Newsroom Hospital for Special Surgery

Tiger Woods undergoes ankle surgery

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 17:16:26 -0400

PGA Tour reports Tiger Woods announced Wednesday that he has undergone another surgery on the right leg that was severely injured in his 2021 car accident.

Woods’ latest procedure was a fusion of the subtalar joint “to address his post-traumatic arthritis from his previous talus fracture,” according to a statement released on his Twitter account.

No timetable was given for Woods’ return. The surgery was performed by Martin J. O'Malley, MD, foot and ankle surgeon at HSS. The statement said Dr. O’Malley declared the surgery a success.

Read the full article at pgatour.com.

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Report: Mac Jones seeking second opinion from Nets team doctor

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 17:58:00 -0400

NBC Sports reports New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones will seek a second opinion on his ankle sprain from Martin J. O'Malley, MD, foot and ankle surgeon at HSS.

Read the full article at Nbcsports.com.

Chargers' J.C. Jackson undergoes ankle surgery, Pro Bowl CB expected to miss 2-4 weeks

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 18:12:00 -0400

CBS Sports reports Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson underwent a successful ankle surgery performed by Martin J. O'Malley, MD, foot and ankle surgeon at HSS.

Read the full article at Cbssports.com. Additional coverage: Beckersspine.com.

Ankle replacement: A new gold standard for arthritis

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 11:29:00 -0400

Orthopedics Today discusses the increased use of total ankle replacement (TAR) to treat ankle arthritis in the past decade among experts including HSS foot and ankle surgeon Scott J. Ellis, MD.

Dr. Ellis said, “Total ankle replacement is definitely growing, and it has particularly grown over the last 15 years as we have had new and better implants.”

Both ankle fusions and ankle replacements come with the risk of needing additional surgery. Dr. Ellis explained a second procedure may also be needed among patients with a TAR if they develop cysts in the bone or experience loosening or an infection.

He said, “If the implant becomes loose or it becomes infected, then you have to take it out and revise it and we know that the results of revision are never as good as the primary total ankle.”

He continued, “You could also convert the total ankle replacement to a fusion, but the problem is then you take out the implant and there is a hole there, essentially, because of the bone that you have taken out plus the implant, and so it is not easy to get an ankle to fuse at that point.”

One important item to research is whether there is an ideal position of the TAR implant that makes it function better, Dr. Ellis noted.

“There are so many degrees in components to how you put them in, meaning if it is in varus or valgus, how it is turned, how it is rotated, how high or low you put the implant. I just think there are so many variables of how we put the replacement in that we need to understand how those influence outcomes,” he underscored.

Read the full article at Healio.com/orthopedics.

Column: Good Health Begins with Your Feet

Sun, 22 May 2022 18:04:00 -0400

Greenwich Sentinel features a perspective from Elizabeth A. Cody, MD, foot and ankle surgeon at HSS, who explains the benefits of good foot health, which is essential for an active life, helping ensure balance, posture, mobility and overall well-being.

Dr. Cody noted an uptick in foot problems during the pandemic, given people have been spending more time at home barefoot, which puts added strain on the ligaments and tendons that support the arch and ankle, or going for long walks and runs after months of limited activity. She is also seeing rising numbers of foot and ankle injuries among young athletes who train more intensely for sports.

The most common foot and ankle conditions she encounters are flatfoot deformities, foot/ankle arthritis, ankle replacement surgery and bunions, which require various types of treatment options.

Read the full article at Greenwichsentinel.com.

SETH CURRY MEDICAL UPDATE

Mon, 09 May 2022 17:07:58 -0400

NBA.com reports Brooklyn Nets guard Seth Curry underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle performed by Martin J. O'Malley, MD, foot and ankle surgeon at HSS. Curry is expected to be fully recovered prior to the start of next season’s training camp.

Read the full article at Nba.com.

What Works Best for Ruptured Achilles Tendons?

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 17:40:00 -0400

HealthDay discusses ongoing research and potential treatment options for ruptured Achilles tendon with insight from experts including Andrew J. Elliott, MD, foot and ankle surgeon at HSS.

A study published in New England Journal of Medicine that involved 554 patients with a newly ruptured Achilles tendon -- mostly men in their 30s or 40s, found that without surgery, the risk of re-rupture was higher.

Dr. Elliott, who was not involved in the study, noted that patients in the study were outfitted with a special cast to immobilize the foot and ankle within 72 hours of their injury, which is a lot faster than what is typical in everyday practice.

He also noted that the choice to do surgery or not depends “first and foremost” on the individual patient.

For an athlete or highly active person, for example, surgery may be the better option. Without it, Dr. Elliott said, the tendon will heal, but not necessarily in an ideal way. Surgery can fix it more precisely, at its proper length and tension.

Dr. Elliott noted a nonsurgical approach may be better for older patients, smokers and those with health conditions that can make surgery riskier.

He explained that patient preference can also be a factor. Some are eager to avoid surgery, while others “don't even want to talk about nonsurgical options.”

Dr. Elliott underscored the treatment decision comes down to their personal situation and preferences.

Read the full article at Consumer.healthday.com. Additional coverage: Health.usnews.com.

