Scripps Health - All News for Orthopedics

Researchers Use Smart Knee Prosthesis to Improve Joint Implants

2011-09-23T15:55:32-07:00

Orthopedic researchers at Scripps test a device that will help improve knee transplants. Scripps patient Donald McDonald is one of only four people in the world to test the electronic knee prosthesis, or “e-knee,” which Scripps researchers are using to help improve the science of joint replacement.

Learn more about how Scripps is transforming medicine.

Knee Pain: What’s Your Type & Treatment Plan?

2011-09-06T09:54:00-07:00

Watching Cameron Maybin patrol the power alleys or Jason Bartlett barrel around the base paths, it’s clear the Padres rely on their speed game.

Even those of us who move at a slightly slower pace need good knee health to keep active.

Knee pain can stem from long-term overuse, sudden injuries, or underlying degenerative conditions. Depending on the type of pain and how quickly it develops, treatment options may range from rest to reconstructive surgery.

“People should pay close attention to how their symptoms develop and affect their everyday lives,” says Padres head team physician Dr. Heinz Hoenecke of Scripps. “It takes more than diagnostic test results to determine the most appropriate treatment.”

Dr. Hoenecke describes four common types of knee pain and a sampling of patient care options.

Dull pain that develops gradually

Such pain often stems from long-term deterioration of the knee’s cartilage (chondromalacia), or from arthritis. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications can ease pain and arthritis supplements such as glucosamine may also help. Exercises that maintain alignment of the knee and strengthen the core may alleviate pain. If symptoms worsen or don’t improve within a few months, consult a physician or orthopedic specialist.

Pain related to increased activity

Intensified workouts may cause pain in the front of the knee, due to deterioration of the kneecap’s undersurface. Anti-inflammatory medications may help reduce swelling. Exercises should focus on strengthening the core and hip. Reduce or avoid activities that led to the pain until symptoms resolve. If symptoms don’t improve within a few months, consult a physician.

Sudden pain from small movements

Twinges and sharp pain may be caused by a tear in the cartilage of the knee joint (meniscus). Rest, ice and pain relievers may help with pain and give the meniscus time to heal. If symptoms don’t improve after six weeks, the next step may be an MRI scan to diagnose the extent of the damage. A severe meniscus tear usually requires arthroscopic surgery.

Traumatic injury

Sudden, severe injury to the knee, such as ligament or cartilage damage, often causes sharp pain and joint instability. These injuries should be evaluated by a physician immediately. Surgery may not be needed, but the physician can recommend steps to limit the damage and help the joint recover. If symptoms continue after four to six weeks, reconstructive surgery may be needed.

Scripps has been the official health care provider to the Padres since 1981. To find a Scripps physician, call 1-800-SCRIPPS.

Scripps Physician Helps Improve the Youth Sports Experience

2011-08-10T11:03:43-07:00

Mounting pressure to succeed in youth sports has coincided with a rise in overuse injuries and emotional stress among children. But Scripps sports medicine pediatrician Dr. Paul Stricker is helping make the youth sports experience safer and more enjoyable for young athletes. Through his writings, presentations and clinical practice, Dr. Stricker is educating parents and coaches about children’s developmental milestones and realistic expectations for athletic performance. Dr. Stricker, who served as a team physician for the 2000 U.S. Olympic delegation, shared his perspectives on youth sports in a recent profile in the Carmel Valley News.

U.S. News & World Report Names Scripps Physicians to Top Doctors List

2011-08-04T14:47:42-07:00

LA JOLLA, Calif. – U.S. News & World Report has named 36 physicians from Scripps Health as “Top Doctors.” Of the top-ranked doctors at Scripps, U.S. News identified 19 physicians as being in the top one percent in the nation in their respective specialties.

“We are proud of all of our doctors and are thrilled that the medical community has chosen to recognize this select group for being leaders in their fields,” said Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health president and CEO. “We have always known that Scripps is home to some of the most gifted physicians in the country, and the ‘Top Doctors’ list affirms that others recognize this as well.”

