"Being a wrestler was kind of destined for me," laughs Brad Wukie, a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania. "Wrestling has been in my family for the past couple of generations. I started taking it seriously in the third or fourth grade."

Brad's personal goal was clear. "I wanted to end my high school career winning a state championship," he recalls. Last year, Brad achieved that goal as a senior at Huntington Valley University School. He also won a personal victory, coming back just weeks after arthroscopic knee surgery to capture the state title.

Overcoming injuries

"Brad has a long history of injuries," says sports medicine specialist Dan Zanotti, MD, who has been Brad's orthopedic surgeon for many years. "He hurt his right knee when he was in eighth grade and we did a meniscal repair. Brad ended up coming back to wrestling and doing really well.

"He tore his meniscus again in his junior year and had arthroscopic surgery to repair it," says Dr. Zanotti. "Then, in his senior year, he re-tore it."

"Dr. Zanotti and I became very close," says Brad. "He always made sure to get me in right away. I had surgery two days after I got hurt. Dr. Zanotti knew that's what I had to do, or I wouldn't have been able to accomplish my state championship goal. I owe a lot to him.

"After my surgery, I went for physical therapy three or four times a week," Brad recalls. "And then I had to do physical therapy on my own at home a couple of times a day.

"Dr. Zanotti definitely laid out a schedule for me, telling me exactly when I would be able to come back," says Brad. "Several times he talked with my dad, letting us know when I should push it and when I shouldn't. Everything worked out.

"I had surgery in mid-December, was back at the end of January and got to wrestle in the state championship the first week in March," says Brad. "I won in my senior year—I finally accomplished my goal."

Today, Brad is one of only two freshman starting for the University of Pennsylvania's wrestling team. "I'm just trying to work on it every day," he says. "My goal now is to make it to the NCAA tournament this year, and hopefully make something happen."

2 CFO docs earn CAQ certification

CFO's Robert Zanotti, MD and Daniel Zanotti, MD, have each earned a Certificate of Added Qualification, or CAQ, in sports medicine—the only orthopedic surgeons in our area to be awarded this advanced designation.

"The CAQ is granted by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, the governing body that administers all board certification exams for orthopedics," says Dr. Dan Zanotti.

Both surgeons completed their sports medicine fellowship training in Los Angeles—Dr. Robert Zanotti at the prestigious Southern California Orthopedic Institute and Dr. Dan Zanotti at the renowned Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic.

Just weeks after arthroscopic knee surgery by Dr. Dan Zanotti, Brad Wukie won the Ohio state wrestling championship.

Photo courtesy Jessica Schindler, www.jlsphotography.net

Daniel Zanotti, MD

What is the meniscus?

The meniscus is a cartilage pad that sits between two bones in the knee. It has two purposes:

1. To act as a shock absorber between the bones; and

2. To provide some stability to the knee joint so it doesn't pop in and out.

Arthroscopic meniscus repair is surgery for younger people like Brad who are motivated and have very good healing potential. We try to save as much cartilage as we can to help avoid future arthritis and other problems.

For an appointment, call 440.329.2800.

Celebrate Valentine's Day by becoming a blood donor. We invite you to participate in our lunchtime blood drive:

Questions? Call 440.329.2800