Patient of the Month Jenci Hawthorne

Posted June 27, 2019 by Orthopaedic Specialists

Jenci Hawthorne is a second-year medical student at the University of Louisville.

“I chose to go into medicine because I want to be there to help people who are tackling difficult things because of their health.”

Recently she has had to tackle a problem with her own knee. As a swimmer, she frequently experienced her knee popping out. One day after a test at school, it wouldn’t pop back in. After attending physical therapy for a month with Julie Snowden and having difficulty walking, she was referred to Dr. Stacie Grossfeld.

A latereal meniscal repair was recommended. While she was nervous to have the surgery, she felt confident in the hands of a female surgeon and mentor. Her advice to others who are put in this situation is to ask as many questions as possible to better prepare you for what is going to happen. “I will never take my legs for granted again, they impact so much of your life.”

30% of patients with meniscal tears re-tear it during recovery. In order to avoid this fate, Jenci will have to be gentle and cautious when partaking in any pivoting activity. She has recently had her brace removed and will spend the next 6 months to a year further recovering her knee. Luckily her recovery process aligned well with her plans to spend the summer studying for boards.

Currently, Jenci is awaiting her board scores and preparing for her 3rd year orientation. The next year ahead holds many opportunities as Jenci looks forward to exploring the more hands on fields of internal medicine and surgery. All of us at the Orthopeadic Specialists wish her the best of luck!

How A Tick Bite Can Lead to Lyme Disease & Arthritis

Posted June 18, 2019 by Orthopaedic Specialists

Tick season is upon us. Known to thrive in the warmer climate, ticks can be a danger to us as well as our pets. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “State and local health departments have reported a record number of cases of tick borne disease.”

Lyme disease (a bacterial infection commonly transmitted by deer ticks) is one of the most common tick borne illnesses. If a tick is infected with the bacterium known as “Borrelia burgdorferi” and attaches to the skin undetected for a long period of time, Lyme disease can be transmitted through one’s bloodstream.

This bacterium invades the joints and causes inflammation, wearing down the cartilage of the joints. As a result, Lyme disease arthritis can develop months or even years after exposure. Arthritis.org states that, “If left untreated, over half of the people will develop sporadic bouts of arthritis, particularly in the knees.”

If detected early enough, Lyme disease can be treated effectively with antibiotics. However, Lyme disease is often misdiagnosed because it’s symptoms are commonly confused with fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis, among others.

The Signs & Symptoms

Those with Lyme disease usually experience flu like symptoms including:

Fever
Chills and or sweats
Muscle aches
Nausea
Headaches
Swollen lymph nodes
Fatigue

Most affected by Lyme disease also develop a rash in the shape of a bulls eye. More serious symptoms such as joint pain, bell’s palsy and neck stiffness can also develop.

Tick Prevention

According to NIG Medicine Plus Magazine, “A tick needs to remain attached for 36 hours before Lyme disease can be transmitted.” Therefore, avoiding tick exposure, and detecting one early on if exposed, is key in preventing Lyme disease from developing.

Small in size, ticks can easily go unnoticed. They are most prevalent in densely wooded areas, amidst high grasses, shrubs and bushes. When hiking or walking, try to keep to the center of the trail to avoid coming in contact with one. Chemical repellents and year long preventative treatment for pets are also helpful.

For further protection, dress in clothing that covers your arms and legs, tucking loose ends in to prevent any openings. Wearing light colors can help to improve a tick’s visibility.

When done spending time outdoors, be sure to check all areas of the skin including your scalp. Following a shower, wash clothes in high heat to kill any ticks that may be remaining.

Removing a Tick

If you do find a tick, it is critical that it is removed properly and quickly. Use tweezers to grab the whole tick, being careful to pull it out directly without twisting as the head could remain in the skin. Afterwards, clean the area with soap, water and rubbing alcohol. You can get rid of the tick by flushing it down the toilet or sealing it in a bag.

For more questions about Lyme disease as well as the treatment for Lyme arthritis or joint pain, contact Dr. Stacie Grossfeld and the Orthopaedic Specialists of Louisville, Kentucky at 502-212-2663.

This Month’s Residents

Posted June 6, 2019 by Orthopaedic Specialists

I have two residents this month! There is a lot of #girlboss energy in the office thanks to Dr. Mary Rush M.D. and Hayley Meek Heesemann M.D.!

Meet Dr. Chris Ethridge!

Posted May 31, 2019 by Orthopaedic Specialists

Chris’s Service

Chris Ethridge, M.D. is a second year resident with the University of Louisville Family Medicine and Geriatrics. He has had a very interesting journey to become a family medicine physician. He was active duty military and served one tour in Afghanistan and then two tours in Iraq. Three tours shows an uncompromising dedication to our country. Dr Ethridge joined the military in June of 2002, a week out of high school. Initially he was stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC with the 82nd Airborne Division. He then moved back to Kentucky in 2006 to go to college.

Anesthesia?

After graduating from medical school and starting his residency with the Department of Anesthesia. No wait, did I say anesthesia? Yes, two years into his anesthesia residency he decided he wanted more patient interactions (awake patient contact) and the ability to develop long term relationships. Patient relationships led him to the Department of Family Medicine and Geriatrics.