The top Scripps physicians, as identified by U.S. News, and their area of specialty, are:

Gregory Babikian, MD, Internist
Steven Balch, MD, Pediatrician
Gonzalo Ballon-Landa, MD, Infectious Disease Specialist (top one percent)
Daniel Bressler, MD, Internist
Wendy Buchi, MD, Obstetrician-Gynecologist
Richard Chaffoo, MD, Plastic Surgeon
Steven Copp, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon (top one percent)
Ralph Dilley, MD, Vascular Surgeon (top one percent)
Jonathan Fisher, MD, Surgeon (top one percent)
Richard Fitzpatrick, MD, Dermatologist (top one percent)
Jan Fronek, MD, Sports Medicine Specialist (top one percent)
Alexander Giritsky, MD, Thoracic Surgeon
Hubert Greenway, MD, Dermatologist (top one percent)
David Hackley, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon
James Hemp, MD, Thoracic Surgeon
Steven Higgins, MD, Cardiac Electrophysiologist
Donald Hillebrand, MD, Gastroenterologist (top one percent)
David Hodgens, MD, Radiation Oncologist
William Hummel, MD, Reproductive Endocrinologist
Allen Johnson, MD, Cardiologist (top one percent)
Andrew King, MD, Nephrologist (top one percent)
Nasrin Mani, MD, Ophthalmologist
Christopher Marsh, MD, Urologist (top one percent)
Thomas Moore, MD, Perinatologist (top one percent)
Kenneth Ott, MD, Neurosurgeon (top one percent)
Alan Saven, MD, Hematologist (top one percent)
Randolph Schaffer, MD, Surgeon (top one percent)
Robert Singer, MD, Plastic Surgeon (top one percent)
Charles Raymond Smith, MD, Neurologist
Paul Teirstein, MD, Interventional Cardiologist (top one percent)
Prabhakar Tripuraneni, MD, Radiation Oncologist (top one percent)
Howard Williams, MD, Internist
Michael Worsey, MD, Colon and Rectal Surgeon (top one percent)

U.S. News Top Doctors was created in collaboration with Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., publisher of America’s Top Doctors and other consumer health guides. It draws from Castle Connolly’s database of Top Doctors, all recommended for their clinical skills by other doctors and individually vetted by a physician-led research team. Consumers can search for a Top Doctor by location, hospital affiliation, and a full range of specialties and subspecialties.

U.S. News Top Doctors builds on the Best Hospitals rankings, which ranks the Scripps Health nationally in cardiology and heart surgery and lists 11 specialties as high-performing. Health consumers can now see which Top Doctors practice at the 700-plus hospitals in the 22nd annual rankings by visiting www.usnews.com/best-hospitals.

“For decades, the Best Hospitals rankings have helped guide patients who need an especially high level of care to hospitals that excel in providing it,” said Avery Comarow, U.S. News health rankings editor. ”’Top Doctors’ has a similar mission. We want to help consumers find the doctors in their area who come highly recommended by other physicians.”

Former Padres Pitchers Tip Their Caps to Scripps Doctors

2011-07-26T12:58:22-07:00

One is Major League Baseball’s all-time saves leader. The other is a two-time World Series champion with a perfect game to his credit.

But former Padres pitchers Trevor Hoffman and David Wells didn’t enjoy long and successful baseball careers without a few health issues along the way. Both say they benefitted greatly from the support of the team’s medical staff from Scripps.

“Scripps doctors were always looking out for the players’ best interests and cared about each person individually,” says Hoffman, now a special assistant with the Padres. “The personal care they provide is a credit to the type of people they are and the passion they have.”

Hoffman was already the Big League career saves leader by the end of the 2007 season, but he was never content with his own accomplishments. He opted for offseason surgery by Dr. Heinz Hoenecke and Dr. Jan Fronek of Scripps to remove bone chips from the back part of his throwing elbow, which had prevented him from effectively finishing his pitches.

