought enforcement of the new rules might be an issue, but to date, no infractions have been observed. To his knowledge, the ban enacted by Oak Park Youth Baseball may be unique to the area. “It’s my hope that other ing with the Oak Park Youth Baseball board, leagues will adopt similar rules to protect the making the case for a ban on breaking balls com- health of their young players.” bined with a mandatory pitch count. The board agreed with Dr. Bach’s medical opinion Injury Prevention and enacted both the ban on breaking balls and pitch count restrictions. Dr. Dr. Bach’s work on the breaking ball issue Bach is confident that it will have a dra- stems from his considerable interest in youth basematic effect on the occurrence of injury. ball and sports medicine. Serving as the Vice President of the American Orthopaedic Society “I’ve performed elbow surgery on 12- for Sports Medicine, Dr. Bach was instrumental in and 13-year-old pitchers, and it’s just the development of Prevention and Emerheartbreaking,” says Dr. Bach. “These gency Management of Youth Baseball and Softball overuse and stress-related problems Injuries (see Youth Baseball Safety). can affect growing parts of the bone (the growth plates), not just For a copy of Prevention and Emergency muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Management of Youth Baseball and Softball Injuries or for more information on youth baseball safety, visit the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine online at www.sportsmed.org or call Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush at (877) MD-BONES. Overuse and stress-related problems can affect elbow ligaments (shown above), muscles, and tendons, possibly leading to long-term problems. Youth Baseball Safety Prevention and Emergency Management of Youth Baseball and Softball Injuries provides guidelines on youth baseball safety to help coaches and parents to • be familiar with basic sports injury terminology; • be aware of up-to-date techniques for preventing sports injuries; • be able to differentiate between mild, moderate, and severe injuries; • know appropriate first aid techniques for the injuries they will encounter; • be able to design an emergency plan for their league to use when severe injuries occur; and • know specific techniques to determine whether an injured player is ready to practice and play again. 1986, Bernard Bach Jr., MD, has developed a nationally recognized sports medicine program. Dr. Bach has published more than 240 scientific papers, abstracts, and book chapters. He serves on numerous national sports committees and editorial boards and is an educator of residents, fellows, and his patients. Dr. Bach is board certified (1989) and recertified (1999) by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. Dr. Bach has served on the national boards of the Illinois Special Olympics, the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation, and the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. He is the editor of the Journal of Knee Surgery. Dr. Bach was selected as one of Chicago magazine’s “Top Doctors” in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2006, and is recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in sports medicine. He was inducted into the Illinois Athletic Trainer’s Hall of Fame in 1995. Along with the other members of the Sports Medicine Division, he was selected as a Team As Director of Sports Physician for the Chicago White Sox baseball team Medicine at Rush since in 2004 and 2005. Orthopaedic Excellence 11 The Age of Aquarius Women’s Movement continued from page 7 with a life expectancy of 80 years, compared to 75 years for men. The following physicians are leading the way with gender-specific knee implants. By increasing the utilization of knee implants in women with osteoarthritis, they are helping improve their mobility and quality of life. In addition to Dr. Rosenberg, Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush surgeons Richard Berger, MD, and Wayne Paprosky, MD, worked closely with biomechanical engineers throughout the two-year research and development process. The new implant, which has received clearance from the FDA, is already being utilized by Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush joint reconstruction physicians and is expected to be globally available this fall. Richard A. Berger, MD, earned a degree in mechanical engineering from MIT that has well equipped him for his biomechanics re-search on total hip replacements. Dr. Berger was fellowship trained in adult reconstruction at Rush University Medical Center by Jorge Galante, MD, and Aaron Rosenberg, MD. Aaron G. Rosenberg, MD, specializes in hip, knee and joint replacement surgery. He is a graduate of Albany Medical College. He served as a resident at Rush University Medical Center in Orthopaedics and served as a fellow in Adult Reconstruction and Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, prior to beginning the practice of orthopaedic surgery at Rush in 1984. “The new implant is evidence of our dedication to research over the past 25 years and to improving our patients’ quality of life through decreased pain with better implants,” says Dr. Rosenberg. Wayne G. Paprosky, MD, specializes in hip and knee replacement. Dr. Paproksy is a graduate of McMaster University School of Medicine. He served his residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, and served as a fellow