January-February 2023 Newsletter from the Orthopaedic Foundation

Dear Respected Friends, Family and Colleagues,

We hope this Newsletter finds you well and we hope you enjoy!

Manhattan Medical Immersion Camp

The Manhattan Medical Immersion Camp Returns for the Summer of 2023!

The Manhattan Medical Immersion Camp is a one-of-a-kind, hands-on experience unlike any other in the tri-state area. This 7-day overnight program hosts high school-aged students from across the US and internationally to our BioSkills Lab in New York City to learn about the diverse specialties in medicine, surgery, and allied healthcare. The program puts students in the lab in a small group setting alongside New York City’s top surgeons and medical professionals. One of the most unique aspects of the program is the students’ exposure to cadaveric specimens over the course of the program, allowing students to experience as close to a real, live surgery as possible, while learning useful practical and technical skills along the way.

Not only does this program help students confirm their interest in medicine, but it is also a unique experience to highlight on in college applications, admissions essays, and can even spark an interest in the field in those unsure. This program opens the door for students to enter the fascinating world of medicine headfirst.

International scholarship recipient, Levi Vasquez, from Bogota, Colombia, said to our Executive Director, Janine Bahar at the conclusion of the summer program:

“Thank you for the opportunity you gave me to participate in the Manhattan Medical Immersion Camp. It was a wonderful experience for me, filling me with more motivation to continue in the field of medicine which is something I have always wanted to do. I really enjoyed being a part of the camp, and sharing with everyone. I was able to learn many good and new things, and gained more knowledge of the diversities of the many branches of medicine, and meeting many doctors specializing in different branches. I am also learning more about the functioning of the human body. It was a great pleasure and learning experience for me, and I wanted to say thank you again for this opportunity. I hope to keep in touch with you and be able to show you my progress in medicine and healthcare. Thank you very much for everything, a thousand blessings.”

The Manhattan Medical Immersion Camp recently attended summer program fairs held at both Scarsdale High School in NY and Greenwich High School in CT, where we interacted with hundreds of prospective students.

This one-of-a-kind program runs from July 9th through July 15th, 2023. The application deadline is May 31st, 2023. For more information about the program, to view a video, and access the brochure, visit www.ofals.org/camp. We are so excited to continue to spark imagination and inspire new generations of surgeons and medical professionals!

Research Corner

Where in the world is the Research Department? Our Founder, Dr. Kevin D. Plancher, MD, MPH, represented our Research Team at the ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) Study Group in St. Kitts on January 31st. He presented out research entitled Predictors of Knee Osteoarthritis Following ACL Reconstruction. The team found that older age, longer time to ACL reconstruction, meniscal tears, but most importantly cartilage defects lead to osteoarthritis at a minimum of 10 years after surgery. Kudos!

If you know someone that is suffering from mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis, contact our research team here to learn more about our clinical trial opportunities to help you stay in the game for life!

If you know a medical student or college student interested in the field of orthopaedics and sports medicine, check out our Summer Research Internship. More information can be found here. Applications are due March 1st.

Roundtable Discussion

Q: How do you see the field of Regenerative medicine helping with orthopaedic outcomes?

A: In orthopaedic surgery there has been a never-ending quest to improve surgical outcome and the patient’s experience. Progression has been marked by the re?nement of surgical techniques and instruments and later by enhanced diagnostic imaging capability, speci?cally MRI. Over time implant optimization has been achieved, along with the development of innovative minimally invasive arthroscopic technical skills to leverage new versions of classic procedures and implants to improve short-term patient morbidity and initial, mid-term, and long-term patient outcomes. The use of regenerative and/or biological adjuncts to aid the healing process has followed in the drive for continual improvement, and major breakthroughs in basic science have signi?cantly unraveled the mechanisms of key healing and regenerative pathways. A new era in the application of biologically active material is transforming clinical practice by providing effective supportive treatments either at the time of the index procedure or during the postoperative period. A wide spectrum of primary and complementary regenerative treatments is becoming increasingly available, including blood-derived preparations, growth factors, bone marrow preparations, and stem cells. Regenerative treatments are currently in active use to enhance many areas of orthopedic surgery in an attempt to improve success and outcome.