“The surgery gave my elbow more freedom and led to a few more years of productivity on the mound,” says Hoffman, who compiled 77 more saves and returned to All-Star form during his final three seasons after the arthroscopic surgery.

The procedure—and Hoffman’s own tenacity and talent—helped him become the first Major League pitcher to amass 600-plus saves.

Wells was starting his 20th Big League season in 2007 when Dr. Gaston Molina and Dr. Harry Albers of Scripps diagnosed him with Type 2 diabetes. The condition raises the risk of heart disease, stroke, limb amputation and other serious problems.

The diagnosis required a major lifestyle change for Wells, whose prodigious drinking and eating habits were chronicled in his 2003 memoir, “Perfect I’m Not.”

Under Scripps’ guidance, Wells immediately began oral diabetes medication. He also radically altered his intake of starches and sugars, cut back on wine and beer and increased his aerobic exercise.

Within a few months, Wells’ blood sugars came under control. And the three-time All-Star, now a baseball analyst with TBS, says his health remains strong today. “I can’t thank Scripps enough for being there for me,” Wells says. “They started me on a path to get my health on track for the long haul.”

Hoffman and Wells—along with the Padres medical staff from Scripps—will be honored during pregame ceremonies Aug. 2 at Petco Park.

Scripps has been the official health care provider to the Padres since 1981.

Scripps Offers Tips to Avoid Youth Sports Injuries, Burnout

2011-07-22T15:03:42-07:00

Parents, youth sports coaches and others interested in learning practical ways to improve the youth sports experience are invited to attend a free educational event Thursday, Aug. 25 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.

The presentation will be led by Scripps sports medicine pediatrician Dr. Paul Stricker, who was a team physician for the 2000 Olympic Games. Dr. Stricker reports a steady increase in overuse injuries and stress-related symptoms among his young patients in recent years. He says these conditions often stem from poor understanding of how children develop their sports skills.

“Children build their athletic abilities in a progressive sequence that we can’t dramatically speed up,” Stricker says. “Better knowledge of this process can help kids withstand some of the excess pressures that exist today in organized sports, due to inappropriate training, unrealistic expectations and a distorted meaning of the term ‘success.’”

Dr. Stricker is the author of “Sports Success Rx! Your Child’s Prescription for the Best Experience,” published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Copies of the book will be available for signing and purchase following the presentation.

The event will take place at the Schaetzel Center at Scripps La Jolla, located at 9888 Genesee Ave., La Jolla 92037. A light reception will be offered from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., followed by the presentation from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Cost is free and validated parking will be provided. To register, call 1-800-SCRIPPS.

Scripps Tips - June 2011

2011-06-13T16:11:01-07:00

San Diegan to Celebrate 20 Years of Survival from Terminal Cancer at 20th Annual Cancer Survivor’s Day June 12

Just more than 20 years ago, San Diegan Lawrence Bartlett was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma – and doctors expected him to survive only a matter of weeks. On June 12, he’ll share his amazing story of 20 years of survival as part of the 20th annual Cancer Survivor’s Day event at Scripps Green Hospital. Bartlett took part in an innovative clinical trial at Scripps that saved his life and allowed him to marry and have the child he thought he’d never see – his 11-year-old daughter will sing a song titled “Hope” to open the June 12 celebration at Scripps. Hundreds of other survivors, family members and physicians will be on hand for the free public event. Nationwide, there are approximately 11 million people living with a history of cancer. The overall cancer survivor rate has increased from about 50 percent 20 years ago to about 75 percent today. To arrange an interview with Lawrence, contact Steve Carpowich at 858-678-7183, or attend the event June 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Scripps Green.