in Adult Joint Reconstruction at New England Baptist Hospital, Tufts University, Boston. For more information on joint replacement surgery and gender-specific implants, contact Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush at (877) MD-BONES or visit www.rushortho.com. Chicago • Oak Park • 877-MD-BONES www.rushortho.com 12 Orthopaedic Excellence Winfield Orthopaedic Excellence 13 The Incredible Rush Team physicians play their part in Chicago’s ArenaBowl victory By Paul Strandquist, Director of Marketing, Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush Chicago Rush fans came out to support their team, helping make it the biggest crowd in ArenaBowl history. he Chicago Rush completed one of the most improbable runs in Arena Football League (AFL) history with a 69-61 win over the Orlando Predators in ArenaBowl XX on Sunday, June 11, 2006, at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. “I am so proud of this team,” says Rush Head Coach Mike Hohensee, who won his first AFL title after 20 seasons in the league. “They believed in each other and played their hearts out, and now they can call themselves champions.” T The Rush was 5 and 9, and it looked like the team might miss the playoffs. However, the Rush responded by winning its final two regular season games in convincing fashion to qualify for the playoffs and then went on the road to win four consecutive playoff games. The Thrill of Victory Rajeev Khanna, MD, and Paul Strandquist, Director of Marketing at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush I was at the final game, sitting with the Chicago Rush families, staff, and corporate sponsors to celebrate a great season and a fantastic ArenaBowl championship. What a thrill to be included with the Chicago Rush front office staff, families, and management and to share in their welldeserved excitement and celebration after they won the championship. ArenaBowl XX was a big sporting event, and Chicago fans came out to support their team, helping make this the biggest crowd in ArenaBowl history. 14 Orthopaedic Excellence with the Chicago Rush as a corporate sponsor and as the team’s orthopaedic consultants. Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush physicians work closely during the AFL season with Rush Head Team Physician Rajeev Khanna, MD, and Th i s y e a r m a r ke d t h e s e c o n d s e a s o n his colleagues at Advanced Occupational Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush has worked Medicine Specialists. Dr. Khanna and John Connell, Athletic Trainer for the Rush, were busy at ArenaBowl XX taking care of the players’ injuries before and after the game. But they found time to come out of the locker room after the Chicago Rush victory to join the on-field celebration with all the Rush players, families, and staff, as well as the Chicago Rush fans. Brian Cole, MD. “They were 5 and 9 but continued to battle and finished the season champions. We will do our part and continue to provide the highest quality of subspecialized sports medicine care to anyone, and that includes championship professional sports teams, college and high school athletes, and the weekend warriors.” Paul Strandquist, Director of Marketing at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, earned a Bachelor of Science in health and physical education from Illinois State University. He has been in customer service and marketing with Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush for 20 years. He enjoys coaching baseball and playing Chicago-style 16-inch softball. “I am so proud of this team. They believed in each other and played their hearts out, and now they can call themselves champions.” — Mike Hohensee, Rush Head Coach A Little Luck, a Lot of Skill Mike Ditka — now part owner of the Chicago Rush, NFL Hall of Fame player, and of course “da coach” of the Chicago Bears’ Super Bowl XX champions — was also on hand for the celebration. Many fans and the media called “da coach” a good luck charm, stating that Ditka was a part of Super Bowl XX and now the Chicago Rush ArenaBowl XX victory. The same can also be said for the physicians of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush who were part of the 2005 Chicago White Sox World Series Championship team as their team physicians. And now the Chicago Rush has won ArenaBowl XX in 2006. “All the credit for the ArenaBowl championship goes to the players and coaches,” says David McClamroch, Corporate Sales Manager for the Chicago Rush; Paul Strandquist, Director of Marketing at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush; and Mike Gordon, Vice President of Sales for the Chicago Rush Orthopaedic Excellence 15 16 Orthopaedic Excellence Moving Up Rush orthopaedics program climbs to sixth in nation By Kerri Kossick nce again, the Rush University Medical Center Orthopaedic Program gained national recognition among orthopaedic practices by making another appearance in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” issue. This year, Rush was the nation’s sixth best and Illinois’ top program. O Continuous Advancements Rush was ranked tenth in 2004, climbed to eighth place in 2005, and moved up to sixth in the nation this year. This upward trend is one that Rush expects to continue throughout the upcoming years. “I believe the program can achieve an even greater status,” says Gunnar Andersson, MD, PhD, Chairman of the Orthopaedic Department at Rush and partner with Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush (MOR). “As we continue to pioneer advancements in orthopaedic medical science, the stature of the program will only continue to increase.” The Evaluation This year, out of 5,189 hospitals nationwide, only 3 percent (176) were considered for evaluation. Each hospital was ranked in one or more of the 16 specialties in this year’s “Best Hospitals” issue. For the orthopaedic specialty, the annual report evaluates practices according to specific criteria, including reputation, mortality ratio, discharges over the past three years, nurse-to-patient index, nurse Magnet facility status, patient and community services, key technologies, and trauma services. In addition to its high overall ranking, the Rush University Medical Center Orthopaedic Program ranked among the survey’s best in nearly every category. progressive treatment alternatives, including minimally invasive joint replacement and spine surgery; anterior cruciate ligament and rotator cuff repairs; cartilage restoration; arthroscopic knee, shoulder, and elbow repair; and minimally invaA Strong Team sive foot and ankle surgery. The orthopaedic surgeons at Rush led the way for many advances in The strength and success of Rush University hip and knee implants, including minimally invaMedical Center is due, in part, to its partnership sive techniques that enable patients to return with MOR. The Rush University Medical Center’s home within a day. orthopaedic medical staff is comprised largely of MOR physicians, who are highly trained in In addition to surgical practices, the physicians orthopaedic surgery as well as in specialized fields hold academic appointments at Rush Medical within orthopaedic medicine. College and are active in research. Their research leads to discoveries and leading-edge therapies A qualified staff of physician assistants; registered that benefit patients, which is what the physicians nurses; athletic, physical, and occupational thera- find to be their greatest reward. pists; specialists in gait analysis; x-ray and cast technicians; and administrative personnel helps “The physicians of MOR are extremely proud of support the physicians and complete the range of this program’s success, which validates the vision services provided at Rush. Physicians and nurse we share with Rush of providing the world’s best specialists working in teams thoroughly evaluate orthopaedic patient care, education, and each patient, accurately diagnose problems, and research,” says Dr. Andersson. create individualized treatment plans. For more information about the physicians at MOR or the U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals 2006” The collaboration special issue, call (877) MD-BONES or visit between Rush www.rushortho.com. University Medical Center and MOR generates Orthopaedic Excellence 17 The Gift that Keeps on Giving Human allografts improve quality of life for many patients By Steven Gitelis, MD, Medical Director, Tissue Bank, Gift of Hope he use of human tissue is not new. The first reported tissue transplants occurred around the turn of the 20th century. In recent years, there has been increased popularity in the use of allografts in orthopaedic surgery, and currently, there are approximately 250,000 grafts transplanted per year in the United States. T There are many potential uses of these grafts, and they can improve the quality of life of patients. It is very important that the surgeon know the source of these grafts and how they are processed and screened. The state of Illinois has one of the largest tissue banks in the United States. It operates with the Gift of Hope, the organ procurement agency of Fresh osteoarticular allograft of the hip and femur 18 Orthopaedic Excellence Illinois. It is a not-for-profit tissue bank, and I have created to ensure a fair and equitable distribution served as its medical director for 20 years. of organs in the United States. Tissue banks frequently operate in conjunction with the organ There are several important concepts that procurement organizations to acquire transorthopaedic surgeons need to understand related plantable allografts. to procurement, processing, and safety issues. When selecting a tissue bank, the surgeon needs When contacted, a transplant coordinator from to know the bank and its banker. the Gift of Hope then assesses the donor. The coordinator talks to the donor family about tissue Procurement donation and describes the process and ultimate use of these donated grafts. It is important that Tissue procurement is a comprehensive process the organ procurement organization and the that starts with the donor and donor hospital. The donor family develop a strong relationship. Even donor hospital generally does its own initial though there is a driver’s license signature option assessment and then contacts the organ procure- in Illinois, the donor family’s approval is still ment organization in its area. Organ procurement sought for tissue donation. This is a critical organizations are federally mandated and were informed consent process. The transplant coordinator then evaluates the donor for medical conditions that might preclude procurement. These include but are not limited to a history of cancer, hepatitis, and exposure to other transmittable diseases. The donor is also evaluated by an extensive battery of serologies to rule out transmittable disease. Recently, we have added nucleic acid testing