TRIA Orthopaedic Center Surgeon Develops Expedited Ankle Surgery Recovery Process
Patients able to return to activities within days
BLOOMINGTON, Minn., April 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Each year, more than 5 million ankle fracture incidents are reported in the United States. TRIA Orthopaedic Center (TRIA) has revolutionized ankle fracture operation recovery by allowing patients to put weight on their affected joints as soon as they're comfortable – in some cases, just days after surgery.
At the recent American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting, orthopaedic surgeon and foot and ankle specialist Dr. Fernando Peña presented results from the TRIA Institute Outcomes Program in which patients were allowed to bear weight as tolerated immediately following ankle fracture surgery. This stands in stark contrast to the standard protocol of six weeks of non-weight bearing activity. Dr. Peña's approach to rehabilitation allows patients to resume their normal routine and activities much faster.
"Ankle fractures create a disruption in a patient's life when they are unable to walk or participate in recreational activities after surgery," said Dr. Peña. "When I began noticing patients hop off the exam table at six weeks after surgery and walk out of the room, even with weight-bearing restrictions, this made me question the rehabilitation process following ankle fracture surgery. It's times like this that show I'm continually learning from my patients."
From January 2009 through November 2014, TRIA collected data on 400 patients undergoing surgery for ankle fracture. Of that total, 178 patients were weight-bearing as tolerated immediately. Those who were able to weight-bear as tolerated immediately showed signs of accelerated recovery, with little to no difficulty climbing stairs or taking part in recreational activities.
"The patient-reported outcomes tracked by Dr. Peña and his team underscore TRIA's commitment to innovation and measures to continually re-evaluate our care," said Edward V. Craig, MD, MPH, CEO TRIA Orthopaedic Center. "It is only through willingness to look at our results that we can continue to learn where we can improve."
Patients who were able to weight-bear immediately took an average of 2.6 weeks to resume walking as compared to the average recovery time of 5.6 weeks.
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, one fourth of athletic injuries are foot and ankle related.
"The benefits of Dr. Peña's rehabilitation approach to both patients and the orthopaedic community is the understanding that our patients can return to work and recreational activity more quickly, without compromising the results of treatment," said Dr. Craig. "As the time away from activity, cost, and problems associated with immobilization decrease, the patient's quality of life increases. This embodies TRIA's focus on value and the standard of care that we provide to our patients."
TRIA now has more than 400 patients in its ankle fracture outcomes program, which is more than three times what can be found in any previously published research on weight bearing following ankle fracture surgery.
About TRIA Othopaedic Center
TRIA is a comprehensive center for orthopaedic medicine, providing incomparable clinical and surgical care, world-class research, and innovative programs. TRIA Orthopaedic Center, which is part of HealthPartners and Park Nicollet Health Services, has more than 40 highly-trained physicians covering a wide variety of sub-specialties. TRIA's sports medicine specialists have served as official team physicians for Minnesota's professional sports teams for more than 25 years. For more information, visit tria.com.
Contact: Phil Ervin
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402.686.0439
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SOURCE TRIA Orthopaedic Center
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