Jordan's Navicular | MedEd Post COVID-19 | FAN Reader Submission | Webinars
The Last Dance... Jordan's Navicular
Covid-19 has placed an enormous burden on our health care system. But for the foot and ankle surgeon, it has given many of us the opportunity to regress to our coach potato days. Best watch of the pandemic? Tiger King? Bite your tongue… not for a sports crazed foot and ankle surgeon. The only king of this pandemic is Michael Jordan and watching his legacy on the Last Dance.
Greatest player ever. Without a doubt. And one of the most amazing things about MJ was his ability to play at the highest level consistently without disabling injuries. Joel Emblid, Yao Ming,Marc Gasol, and many other NBA players have suffered career altering injuries, one of which is the legendary navicular fracture which has proven repeatedly to be a very difficult and prolonged healing journey.
So what was so different about MJ? Nonsurgical management in cast? BORING. But in the case of MJ, very effective. And not only effective but allowed the greatest to return to play in a unprecedented timeline which has not been replicated since.
Sure, all navicular fractures are different. Unicortical. Bicortical. Sclerosis, Acute on chronic changes. Fracture pattern and orientation. But even when the best foot and ankle surgeons intervene with surgery the results are unpredictable. Outcomes are guarded and prolonged.
So what is the lesson? Covid-19 has taught us patience. Perhaps patience and conservative care should be revisited for some of these difficult conditions. Perhaps we need to consider biologic interventions instead of mechanical interventions. Or perhaps we all could use a little bit of MJ’s DNA.
MJ, if I ever break my navicular can you please donate a vial your of PRP for my foot? I am a really good basketball player and my best days are ahead.
Medical Education Post-COVID
Big Society Meetings are a staple in the foot and ankle community and a must attend event for education, comradery, and business. ACFAS was able to sneak theirs in just before the pandemic put us all on hold. AOFAS Summer Meeting is scheduled for 9/9 which seems just far enough away that the meeting may be able to take place, but should it? Will people attend? Will companies have the cash to put up these massive booths and staff them this year? I for one, do hope the meeting takes place, even if it is a slimmed down version.
Regardless, it seems that virtual meetings are here to stay, for the near term at minimum. With a ton of webinars popping up every week, getting attention and attendance will get harder and harder for the marketing teams behind these events.
What can companies do to stand out? Producing great content on current practice topics or new products are one way to do it. CME? That would help, especially with the cancellation of many local and state-run meetings.
Look at what Dr. Myerson did this past weekend, 48 hours of live Foot and Ankle talks from around the world. Registrants had the opportunity to view 102 talks. Right now, Steps2Walk Global Congress is the king. Who’s next? Maybe us?
PROPOSAL: FAN BATTLES
Pitting product or service categories relevant to foot and ankle surgeons against each other in some type of webinar format would provide something different for the viewers.
These head to head talks could extend to all sorts of products and services: TTC Fusion Nails, DME Products, MIS Systems, Telemedicine Platforms, TAR systems, DME, Frames, Soft tissue and more.
We could have Surgeon vs Surgeon or even Sales Rep vs Sales Rep for a little change of pace. As we all know there are many different ways to skin a cat, so the presentations wouldn’t need to be too cutthroat or combative, just a different format to present information on products or services.
EXAMPLE OF A BATTLE: Rotational Bunions
Rotational bunions have been making some serious noise over the last couple years. Former Wright Medical executive John Treace and Treace Medical have created and taken the market by storm around a single product – the LAPIPLASTY Procedure.
Featured in their LinkenIn post yesterday, Treace Medical highlighted their achievements as the “recognized leader in advancing the study of hallux valgus” and “is the #1 bunion product in the US.” Truly amazing accomplishments. With success comes competition, and in the highly competitive extremities market, it has arrived.
Wright medical recently launched its LAPIFUSE product at ACFAS in San Antonio this February. Zimmer and Nextremity have the INCORE Lapidus Nail System that “stabilizes correction in all three planes.” P28 has a proximal TMT sparring product called the PROMO , is that the answer?
Treace vs Lapifuse vs Promo vs Incore?
Can FAN become the UFC of the Foot and Ankle World?
Question One: Should we battle and is this something you would want to see/be interested in? Tell us with quick poll below!
Would you like to see foot/ankle product/service battles?
Yes, that sounds interesting
No, not for me.
Question Two: Are you a doctor or a company who would like to participate in a future battle?
Interested in participating in a foot/ankle product/service battle?
Let's do it! Please contact me.
Not at this time, thanks.
Upcoming Corporate Webinars
Webinars are the thing to do these days and we will do our best to keep you updated on relevant talks presented by industry.
Here are a few from last week in case you missed them:
WRIGHT MEDICAL - MIDFOOT NAIL
CROSSROADS - MINI BUNION
TALAR MEDICA L - COVID 19 PRACTICE SURVIVAL GUIDE SERIES
Webinars listed by date.
Paragon 28 - PROMO™ Plating System
Wednesday – April 29 @ 8pm ET
Speaker – Dr. Joseph Kou, MD
Utilizing the Paragon 28 PROMO™ Plating System to achieve multiple planar correction of the 1st ray while preserving the 1st TMT Joint.
REGISTER HERE
Additive Orthopaedics - Ankle Salvage: 3D Printing Options
Wednesday - April 29 @ 8pm ET
Speakers:
James DeOrio, MD
Mark Easley, MD
Selene Parekh, MD, MBA
(Duke University)
TO REGISTER EMAIL gameplan@additiveorthopaedics.com
GRECMIP - UPDATE ON MIS METATARSAL OSTEOTOMIES
Thursday – April 30th @ 10am ET
Presented by the Brazillian Foot and Ankle Society
REGISTER HERE
APMA - COVID-19 and Patient Care
Thursday - April 30 @ 12-12:30 pm ET (0.5 CECH)
APMA is pleased to offer its members 3.0 CECH total over a five-week period on a variety of topics. These webinars are provided complimentary, exclusively for APMA members.
Presenters: Chad L. Appel, JD, APMA Director, The Center for Professional Advocacy and Associate Director, Health Policy and Practice; Jeffrey Lehrman, DPM, APMA Coding Consultant; Benjamin J. Wallner, APMA Director, Legislative Advocacy and APMAPAC
REGISTER HERE
OSSIOfiber- Bio-Integrative Implant Fixation
Thursday – May 7th @ 5pm ET
Speakers –Dr. Luke Cicchinelli and Dr. Christopher Hyer
Live webinar to discuss the science behind OSSIOfiber Intelligent Bone Regeneration Technology, the first-in-human clinical study results, their clinical experience with the first commercial product, and the vast pipeline of foot & ankle fixation products.
REGISTER HERE
Amniox - Extremity Recon and Trauma, and Complex Wound Care Management
Sat, May 9, 2020 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM CDT
Speakers:
Mark Gould, MD
Allen Raphael, DPM
Ryan Putnam, MD
Jeffrey Haupt, DPM
Platform Science of Cryopreserved Umbilical Cord and its Applications in Foot and Ankle Recon, Umbilical Cord: A Lifeline to Regenerative Healing, Cryopreserved Umbilical Cord in Foot and Ankle Trauma, and CLARIX and NEOX CORD 1K in Surgical Applications and Wound Care Management, followed by a live Q&A with the faculty.
REGISTER HERE
If you have an upcoming webinar or event you would like to promote, please contact us at footandanklenews@gmail.com