to diminish the window where a donor could be infected and not manifest an immunological reaction to a virus. Due to their work, the cells can be kept alive up to 28 days, allowing the grafts to be appropriately quarantined and placed with an acceptable donor. All allografts, fresh or frozen, are cultured, and these cultures are screened to determine the acceptability of the allografts. After procurement is performed, the donor is reconstructed for later funeral services. organisms; however, it has no effect on viral contamination and does cause some weakening of the allograft. Other processes occur at Allosource such as machining of allografts. These are techniques where the human tissue is shaped using automated machines into grafts that are useful for specific surgical applications. An example is a spinal graft used for spinal fusions. Processing After the procurement has been completed, the tissue acquired by Gift of Hope is sent to Allosource, a not-for-profit organization that is the fourth largest tissue processing operation in the United States. All the work done on the allografts at Allosource is performed in a highly filtered clean room under sterile conditions. Meniscal allograft with subchondral bone The tissue transplantation team then goes to the donor hospital, the operating room at the medical examiner’s office, or, more recently, to our stateof-the-art operating room at the Gift of Hope located in Elmhurst, Illinois. The procurement process is nothing less than a very careful orthopaedic operating procedure. The tissue is procured in a very sterile environment and then cultured. The tissue is initially refrigerated and then ultimately frozen to -80 degrees Centigrade for storage. This freezing process diminishes the immunogenicity of the allografts. The tissue will remain in quarantine until all screening tests have been completed and reviewed along with the detailed medical record. All this information is reviewed by me and Ross Wilkens, MD, the Medical Director of Allosource in Colorado. Thus, the tissue is very carefully scrutinized for acceptability. Recently, fresh tissue procurement and transplantation has become very popular. This tissue is screened in a similar manner to our standard frozen allografts. These grafts are placed in tissue culture so the cartilage viability is maintained. Much of the methodology to maintain the life of articular cartilage was developed at Rush by the Department of Biochemistry and Brian Cole, MD. The grafts are debrided, cleansed, Bone tendon achilles allograft for cruciate reconstruction and recultured. If the initial culture at the time of procurement is a low-virulent organization and if they are ren- Manufacturing techniques such as computerdered culture negative after processing, they are assisted design and manufacturing are used to packaged and available for use. If the original prepare machined grafts. The freshly procured cultures are of moderate virulence, then, in addi- articular grafts are washed and cleaned in tion to preparation and cleansing, the grafts are Colorado and recultured. They are only released if secondarily sterilized with gamma irradiation. all serologies and cultures are negative. Finally, if the original cultures reveal a virulent organism such as Clostridium, enterococcus, or a Safety fungal organism, the grafts are discarded at the As a result of the careful historical screening, procurement agency. serological testing, cleansing, and culturing of all Secondary sterilization with gamma radiation is grafts, human tissue allografts are extremely safe. quite effective to eradicate moderate-virulent Bacterial contamination is very rare, and there has not been a viral transmission from a human allograft in nearly 20 years. The stated risk of viral transmission is approximately one in 1.5 million. Allograft-prosthetic composite arthroplasty of the knee Surgeons need to know the accreditation of their tissue banks. The tissue banking industry is regulated by the federal government, which has created guidelines for procurement and processing. In addition, the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) has rigid guidelines that must be met in order to receive its accreditation. Both the Gift of Orthopaedic Excellence 19 Hope and Allosource are AATB accredited. This intercalary defect. Allografts are also used in con- life of so many people. Surgeons need to be mindaccreditation should be sought by surgeons trans- junction with implants as an allograft prosthetic ful of the source of their grafts and understand planting human tissue. composite that is useful for both tumor surgery procurement processing and safety. and complex joint reconstructive surgery. Application Steven Gitelis, MD, currently serves Spinal surgeons use allografts for fusions, both as the Director of the Rush Center for There are many clinical applications for human tis- interbody and posterior fusions. One of the more Limb Preservation and the Medical sue. One of the more common applications is the common uses of allografts is in knee reconstrucDirector of the Tissue Bank, Gift of use of demineralized bone matrix, which is tion. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction Hope. His numerous appointments derived from human cortical bone. The donated with a bone tendon/bone allograft is a popular also include Endowed Chair, Rush Medical College bone is ground and demineralized with a calcium technique and quite effective. Finally, fresh artic- Professor of Orthopaedic Oncology, and Director of content of less than 3%. This process releases ular cartilage is being used by joint restoration Section of Orthopaedic Oncology, Rushbone proteins that participate in the cascade of surgeons. Unipolar defects of the lower femur or Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center. Dr. Gitelis events leading to bone repair. Proteins such as upper tibia can be replaced with a fresh living has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with Rush, bone morphogenic proteins are released in this allograft. Unfortunately, there is a greater completing both his orthopaedic surgery residency manner. These proteins are very effective as demand for this tissue than there is a supply, but and general surger y internship at Rushosteoinductive materials that aid in bone repair. new techniques are being developed to increase Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in the available tissue. Chicago. His early orthopaedic oncology experience Long bone allografts are still used today to restore came from fellowships at the prestigious Rizzoli the skeleton after tumor surgery. If a segment In conclusion, human allografts are safe and Institute in Bologna, Italy (under renowned of the femur or tibia is removed, a frozen long effective. They are the result of a generous gift by Professor Mario Campanacci), and Mayo Clinic in bone allograft is frequently used to restore the the donor family and can improve the quality of Rochester, Minnesota. 20 Orthopaedic Excellence Orthopaedic Excellence 21 A Winning Group erm Schneider, Head Athletic Trainer for the World Series champion Chicago White Sox, presented World Series gifts to the White Sox medical team at Rush University Medical Center in May. H Members of the medical team receiving gifts included Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush physicians Charles A. Bush-Joseph, MD; Kathleen Weber, MD; Bernard R. Bach Jr., MD; Gregory P. Nicholson, MD; Nikhil N. Verma, MD; Anthony A. Romeo, MD; and Brian J. Cole, MD. Also honored were Rush University Medical Center physicians Joseph Hennessy Jr., MD; Dragan Djordevic, MD; Scott Palmer, MD; and Syed Shah, MD. Clinical staff members from both the hospital and Midwest Orthopaedics 22 Orthopaedic Excellence White Sox medical team honored for contribution to World Series success at Rush also received gifts, including Marci Bilkey, Naveed Kazi, Ke r r y K ra u s h a a r, Jessica Delgado, and Leigh Lundberg. Head Team Physician D r. B u s h - J o s e p h (orthopaedic surgery) and Dr. Weber (primary care sports Members of the medical team receiving gifts included Midwest Orthopaedics at medicine/internal Rush physicians Charles A. Bush-Joseph, MD; Kathleen Weber, MD; Bernard R. Bach Jr., MD; Gregory P. Nicholson, MD; Nikhil N. Verma, MD; Anthony A. Romeo, MD; and medicine) received Brian J. Cole, MD. Also honored were Rush University Medical Center physicians official World Series Joseph Hennessy Jr., MD; Dragan Djordevic, MD; Scott Palmer, MD; and Syed Shah, MD. Clinical staff members from both the hospital and Midwest Orthopaedics at r i n g s, t h e s a m e also received gifts, including Marci Bilkey, Naveed Kazi, Kerry Kraushaar, r e c e i v e d b y t h e Rush Jessica Delgado, and Leigh Lundberg. White Sox players. “We’re honored to receive World Series rings and An Intense, Active Role truly value our three-year relationship with the White Sox,” says Dr. Bush-Joseph. “We hope the Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush is proud of the role White Sox have another healthy season and we it played in a remarkably healthy and successful White Sox World Series championship season. can add another ring!” Throughout the year, Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush served as team physicians, working closely with the head athletic trainer to keep the team in top playing condition. team physicians. All are on the faculty of Rush Medical College. Dr. Bush-Joseph, Dr. Bach, Dr. Nicholson, Dr. Cole, and Dr. Romeo are orthopaedic surgeons who specialize in sports medicine, treating everything from broken bones Apart from being on the field for every home game to torn anterior cruciate ligaments and rotator during the season and every home and away game cuffs. And Dr. Weber is board certified in internal during the playoffs and World Series, the Midwest medicine and sports medicine. Orthopaedics at Rush physician team was also involved with player conditioning and training Dr. Weber served as the team’s primary internal throughout the year. The team physician function medicine physician and is one of Major League covered a broad range of responsibilities, including Baseball’s few female team physicians. With her direct diagnosis and treatment on the field; provid- combined training in sports medicine, internal ing care for visiting team players, coaches, and medicine, and exercise physiology, she was umpires; follow-up and continued care in the uniquely qualified to address both orthopaedic office; phone consultation; facilitation of emer- injuries and the medical aspects of sports medi- Head Team Physician Dr. Bush-Joseph (orthopaedic surgery) and Dr. Weber (primary care sports medicine/ gency care; managing care when the team was on cine, such as heat illness, head injuries, allergies, internal medicine) received official World Series rings, the road; and coordination