Submitted by Orthopaedic Specialists
When you’re dealing with an orthopaedic injury, it can be difficult to determine the optimal path to recovery. With so many different opinions and options on the best care, making the best decision for your unique needs can be overwhelming.
“Here’s the one thing you can know for sure: it’s in your best interest to find the most innovative and experienced surgeons in the area to help get back to the life you love. That’s why you should choose Orthopaedic Specialists (OS).”
Dr. John Hoffman, Dr. Tuvi Mendel, Dr. Tyson Cobb, Dr. Michael Dolphin, and Dr. Ryan Pokorney are the surgeons of OS. As a team, they are constantly pushing the envelope when it comes to innovation, resulting in less invasive procedures, shorter surgical times, accelerated recovery, and better results. Their constant “never settle” attitude helps patients feel better, faster.
Dr. Tuvi Mendel understands the value of joint preservation
Dr. Mendel specializes in foot and ankle injuries. However, his expertise extends beyond the foot and ankle. For major joints such as shoulder and knee, he is well versed in the best orthopaedic procedures that get his patients back to an active lifestyle quickly.
“Injuries that prevent free movement of the joints can be devastating for athletes and really anyone who enjoys an active lifestyle.”
What makes Dr. Mendel’s care so outstanding? Beyond his extensive education and experience, he understands the issues that can arise from an active lifestyle. That’s because he is an avid CrossFit athlete and a triathlon finisher.
As an athlete himself, Dr. Mendel will not rush you into a major surgery. Dr. Mendel adheres to an approach known as joint preservation.
Joint preservation is the concept of using all available technology and techniques to preserve your natural joints.
“Injuries that prevent free movement of the joints can be devastating for athletes and really anyone who enjoys an active lifestyle,” said Dr. Mendel.
“As an example, before a total joint replacement is needed, arthroscopic surgery can improve joint health. This is a surgical procedure that allows surgeons to view the joint without making a large incision through the skin and other soft tissues. It’s less invasive.”
Dr. John Hoffman’s unmatched experience and knowledge improves recovery time significantly
Dr. Hoffman sees his fair share of joint injuries as the orthopaedic surgeon for the Bettendorf High School football team. However, joint injuries can affect more than just high school athletes. Wear and tear from everyday activities can result in irritating joint symptoms that alter mobility.
Dr. Hoffman has made a lifetime commitment to total joint replacement and the significant benefits of minimally invasive outpatient surgery. He performs over 600 total joint replacements every year and has completed more than 1,500 ACL (knee ligament) reconstructions in his career.
With nearly 30 years of private practice experience, Dr. Hoffman’s expertise is unmatched. He helped pioneer the innovative Rapid Recovery Total Joint Replacement, which minimizes hospital time dramatically, at UnityPoint Health — Trinity in Bettendorf.
“Rapid Recovery Total Joint Replacement surgery uses a minimally invasive approach to get patients up and moving faster,” said Dr. Hoffman.
“Patients are typically fairly independent with just the use of a cane or walker the day after surgery.”
As part of a statewide orthopaedic collaborative, he educates other surgeons on how to implement his exemplary joint program. He specifically emphasizes patient education, pain control, and the benefits of a team approach to care delivery.
Dr. Tyson Cobb becomes first surgeon in Iowa to perform new method of Carpal Tunnel Release
If you are experiencing reoccurring tingling, numbness, or pain in your hands, wrist, or arms, it can make your daily routine a nightmare.
“The new method is “safe, effective, and ideal for patients looking for a minimally invasive procedure.”
Dr. Cobb has dedicated much of his career to becoming one of the world’s experts on minimally invasive surgery of the upper extremities.
He serves on an advisory board for Mayo Clinic to develop groundbreaking surgical procedures that reduce downtime and minimize discomfort.
He recently became the first surgeon in Iowa to perform a new method of surgery to relieve Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Dr. Cobb’s Carpal Tunnel release surgery happens in an office setting. The patient is wide awake during the entire procedure with the use of only a local anesthetic.
According to Dr. Cobb, the new method is “safe, effective, and ideal for patients looking for a minimally invasive procedure. It allows us to perform an office-based procedure similar to what you might have at a dental office.”
Dr. Cobb instructs surgeons worldwide in the use of minimally invasive orthopaedic surgery techniques for the upper extremity.
Dr. Michael Dolphin’s expertise in outpatient back surgery gets patients home faster
A back injury can be devastating to your daily routine. The potential for long hospital stays after back surgery can be enough to deter away many patients from receiving the care they need.
The good news is that extended downtime for back surgery can be a thing of the past, thanks to Dr. Dolphin — the area’s first spine surgeon to perform outpatient spine surgery in an ambulatory surgery center.
“These minimally invasive surgeries allow patients to recover with very little scarring, and it is done on an outpatient basis. That means people are home resting comfortably in no time.”
Dr. Dolphin often recommends physical therapy, medications, and chiropractic care to treat back and neck problems conservatively. He believes strongly in the body’s ability to heal itself.
When surgery is necessary, many of Dr. Dolphin’s surgical procedures for back and neck symptoms are performed on an outpatient basis. He was the first to bring minimally invasive spinal surgery to the Quad Cities.
“These minimally invasive surgeries allow patients to recover with very little scarring, and it is done on an outpatient basis,” said Dr. Dolphin.
“That means people are home resting comfortably in no time.”
Dr. Ryan Pokorney’s skill in anterior hip replacement helps accelerate recovery
Dr. Pokorney is the newest addition to the Orthopaedic Specialists team.
He’s also the OS team’s go-to surgeon for anterior hip replacement — a procedure where the joint is accessed from the front of the hip.
“The nice part about the anterior approach is that it is much less invasive than traditional hip replacements,” says Dr. Pokorney.
By creating an incision on the front (anterior) of the hip, as opposed to the outer thigh or buttocks, Dr. Pokorney is able to work in between the muscle tissues. This procedure can be less painful than traditional methods, as minimal damage is caused to surrounding tissues. The anterior approach also offers reduced scarring and improved mobility, and patients should be able to bend at the hip and bear their full weight as soon as it is comfortable following the surgery.
To learn more about the surgeons of Orthopaedic Specialists or to schedule an appointment, call 563-344-9292, or visit www.OSQuadCities.com.
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