Rotator Cuff Tear Repair - We know specifically that the addition of bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) will improve the rate of healing for rotator cuff repair. This is not conjecture, but the published results that have demonstrated that at 10 year follow-up patients treated with BMAC Hernigou et al compared single-row rotator cuff tear with and without BMAC adjuvant treatment with known quantitative dosing with grading of repair by monthly ultrasound for 24 months and con?rmed by MRI with a minimum 10-year follow-up. The authors found that the rotator cuff healed within 6 months in 100% of patients in the BMAC group (45/45) and in only 67% of the control group (30/45). The retear rate was lower in the BMAC group, with 87% of repairs still intact (39/45), versus only 44% in the control group (20/45) at a minimum of 10-year follow-up.

Articular Cartilage Repair - A randomized controlled trial (RCT) utilizing adjuvant peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) comparing clinical outcomes with International Knee Documentation Committee scores at 18 months, morphology of repair with MRI, and repair tissue quality with histologic biopsy. The intervention group underwent postoperative injections of PBSCs and hyaluronan, whereas the control group underwent injections of hyaluronan alone. Repair tissue as evaluated with the International Cartilage Repair Society II histologic score and an MRI morphologic score illustrated statistical superiority in the PBSC group. Clinical outcome scores at 24 months did not illustrate a statistical difference.

Hip AVN (Grade 1 and 2) - Early diagnosis and treatment with hip preservation procedures is the goal of osteonecrosis of hip. Core decompression (CD) of the femoral head is a cost-effective procedure that reduces the intraosseous pressure, promotes neoangiogenesis, and enhances new bone formation. The need for conversion to total hip arthroplasty in early-stage osteonecrosis hip treated with BMAC is around 38% after an average follow-up of 26 months. Without augmentation with BMAC, the conversion is almost 80% within 24 months. This is a very simple and effective way to augment current orthopaedic surgery and improve outcome of the orthopaedic procedure.

Many thanks to Col. Dr. William D. Murrell, MD, MS, an orthopaedic surgeon at Gardner Orthopedics in Tampa, FL, for this newsletter’s Roundtable Discussion! Dr. Murrell was one of the Foundation’s Fellows for the 2021-2022 Fellowship year.

Mitigating Stress through Food

Stress affects us all, whether spurred by temporary and short-term occurrences or long-term concerns. Managing stress is a necessary skill to have in modern times, but generating stress-management skills is a task not for the faint of heart. Kaytee Hadley, R.D., provides some advice for foods we can eat to help us easily mitigate stress.

Repairing Cellular Damage

Chronic and continued stress can damage cellular structures. Berries, beans, green tea, spinach, and kale are high in antioxidants and help to repair the damaged cells and rebuild those cell structures. Research suggests eating a cup of fresh or frozen berries per day has exceptional antioxidant benefits.?

Calming the Nervous System

The neurotransmitter, serotonin, and the hormone, melatonin, help improve your overall mood, sleep, bone health, and even wound healing. Complex carbohydrates such as oatmeal, brown rice, and whole grain bread have been shown to enhance the production of these compounds.

Nurturing Gut Health

Gut health has been shown to be closely linked to mental health. Maintaining a healthy gut microbiome can help decrease your stress levels. Fiber-rich foods such as beans, brown rice, berries, and broccoli, help you nourish that connection between brain and gut. Probiotic-rich foods (e.a. yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, kefir) can help to replenish and diversify your gut bacteria, further strengthening that connection.

Replenishing your Vitamin Needs

During times of stress, the body is depleted of magnesium and B Vitamins. Almonds and pumpkin seeds contain higher levels of these vitamins and can help mitigate the body’s increased need.

Cherry Berry Ginger Smoothie

This tangy, flavorful smoothie is packed full of vitamins, antioxidants, and protein, making it perfect for a breakfast or a pre- or post-workout meal. Make sure to use fresh grated ginger to give this smoothie an extra kick and to add the gut-nurturing benefits that its powdered variant doesn’t provide.

Many thanks to The Roasted Root for this unique recipe.

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You will need:

-?????????1/2 ripe banana, frozen

-?????????2/3 cup of almond milk

-?????????About 4 ice cubes

-?????????1/2 cup of fresh blueberries

-?????????1/2 cup of pitted cherries

-?????????2 tablespoons cashew butter

-?????????2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger

-?????????1 tablespoon hemp seeds (note: these can be omitted, but we recommend you include them for the Omega 3 and Omega 6 benefits, and for extra protein)

Directions:

Add everything to a blender and blend to your desired thickness!

This recipe is full of benefits and is sure to satisfy.

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We hope you enjoyed this month’s Newsletter, and we thank you for your generous support!

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Warm regards,?

Janine Bahar??

Executive Director

Orthopaedic Foundation?

Ph: 203-869-2002

www.ofals.org