of all medical person- viral infections, high blood pressure, and diabetes. the same received by the White Sox players. nel involved in ensuring the overall health of the Another Winning Season Ahead third year with the White Sox,” says Dr. Weber. players, their families, and the White Sox staff. “And we will be able to use the solid foundation When injuries did occur, Midwest Orthopaedics at The future looks bright for the 2006 season — we have built thus far to further develop a model Rush physicians were on hand to provide an accu- not only for the White Sox but also for Midwest system of comprehensive medical care for both rate, rapid diagnosis and initial care to minimize Orthopaedics at Rush’s involvement. “This is our the individual athlete and the team.” time away from the game. “Our close working relationship with the White Sox training staff enabled us to diagnose and treat injuries quickly, minimizing player downtime,” says Dr. BushJoseph, lead team physician. “In professional baseball, with such a fine line between success and failure, a few additional effective innings by a pitcher or a couple of extra healthy games by a position player can make a huge difference. I think we definitely saw that with the White Sox this year, when some key players were able to work through injuries to make important contributions at critical times.” Best Sports Care Available Schneider sought out Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush to provide the most comprehensive level of medical service available. “I wanted our players, staff, and front office personnel to have the best medical expertise available,” he says. “In addition, I wanted the team to have access to a full-service academic medical center like Rush University Medical Center, which is just minutes away from U.S. Cellular Field.” In addition to Dr. Bush-Joseph, colleagues Dr. Bach, Dr. Nicholson, Dr. Weber, Dr. Cole, Dr. Romeo, and Dr. Verma also served as primary Orthopaedic Excellence 23 24 Orthopaedic Excellence Working Partners with Midwest Orthopaedics at RUSH PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS More than 17 Years Experience ✰ Awards ✰ Sales Promotions ✰ Apparel SPECIAL 500 BIC CLIC PENS WITH YOUR LOGO $210 (.42 EACH) Plus $12 freight charge IL Residents add sales tax 708-396-0420 [email protected] Visit us on the web www.prestomarketing.com Orthopaedic Excellence 25 Reducing Noncontact ACL Injuries Focus on entire kinetic chain corrects faults, improves performance By John L. Honcharuk, ATC, CSCS, and Joe Meier, PT, DPT, MS, NASM-PES, NASM-CPT, CSCS Anterior cruciate ligament Posterior cruciate ligament Anterior view of a flexed knee showing menisci ligaments and condyles prior to knee arthroplasty nterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries have become one of the most devastating and common injuries among athletes today. Annually, there are between 80,000 and 100,000 ACL repairs performed in the United States. At least 60% to 70% of all ACL injuries are from noncontact situations, and the majority of those injuries occur to athletes between the ages of 15 to 45.1,2 A Most of these athletes will undergo an ACL reconstruction (approximate cost is $17,0003) and complete an extensive bout of rehabilitation (six to 12 months) to allow for a safe return to their sport or recreational activity. 26 Orthopaedic Excellence AthletiCo has successfully rehabilitated hundreds of athletes after this type of reconstruction. As we have developed our Performance Enhancement services, it became obvious that there was a need for ACL injury prevention programs for athletes of all ages, as well as the ability to assess relative risk prior to injury. injuries has yet to be determined but may be a combination of factors, including anatomical structural factors, hormonal risk factors in females, and biomechanical issues. We set out to determine if there is a way to potentially identify risk factors and, as a result, decrease the likelihood of serious knee injury. This Determining Risk Factors could be used as a preseason screening tool as well as a bridge from formal physical therapy to The majority of noncontact ACL injuries involve athletic performance. some type of decelerating motion bringing the knee into flexion and the femur into adduction Several commercial athletic injury risk-assessment and internal rotation while the tibia and foot are tools were reviewed and implemented. These planted. The exact cause of noncontact ACL include but are not limited to Cincinnati SportsMetrics Valgus Digitizer , The Santa Monica PEP program, and The Reebok Functional Movement Screen. Each of these screening tools has unique merits and uses. The predominant tool that we feel addresses the entire kinetic chain is the National Academy of Sports Medicine Optimum Performance Training Model (NASM OPT™).4 We have taken what we feel are the best components of each of these programs and created a hybrid that currently fits our clinical as well as performance enhancement needs. TM TM Before an individual’s risk can be addressed, we must evaluate and determine all limiting factors that could predispose an individual to an ACL injury. Functional movement screens have been valuable in revealing faulty movement patterns. The most popular test includes having athletes perform some form of squat with their arms over their head and a single leg activity to challenge their core and balance.4,5 The plane of