SJM 722 Ortho Dept - FINAL_Dept 7 / 22 / 22 11 : 50 AM Page 1 and notable advancements are moving the word of orthopedics forward . Kane says it’s a continuing trend of “ less is S J M | H E A L T H more , ” where minimally invasive proce - dures have led to less hospitalization and much quicker recovery times . H “ More surgeries are being performed in outpatient surgical centers , where the idea is to be less invasive , get the same excellent clinical results and get patients back to their daily life in a faster No Pain , manner , ” Kane says . Scott Schoifet , medical director of musculoskeletal services at Virtua Health , also touts the surgical advance - All Gain ments that have revolutionized the way providers can care for their patients . SURGICAL ADVANCEMENTS AND OTHER TOOLS “ One of the biggest advances in ARE HELPING TO BETTER TREAT ORTHOPEDIC INJURIES . orthopedics in recent years is the shift to By Peter Proko outpatient procedures , especially for joint replacement . It’s a more stream - uring the pandemic , with so many people trying hard to avoid lined process that offers greater conve - catching COVID , there has been a renewed focus on our overall health and nience , enabling patients to avoid a hos - Dwell - being . Looking to make a change for the better , several folks began to pital stay , ” says Schoifet . increase their workout routine , whether that meant getting back into the swing of “ At Virtua , we have a dedicated things after a brief hiatus or starting a new regimen to help whip themselves into process to ensure eligible patients have shape . optimal outcomes and are ready to go While that was certainly a step in a positive direction , the truth is that these new home the same day , ” adds the ortho - part - time athletes and weekend warriors quickly found themselves grappling with pedic surgeon . “ Afterward , patients can any number of orthopedic injuries . And it’s no wonder , when you consider the rigors receive physical therapy to assist in their our daily body movements take on our bones , muscles , ligaments and tendons . recovery . These same - day procedures Dr . Mark Ayzenberg specializes in sports medicine , arthroscopy and reconstructive are approved by Medicare and generally surgery and is a member of the medical staff at Inspira Health’s medical centers in covered by insurance . Many people Elmer , Mullica Hill and Vineland . During the pandemic , he has noticed an uptick in qualify for this option , as long as they patients dealing with the types of injuries that occur when people pick up a new sport are otherwise in good health and have or push themselves beyond their limits when exercising . support at home to help with their “ Particularly early in the pandemic , recovery . ” people had a lot of free time and many Ayzenberg says the advances in decided to start working out to increase arthroscopic and other minimally inva - the frequency or intensity of their work - sive techniques continue to change his outs . Running and cross - discipline fitness practice’s approach to many surgeries . training seem to be bringing the most “ Shoulder surgery is a great example . people into the office , ” Ayzenberg says . With the exception of shoulder replace - On the surface , it would make sense ment and occasional less common that folks , especially as they age , run the surgeries , almost all shoulder surgeries risk of injury the more active they become . can now be done arthroscopically . This But there’s another unexpected pandemic - includes rotator cuff repairs , even revi - related consequence that has also led to sions of old surgeries which were done newfound orthopedic issues : working using open techniques . ” from home . Noting how unique training pro - Turns out , the makeshift offices at grams like augmented and virtual reality home may offer certain creature comforts , are being utilized to stimulate new capa - but the significant shift to working bilities in orthopedic treatment , Kane remotely has also caused a spike in musculoskeletal problems and other orthopedic expects these tools to become more and concerns . more commonplace in the field . Dr . Patrick Kane , CEO of Philadelphia Hand to Shoulder Center , says he’s been “ I do think the technology advance - treating more and more patients suffering from neck and back pain as a result of ments that we’ve seen in society are def - working from home and that he and his team have formulated specific treatment initely translating and being brought plans as a result . into medicine and , ultimately , are “ We actually developed therapy protocols specifically to address this with the kind resulting in better patient outcomes and of movement with regard to people working at home and spending that [ increased ] decreased cost of patient care , ” Kane amount of time sedentary in front of their computers . We’ve definitely seen an says . “ And I think you’re going to see that increase in that , ” says Kane . trend continue over the next 10 to 20 to The good news is that like other areas of medicine , technological breakthroughs n 30 years . ” SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 19 issue 4 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 28 |