But First Nursing

He did have a brief break between residency positions and actually worked as a nursing assistant at the ICU at Norton Audubon Hospital. During that time none of the nurses were unaware that he was a physician with two years of anesthesia under his belt. A pro at floating central lines, placing art lines, reading chest x-rays, and understanding the complex care of a critically ill patient, he maintained his humble status. Not too proud to change a bed, lift a patient that needed assistance, or work with the skilled nursing staff to make their job easier.

He has a huge smile on his face when he talks about that experience and the wonderful nursing staff that he worked with side by side. When asked when the staff found out his secret. He stated they found out the day he matched with the Family Medicine Department. He said his work family was thrilled!!!

Dr. Chris Ethridge is a quick study and a pleasure to work with for the month of May. Hopefully we instilled a bit of orthopedics into his skill set! He has two beautiful children and an amazing wife, and is originally from Paducah, Kentucky.

Female Entrepreneurs Including Louisville Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Stacie Grossfeld Open Kentucky’s First F45 Fitness Studios

Posted May 23, 2019 by Orthopaedic Specialists

F45 Training, a popular bootcamp style fitness studio originating in Australia, is taking Louisville by storm with 3 locations opening within months of one another in Middletown, Crestwood and St. Matthews. Kentucky’s first three F45 fitness studios are female owned and operated. Fitness enthusiast and orthopaedic surgeon Stacie Grossfeld partnered with certified personal trainers Kim Postema and Melissa Goodlett to bring the international fitness chain to the city of Louisville, Kentucky.

Founded in 2011 in Sydney Australia as a solution to the rut many people get into in a normal gym setting, the intense 45-minute F45 fitness circuit has gained in popularity around the globe with thousands of locations open worldwide. Most recently high-level investors like Mark Wahlberg are signing on having personally realized the benefits of the program’s innovative approach to training which combines unique and varied fitness routines with structure and accountability.

As a sports medicine doctor and orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Stacie Grossfeld sees this business endeavor as a natural coupling to her daily work where she strives to promote an active healthy lifestyle to patients of every age. As a competitive tennis player, and avid skier and cyclist, Dr. Grossfeld is a lifelong athlete and passionate advocate of the benefits of physical activity. “I believe being a competitive athlete makes me a more effective sports medicine doctor. I can relate to my athletic patients on a more personal level. It’s just so important to be mobile and pain free and I try to help my all patients achieve this goal.”

About the Co-Owners

Seeing the difficulty so many people have in maintaining an ongoing fitness routine, and knowing the benefits that a sense of community can make in this effort, getting involved in F45 Training seemed like a natural fit for Dr. Grossfeld. “This unique approach to fitness impressed me because of how much gets accomplished in just 45 minutes. F45 takes the guesswork out of training and it also makes it fun. And the instructors know how to really motivate everyone to push harder. When an opportunity arose to bring this to Louisville, I knew that I had to be involved.”

Certified Fitness Trainer Melissa Goodlett brings a lifelong love of health and fitness to her work at F45. Talking about her decision to become a co-owner of F45, Melissa explains: “I love helping people reach their health and fitness goals! Anything is possible with a positive attitude and hard work! I’m grateful every day that my job is to motivate, inspire, teach and help people change their lives for the better!”

Growing up playing many different types of sports, F45 co-owner Kim Postema combines a love of physical activity with a passion for working with people. Describing her work at F45, Kim states: “I truly love motivating people to make changes to be healthier! Come see me and the whole F45 Training team at one of our Louisville-area locations. Our F45 workouts really are amazing!”

Why F45?

F45 training facilities are designed to make obtaining a great workout as easy as possible. Exercises feature movements that support day-to-day activities such as lifting, squatting, jumping and twisting motions among many others. While F45 stands for functional training, workouts also incorporate high intensity interval training and circuit training. This combination of rapid-fire exercises, strength training, and cardiovascular endurance is thought to be most effective for burning fat and building lean muscle.

With over 30 themed workouts and thousands of variations, members never do the same routine twice. Stations are stocked with items like barbells, ropes, rowing machines, mats, stationary bikes, sandbags and balance trainers. Each class is led by up to 2 coaches, and lasts just 45 minutes.

F45’s Middletown location officially opened its doors on April 20th following a ribbon cutting with Mayor Greg Fischer and Karl Schmitt, CEO of the Louisville Sports Commission. Both Crestwood and St. Matthews locations are expected to open in June of 2019. Members of the Middletown, Crestwood and St. Matthews studios can attend classes at the location nearest them while also enjoying access to all three facilities.

Embracing the group fitness mentality, the F45 experience is known to offer rapid results in a safe and encouraging environment. For a limited time, those interested in a fast paced, fun workout can take advantage of a free 7-day trial. While fitting in a full body workout can be challenging, the F45 model provides a structured and proven routine all in a realistic time frame. Additionally, trainers are always on hand to help participants utilize proper technique and form.

To receive a 1-week free trial, and special introductory pricing at the Middletown location, sign up here.