motion for a track athlete (sagital plane dominance) is different from that of a basketball player (transverse plane dominance). The aforementioned would be included in our full ACL range of motion through flexibility. The two types of flexibility we will primarily focus on in this article are self-myofascial release and static stretching. However, there are other levels of flexibility the athlete would progress to once normal range of motion is achieved and the overhead squat assessment has visibly improved. Tissue extensibility can be improved by self-myofascial release through the use of a foam roll. This will prepare the tissue for further lengthening in order to achieve optimal length tension relationships. For example, selfmyofascial release to bilateral rectus femoris, hip adductors, and gastrocnemius/soleus complex can be achieved by slowly rolling through the muscle group searching for tender areas. The individual would then rest on the tender area for 20 to 30 seconds to inhibit overactive muscles.4 Myofascial release is followed by static stretching, which helps restore optimal range of motion for functional movement and strengthening of muscles that have been overpowered by their stronger antagonist. An example is to static stretch the rectus femoris, hip adductors, and gastrocnemius/soleus complex bilaterally. Typically, we prefer to use multijoint, closed kinetic chain activities if possible. A good example of this type of activity would be the standing hip flexor stretch. This particular movement addresses the gastrocnemius/soleus complex, illiopsoas, rectus femoris, quadratus lumborum, and latisimus dorsi. Squatting in a valgus position puts the ACL in great jeopardy if the individual is unable to control the position of the knee because of insufficient range of motion, core stability, neuromuscular control, or strength. prevention evaluation. Only after that can an indiOne aspect of our ACL Injury Prevention Program vidualized program be created. is a functional movement assessment, which consists of the overhead squat. The overhead squat is This type of assessment was highly effective in performed by having athletes stand with their feet determining potential faulty movement patterns parallel and shoulder-width apart with arms over- in some members of the USA Men’s Rugby Team head and then having them perform a squat. This while the team was in New Zealand for an interin effect reproduces, on a much slower scale, the national tournament. The findings were then eccentric movement. applied to each team member’s training program to address deficits. Since the majority of ACL injuries occur while decelerating eccentrically, the clinician will be able One of the most predominant faulty movement to visualize a good portion of the faulty move- patterns we see clinically with the overhead squat ment patterns. This assessment allows us to deter- is adduction of the knee or valgus, which can be mine which muscles are dominant in the caused by excessive pronation of the foot and/or movement and where the athlete is in need of poor control at the hip. It is at this point that the improved flexibility and strength. ACL is placed in great jeopardy if the individual is unable to control the position of the knee because We further determine limitations through gonio- of insufficient range of motion, core stability, neumetric measurements, functional core assessment, romuscular control, or strength. neuromuscular evaluation, and upper and lower extremity power assessments. As with any pro- Restoring Proper Range of Motion gram design, an assessment of the demands of the sport must also be included. What energy sys- We will begin as we would with a complete protem is dominant: ATP/PC, anaerobic, or aerobic? gram by first addressing the restoration of proper Improving Stability, Control, and Strength Once flexibility issues have been addressed, we then begin improving the stability of the core. The core is where all movement begins and plays a major role in control of the upper and lower extremities.6 When strengthening the core, one must focus on the lumbopelvic hip complex. An excellent exercise to achieve this is the stability ball bridge. This particular exercise involves use of the transverse abdominus, gluteus maximus, quadriceps, hamstrings, and the gastrocnemius/soleus complex. In Orthopaedic Excellence 27 addition, the use of the stability ball increases could be further progressed with stability ball the proprioceptive demand. squats with a resistive band around the knees to cue the gluteus medius to prevent valgus of the Once the core has been stabilized, we take an knee during descent of the squat. inside-out approach by improving neuromuscular control. As a result, the gluteals would be the next Taking a Total-Body Approach area to be addressed. Again, we emphasize closed-chain, multijoint, multiplanar exercise to Typically, this total-body approach would be permaintain neuromuscular efficiency. The triplane formed at every session. This is done to ensure that setup is the modality of choice. This exercise is the entire kinetic chain is addressed. This ensures performed with proper activation of the trans- that the participant continually works on the correcverse abdominus and gluteal complex to ensure tion of faulty movement patterns while improving stability of the lumbopelvic hip complex, resulting total athletic performance. Again, the frequency, in improved