Antonio Brown says Bucs pressured him to play with bone fragments in his ankle

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 15:30:00 -0500

Tampa Bay Times reports former Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown was evaluated for an ankle injury by Martin J. O'Malley, MD, foot and ankle surgeon at HSS, prior to a referral to HSS for a second opinion from the Buccaneers. Brown confirmed that an MRI revealed bone fragments in his ankle during the examination.

Read the full article at Tampabay.com.

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JOE HARRIS MEDICAL UPDATE

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 18:26:00 -0500

NBA reports Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Joe Harris underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle on November 29, performed by Martin J. O'Malley, MD, foot and ankle surgeon at HSS.

Read the full article at Nba.com. Additional coverage: Beckersspine.com.

No. 3 prospect Nolan Jones has surgery

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 11:28:00 -0400

MLB reports the Cleveland Indians No. 3 prospect third baseman Nolan Jones underwent a successful surgery to stabilize a high ankle sprain performed by Martin J. O'Malley, MD, foot and ankle surgeon at HSS.

Read the full article at Mlb.com.

Busted Ankle? What's Better, a Cast or Brace?

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 08:36:00 -0400

U.S. News & World Report highlights new research suggesting modern, flexible boots may be equivalent to plaster casts when treating broken ankles, and includes commentary on the findings from Andrew J. Elliott, MD, foot and ankle surgeon at HSS.

Similar levels of pain and function were reported after 16 weeks whether participants received a cast or a removable boot to treat an ankle fracture.

Dr. Elliott advised there are merits to both casts and removable boots when treating a broken ankle. “It winds up being a discussion between the patient and surgeon as to what they feel is the best course of treatment,” he said.

The new study did show that those people who received boots were more likely to develop an infection and/or need further surgery and Dr. Elliott explained, “These wounds can occur with early motion, and the boot doesn't fit as snuggly as a cast so you can develop microtraumas and wound issues.”

Read the full article at USnews.com.

6 Ankle Mobility Exercises to Keep You Agile and in the Game

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:58:00 -0400

Fatherly discusses ankle mobility and shares agility tips for aging adults, with guidance from Constantine A. Demetracopoulos, MD, foot and ankle surgeon at HSS.

Dr. Demetracopoulos explained, “Ankle sprains are the most common sports injury. As time passes from those injuries, you start to develop ankle stiffness, whether from scarring in ligaments that make the ankle feel tighter or early arthritic changes in your ankle.”

Maintaining your ankle mobility through regular exercise is a lot easier than regaining it after its gone. According to Dr. Demetracopoulos, stretching and maintaining functional strength are the best strategies. “Doing squats and lunges is way better for you than getting on elliptical for 30 minutes and tuning out,” he said. Those functional movements will improve range of motion better than passive aerobic exercise, “and using your body weight is perfectly fine.”

He also advised saving stretching until the end of exercise citing, “There’s a lot of evidence that stretching makes you more susceptible to injury.”

“Your two best moves are squats and reverse lunges,” said Dr. Demetracopoulos. “[Reverse lunges] are great because not only are you working on flexibility in your ankle but also balance and proprioception.”

Read the full article at Fatherly.com.

Zach Collins Undergoes Ankle Surgery

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 11:26:00 -0400

The NBA reports Portland Trail Blazers forward/center player Zach Collins underwent a successful second revision surgery to repair a left medial malleolus stress fracture on June 29, performed by Martin J. O'Malley, MD, foot and ankle surgeon at HSS.

Read the full article at NBA.com.

Additional coverage: NBCsports.com.

Everything to Know Before Buying Your First Pair of Roller Skates

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 18:08:00 -0400

The New York Times' Wirecutter discusses a rise in roller skating as a rigorous form of exercise, and features commentary from Brett G. Toresdahl, MD, sports medicine physician at HSS.

According to Dr. Toresdahl, roller skating is considered a lower-impact form of exercise that people with hip, knee, or ankle conditions might find more tolerable.

“Unlike other low-impact exercises such as swimming or biking, roller skating is a weight-bearing exercise, so it can be better for bone health,” said Dr. Toresdahl.

However, he added because roller skating requires good balance, it may be challenging for people with chronic knee injuries.

Read the full article at NYTimes.com.

Taurean Prince Status Update

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 11:53:00 -0400

NBA reports Cleveland Cavaliers forward Taurean Prince underwent successful left ankle arthroscopic surgery performed by HSS foot and ankle surgeon Martin J. O’Malley, MD, at the hospital’s main campus in New York City.

Read the full article at NBA.com.

HealthWatch: Ankle Replacement Has Made Serious Strides

Wed, 28 Nov 2018 07:00:00 -0500

CBS New York's medical correspondent Dr. Max Gomez reports on new advances in ankle replacement.

He interviews Jonathan T. Deland, MD, foot and ankle surgeon at HSS, as well as his patient, Frosty Blakeslee, who underwent the procedure a few years ago.

"My ankle hurt 24/7. I had to think about how I walked up the stairs and down the stairs from the kitchen to the living room," said Blakeslee, who is a certified professional ski instructor.

Blakeslee found Dr. Deland who recommended an ankle replacement over a fusion. He showed her a new generation prostheses that restores nearly normal function.

"Patients get good relief of pain, they can have little discomfort," said Dr. Deland. "It's like a 'wow operation'. They go 'wow, this is terrific!'"

Blakeslee regained 100 percent mobility and is able to get back on the slopes.

This coverage originally appeared in NewYork.CBSLocal.com. The original article is no longer available online.