About F45 Fitness Studios

Originating in Sydney, Australia in 2011, F45 is an international fitness chain offering a structured, quick and team like approach to traditional exercise classes. Functional boot camp style classes are offered in 45-minute sessions. Kentucky’s first three franchise locations are located in Middletown, Crestwood and St. Matthews, Kentucky.

To learn more about the Louisville, KY-based F45 Fitness Studios, each location has its own Facebook page.

About Dr. Stacie Grossfeld

Dr. Stacie Grossfeld is one of three female F45 franchise owner operators in Middletown, Crestwood, and St. Matthews, Kentucky. She is also the owner of Orthopedic Specialists, a sports medicine and orthopedic surgery practice located in Louisville, Kentucky. Dr. Grossfeld is double board certified in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine. A graduate of the University of Louisville School of Medicine, Dr. Grossfeld served her internship and residency at the University of Minnesota and completed a fellowship in Sports Medicine at the Fowler- Kennedy Sports Medicine Center. In addition to her private practice, Dr. Grossfeld serves as a team doctor for the South Oldham Dragons. She is also an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Louisville.

About Melissa Goodlett

Melissa Goodlett, an F45 owner and trainer at F45 Middletown, is thrilled to be a part of the F45 fitness franchise and is excited to see Louisville growing in fitness opportunities. Melissa began her career as a teacher but spent 12 years managing a team of sales reps for Depuy Spine. After deciding it was time for a career change and having a lifelong love of health and fitness, she decided to pursue her personal trainer certification. Melissa is a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Association for Fitness Certification. She has her group fitness and nutrition certification as well and has been working in the fitness industry for almost 5 years. She first got her start as a coach and then Head Trainer at Orangetheory Fitness.

About Kim Postema

F45 owner and trainer Kim Postema is originally from Michigan. She grew up playing many different sports. While in college she began distance running and has now completed 5 marathons including “The Goofy” at Walt Disney World. She studied accounting and is a CPA but got into the fitness industry after her 3 children were born. While she initially started as a Bodypump instructor 13 years ago, she later became certified in spinning, barre, yoga and TRX. She has worked for the YMCA and Orangetheory Fitness. She holds her CPT license through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and her group fitness certification through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA).

Banana Sutures

Posted May 23, 2019 by Orthopaedic Specialists

Ashley doing surgery (learning to suture) on a banana in the office this am as part of her senior project. The banana survived and is resting comfortably.
The future Ashley White, M.D. has pretty good hands. She is a quick study!
Tomorrow she will be practicing anchor placement for rotator cuff repairs 😷.

How long does it take for a broken bone to heal in a child?

Posted May 16, 2019 by Orthopaedic Specialists

The younger the child the faster the broken bone will heal. The average time for a broken bone to heal in a child is 4-6 weeks. Adult broken bones typically take twice as long to heal than children.

Bone healing time is dependent on the type of fracture and which bone is involved. Typically the higher the energy that caused the fracture will result in a more complex fracture and a longer healing time. For example, if a child falls while running and lands on their out stretched wrist and fractures their distal radius, that fracture will heal quicker than a fracture that occurs in a high energy car accident.

Certain bones such as the tibia (shin bone) take almost twice as long to heal than the distal radius (wrist bone). Imaged below on the left is a higher energy wrist fracture that will take longer to heal than the image on the right. The X-ray on the right is a non displaced distal radius fracture indicated by the red arrows.

Opioid Facts

Posted May 15, 2019 by Orthopaedic Specialists

1. 80% of the world’s opioid use is in the U.S. but the U.S. only makes up 5% of the world’s population.
2. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the amount of prescription opioids nearly quadrupled from 1999 to 2015.
3. By 2014, Americans were more likely to die from an opioid overdose than from a car accident.
4. Why? We can start with the introduction of pain as the fifth vital sign. This was mandated in 2001 via the VA medical system.
5. The introduction of prescription opioids were marketed to physicians as non-addicted pain medication when actually they were extremely addictive.
6. We now have a horrible problem. Educating our patients is so important as is using non-opioids to treat pain and discussing expectations with patients prior to surgery or after an injury.

Meet Dr. Michael Orangias!

Posted May 14, 2019 by Orthopaedic Specialists

Michael Orangias, MD came back for a repeat rotation! Dr. Orangias is a fourth-year resident with the Internal Medicine and Pediatrics departments at the University of Louisville. He will be double board-certified when he graduates and passes his boards.

After he completes his double residency he is going to complete a double fellowship. One fellowship will be in pediatric pulmonology and the other one will be in sleep medicine.

However, medicine was not his first love. Dr. Orangias graduated from the University of Louisville with a degree in music. He worked as a professional musician for many years and taught guitar privately. He plays classical guitar and also played guitar in a rock ‘n’ roll band.

Mike always had an interest in medicine and finally went back to medical school after going back to college to finish up his pre-med coursework.

A true Renaissance man! He was an absolute joy to work with. He mastered the technique of giving injections and I think has a pretty good handle on orthopedics. Michael Orangias even hopes to practice in the Louisville, Kentucky area.

I Heard a Pop in My Knee