knee position. These types of exer- duration, and intensity levels should be directly procises have been shown, when properly cued, to portionate to the result of the initial findings. decrease the incidence of serious knee injury7. The above examples are just that — a small sampling of a comprehensive program. To elaborate on the full ACL Injury Prevention Program is At least 60% to beyond the scope of this article. The comprehen70% of all ACL injuries sive program is based upon a thorough evaluation are from noncontact of not only the knee and lower extremity but the entire kinetic chain. Then and only then can an situations, and the majority of those injuries individual program be designed to address deficits. We believe through proper evaluation, occur to athletes between elimination of muscular imbalances, core stability the ages of 15 to 45. training, neuromuscular training, and education on plyometrics, the likelihood of an individual sustaining noncontact ACL injuries can be greatly The athlete is prepared for plyometric training reduced. Further research and education in the upon stabilization through activation of the core benefits of the use of an ACL prevention program and gluteus complex. Within the training pro- is required. gram, the focus should be placed on technique of John L. Honcharuk, ATC, CSCS, is also the plyometric exercise. It is imperative that the a Certified SportsMetrics Instructor. individual be able to maintain an athletic position He is the Facility Manager of the St. prior to any plyometrics. The athletic position can Charles AthletiCo and Co-Chair of be defined as feet forward and shoulder-width AthletiCo’s ACL Injury Prevention apart with center of gravity over the balls of the Committee. feet. The knees should be slightly flexed and natural curvature in the spine maintained.8 The athlete should be able to take off and land in this Joe Meier, PT, DPT, MS, NASM-PES, posture. Advanced plyometric techniques can NASM-CPT, CSCS, is the Assistant consist of box jumps to stabilization. This exercise Facility Manager of AthletiCo’s can be performed on a 6- to 12-inch box and Arlington Heights location and Colanding posture should be maintained for a fiveChair of AthletiCo’s ACL Injury second hold. Prevention Committee. TM The Role of Biomechanics Anatomical or gender-related factors associated with increased risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries cannot be altered. However, according to Athletico, noncontact ACL injuries could be greatly reduced by altering potentially faulty biomechanics. This can be achieved by correcting muscle imbalances, improving core strength, retraining the neuromuscular system, and educating on proper take-off and landing techniques through plyometric exercises. References: 1. Wilk, K. E., C. Arrigo, J. R. Andrews, and C. G. William. “Rehabilitation after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in the Female Athlete.” Journal of Athletic Training, Vol. 34, No. 2 (1999), pp. 177-193. 2. Daniel, D. M., and D. Fritschy. “Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries.” In Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: Principles and Practice, Vol. 2 (Philadelphia, PA: W. B. Saunders, 1994), pp. 1313-1361. 3. Griffin et al. “Noncontact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries: Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies.” Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Vol. 8 (2000), pp. 141-150. 4. Clark, M. A., and A. M. Russell. Optimum Performance Training for the Health and Fitness Professional (Course Manual). Calabasas, CA: National Academy of Sports Medicine, 2004. 5. Cook. G., L. Burton, and B. Hoogenboom. “Pre-participation Screening: The Use of Fundamental Movement as an Assessment of Function-Part 1.” North American Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, Vol. 1, No. 2 (May 2006), pp. 62-72. 6. Wilson, J. D., C. P. Dougherty, M. L. Ireland, and I. M. Davis. “Core Stability and Its Relationship to Lower Extremity Function and Injury.” Journal of the Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Vol. 13, No. 5 (September 2005), pp. 316-325. 7. Hewett, T. E., T. N. Lindenfeld, J. V. Riccobene, and F. R. Noyes. “The Effect of Neuromuscular Training on the Incidence of Knee Injury in Female Athletes: A Prospective We would complete the session with exercises designed to strengthen musculature that has been inhibited by tight structures. For instance, weak gluteus medius musculature could be addressed by having the athlete perform lateral walks with a resistive band around the knees. This 28 Orthopaedic Excellence Study.” American Journal of Sports Medicine, Vol. 27, No. 6 (1999), pp. 699-706. Editor’s Note: John L. Honcharuk and Joe Meier are not affiliated with Midwest Orthopaedics at 8. Meyer, G. D., K. R. Ford, and T. E. Hewett. “Rationale and Clinical Techniques for Anterior Cruciate Injury Prevention Rush. Treatment recommendations presented in among Female Athletes.” Journal of Athletic Training, this article are solely the professional opinions of Vol. 39, No. 4 (2004), pp. 352-364. the authors. Orthopaedic Excellence 29 30 Orthopaedic Excellence Orthopaedic Excellence 31 32 Orthopaedic Excellence Orthopaedic Excellence 33 Directory Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush thanks the following advertisers for helping make this publication possible. 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