Healthy Eating: Pyramid vs. Plate

The federal government recently unveiled a new icon to encourage healthy eating habits, replacing the often-referenced food pyramid. Get the scoop on the new guidelines, how they have changed and what the serving sizes really look like from Danielle Lipparelli, RD, a registered dietician at Scripps Health. For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Kristin Reinhardt at 619-686-3787 or reinhardt.kristin@scrippshealth.org

Study Shows Kids Who Focus on Single Sport at Higher Injury Risk; Scripps Expert Offers Tips to Avoid Pitfalls

Many kids dream of becoming pro athletes – and some parents will do all they can to help them reach their goals. But how soon is too soon when it comes to having kids specialize in a single sport year-round? A recent study by Loyola University links youth sports specialization with a higher likelihood of injury. Scripps Clinic sports pediatrician Dr. Paul Stricker says having kids focus their energies on one sport can do more harm than good. He notes that children develop their skills in a sequential process, which can’t be sped up. Instead, Dr. Stricker recommends building a broad foundation of multiple sports skills, and then using those skills to gravitate to the activities kids enjoy most. For an interview with Dr. Stricker on the “dos and don’ts” of youth sports, contact Steve Carpowich at 858-678-7183, or carpowich.stephen@scrippshealth.org.

Minimally Invasive Hysterectomies Performed at More than Twice the National Average Rate at Scripps

Women who have their hysterectomy performed at a Scripps hospital in San Diego County are more than twice as likely to receive revolutionary care compared with national averages. In 2010, 68 percent of women having a hysterectomy at Scripps had the procedure using minimally invasive technology, which is more than double the national average of 33 percent for this type of surgery. Bruce Kahn, MD, obstetric and gynecologic surgeon, is available to discuss this emerging trend. For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Kristin Reinhardt at 619-686-3787 or reinhardt.kristin@scrippshealth.org

Scripps ‘Electronic Knee’ Research Earns National Honors; Device has Led to Better Implants and Patient Rehab Approaches

Research using an electronic device that monitors forces inside the human knee is receiving one of America’s top orthopedic research honors in June. The electronic knee, or “e-knee,” was developed by a team at Scripps Health in San Diego to replace mathematical guesswork about how forces affect the knee with actual data derived from humans. Data gleaned from patients implanted with e-knees has given Scripps researchers knowledge that has led to better knee implants and improved rehabilitation protocols following surgery. Scripps researcher Dr. Darryl D’Lima will receive the prestigious Nicolas Andry Award from the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons, based on his e-knee research during the past 15 years. Knee replacements are a growing public health issue, as the number of knee implants in the United States is expected to grow by 673 percent by 2030. For an interview with Dr. D’Lima about the latest advances in knee replacements, contact Steve Carpowich at 858-678-7183, or carpowich.stephen@scrippshealth.org.

SAVE THE DATE: Scripps Cardiovascular Institute Groundbreaking Celebration – June 21

Scripps Health will hold a groundbreaking celebration Tuesday, June 21 at 10:30 a.m. for the long-awaited Scripps Cardiovascular Institute. The $456 million project is the cornerstone of a comprehensive master plan that will transform the Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla campus. This seven-story, 383,000-square-foot tower is scheduled to open for patient care in 2015 and will feature 108 in-patient beds in private rooms, 60 intensive care beds, six state-of-art operating rooms, and four cardiac catheterization labs. Tours of mock rooms and broadcast-quality DVDs of architectural renderings and flybys will be available. The groundbreaking celebration will take place at the construction site of Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla (9888 Genesee Ave., La Jolla, CA). For more information, contact Lisa Ohmstede at 858-626-7142 or ohmstede.lisa@scrippshealth.org.

How the Padres Manager Keeps Himself in Playing Shape

2011-05-16T10:07:05-07:00

Padres manager Bud Black’s 2010 National League Manager of the Year honor is based largely on his strategic approach to the game.

Black, 53, is pretty savvy when it comes to managing his health, too. How does he keep himself in playing shape, some 15 years after his last appearance as a Big League pitcher?

