SJM_DEPT_Ortho_0623_Dept 6 / 23 / 23 2 : 16 PM Page 1 Getting Your Life Back “ It is critical to get to know each o matter your age or athleticism , TREATING THE WHOLE patientas a distinct person , ” says Scott everybody has expectations and PATIENT WITH D.Schoifet , MD , Virtua Health’s medical Ngoals for their standard of mobility , INTENSELY INDIVIDUAL - directorof musculoskeletal services . “ I activity and pain levels . But it’s not until want to know about their symptoms , of one’s everyday quality of life becomes com - IZED CARE WHILE course , but I also want to know about promised that they start considering med - EMBRACING MODERN their lifestyle , interests and future plans . ical or surgical intervention . MEDICINE’S TECHNIQUES Thisallows me to make a more thor - That’swhen orthopedic professionals step in , AND TECHNOLOGY ARE oughassessment and a more individu - whetherthey’re surgeons , physicians , radiologists or alized care plan . While there are otherpractitioners trained in identifying and cor - SOME OF THE WAYS commonconcerns and considerations , rectingissues impacting the musculoskeletal system , TODAY’S ORTHOPEDIC notwo people are the same . ” whichincludes the bones , cartilage , ligaments , ten - PRACTITIONERS ARE Thefact that every patient is dif - donsand connective tissues that work together in ferent is why Robert P . Falconiero DO , TAKING CARE OF THEIR supportingthe body’s weight , maintaining one’s pos - FAOAO , a board - certified orthopedic tureand making movement possible . SOUTH JERSEY NEIGHBORS . surgeonat Premier Orthopedic Associ - Fortunately , South Jersey boasts orthopedic ates , keenly understands the impor - by Madeleine Maccar expertsof all kinds who aren’t just providing world - tance of “ individualizing the treatment classcare right in our own backyard : They’re also based on a lot of factors . ” delivering compassionate , individualized treatments that assess the whole patient , inside “ Some people come in and they want andout , to help them return to the lives they love . to avoid surgery altogether no matter “ Everypatient is different , ” affirms Eddie S . Wu , DO , FAOAO , MPT , a board - certified what the cost , while others will come in orthopedicsurgeon on staff at Inspira Health . “ Our goal as orthopedic physicians / surgeons and say , ‘ Whatever it takes , if I need is to decrease pain and improve quality of life . Whether that’s a high - performing athlete or a surgery , let’s do it tomorrow , ’ ” he says . grandparentwho wants to enjoy their grandkids , everyone wants to live their life to the “ We have to make a balance between fullest , without pain . ” those two so that we can get the best out - Whileinterior images aren’t always necessary to diagnose an issue , Dr . Andrew Gargiulo , come that meets their main goal . ” a musculoskeletal radiologist at Larchmont Imaging , notes that the industry standard tends No matter the treatment , though , tobe MRI images , since X - rays and CT scans aren’t as informationally comprehensive and Dr . Schoifet notes that “ patient care is ultrasoundscan be more time - intensive . about the mind as well as the body , ” “ Alot of the time , an orthopedic surgeon will order the MRI or something of that nature just while Dr . Falconiero adds that both a toconfirm what they think : If they do a good physical diagnosis or exam , they can sort of figure patient’s mental state , and especially outwhat the issue is without necessarily needing the imaging , ” he explains . “ That being said , a their dedication to rehabilitation after - lotof times , things are not clear so that’s what we provide . … An MRI , it gives you the whole pic - ward , are what truly determine a suc - ture : If a patient comes in with knee pain , it’s going to show you literally everything . ” cessful outcome . Headds that since individuals in his role aren’t always able to get face time with a “ You can do the fanciest surgery , patient , knowing their medical and personal history makes getting to the root of the you can use technology and all the problemmuch easier . newest techniques , but if they don’t do “ IfI’m reading an MRI and I see somebody who has , for example , a torn ACL , but it’s a their rehab , they’re probably not going 65 - year - oldguy and the ligament doesn’t look like it’s been torn recently , that might not to get the best result , ” says Dr . Fal - evenbe the reason why he’s got that pain , ” Dr . Gargiulo continues . “ Maybe he had an acute coniero . “ It’s just such a big part of what injuryof the cartridge and that’s why his knee’s swollen . … that’s why history and looking at we do . Trying to keep them engaged is thewhole picture , rather than pigeonholing patients , is always important in finding the real very important , especially when you’re reasonwhy the patient is here . I think that’s the biggest thing with radiology , is that you have dealing with patients that have an tobe very methodical in the sense of going through your checklist of the things you need to injury and become depressed . ” look at . ” And while orthopedic experts are Thatpainstakingly personalized treatment plan includes establishing not only goals but always embracing the latest and alsoexpectations , as well as getting to know what kind of lifestyle they’re eager to reclaim . SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 20 issue 3 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 52 |