Heinz Hoenecke, MD, the Padres head team doctor from Scripps Clinic, believes it’s a combination of focus and work ethic. “He always seems to be conscious of doing the right things with his health, whether it’s eating, exercising, or any other part or day-to-day living,” Dr. Hoenecke says.

Black has specific strategies when it comes to his diet. “I try to stay away from soft drinks and desserts,” he says. “And I keep an eye out to avoid foods that are high in fat, which aren’t good for you. I stick to three meals a day and for the most part, I eat whatever I want – but in moderation.”

The 6-foot-2, 192-pound Black maintains a vigorous year-round exercise regimen. In Spring Training he spends full days on the field, but finds time for cardio or weight work afterward. During the regular season he starts his days with a workout, combining cardio, weight training and core strengthening. And in the off-season, Black stays active four to five days a week, adding golf, skiing, biking and jogging to his repertoire.

He also stays current on his health checkups and screenings, including colonoscopy and prostate cancer exams, which are recommended for most men starting at age 50. “We have a family history of melanoma, so twice a year I go through a pretty extensive screening of my skin,” he says.

Maintaining a work-life balance is important to Black. “Watching my two daughters play sports has been relaxing and fun,” he says of his daughters Jamie (a high school volleyball player) and Jessie (now a collegiate gymnast). Black also enjoys attending Chargers games and watching his alma mater, San Diego State University, compete in football and basketball.

“Bud proves it is possible, if the motivation is there, to maintain excellent health no matter how crazy your schedule is,” says Scripps Clinic’s Dr. Harry Albers.

Black credits the Padres medical staff from Scripps with keeping him, his family and the Padres organization healthy. “The care that Scripps provides has been fabulous,” he says. “When I get asked by personal friends and acquaintances, I always recommend Scripps doctors to connect with.”

Scripps has been the official health care provider to the Padres since 1981.

Men at Risk for Osteoporosis

2011-05-02T09:01:12-07:00

More than two million American men today have osteoporosis, and another three million are at risk. Find out when you should be screened for osteoporosis.

Statistics reveal that each year older men suffer one-third of all hip fractures and experience spine and wrist fractures due to osteoporosis as well. Unfortunately, this silent disease usually progresses without symptoms until diagnosed following one of these fractures.

Debunking the myth

Health warnings about osteoporosis in postmenopausal women have led many to believe this disease, which gradually weakens bones and leads to painful, often debilitating fractures, doesn’t affect men. Guidelines issued within the past year by the American College of Physicians bring new awareness to the fact that more than two million American men today have osteoporosis, and another three million are at risk.

Risk factors for men

Osteoporosis risk factors for men include:

Being over 70 years of age
Having low bodyweight or recent weight loss of more than 10 percent
Lack of regular physical exercise
Use of certain medications such as corticosteroids

The new guidelines recommend that older men be screened periodically with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA test) to measure bone density. Men concerned about osteoporosis should speak with their physician about risk factors and appropriate next steps.

Should you be screened?

Call 1-800-SCRIPPS (800-727-4777) for a physician referral and to learn more about bone density screenings at Scripps. Or see our doctor finder for a primary care doctor or specialist.

The Savvy Patient - Shoulder Can Be Ground Zero for Pain

2011-03-15T11:27:06-07:00

In this week’s installment of The San Diego Union-Tribune’s “Savvy Patient” column, Scripps Health provides insight on dealing with shoulder pain.

In the United States, nearly 1.5 million people a year visit an emergency department for shoulder problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The shoulder is one of the most common regions where patients suffer pain. Pinpointing the precise source of shoulder pain is important, because pain felt in the shoulder joint may be from a shoulder problem or may stem from another issue, such as nerve irritation in the neck.

Various treatment options such as nonoperative therapy, cortisone injections and surgery are available.

Read the full article for more: Shoulder can be ground zero for pain

Media Contact: Steve Carpowich
Phone: 858-678-7183
E-mail: carpowich.stephen@scrippshealth.org