Location
5001 Transportation Dr.
Sheffield Village, OH 44054
Emily Gardner’s full ACL tear took her out of her freshman season, but she’ll be ready for sophomore year thanks to Dr. Daniel Zanotti and the PT team at CFO.
Highschool freshman, Emily Gardner, is a front row hitter in competitive club volleyball year round. While in Chicago, at a game on Easter weekend, she was close to the net for a tight set, scored the point, and came down hard.
Emily says, “I didn’t think I tore my ACL, but I heard a pop and wasn’t sure what it was, but I could walk on it.”
Her parents in the stands were holding their breath. Emily’s Mom, Kim, says, “Our hearts sank. We hoped it was a strain and sprain. But we got home and went to the CFO injury clinic to get X-rays and MRI results. It was a complete tear of the ACL.”
In addition to the left ACL tear, Emily had a torn meniscus, and Dr. Daniel Zanotti knew that reconstructive surgery was the best treatment for both injuries. Unfortunately, it meant Emily would be off her Freshman High school team, but would be ready to play again in her Sophomore year, which is the season that matters for college recruitment.
“I love volleyball,” Emily says, “It’s like my life. I want to play D2 Volleyball in college on scholarship.”
Kim, Emily and family are pleased with Emily’s post surgical recovery. Kim is a nurse and has been impressed with the low post-surgery pain levels and the physical therapy support Emily has received from CFO and her school Athletic trainer, who works closely with Emily’s PT team.
Kim says, “She never needed all that much pain medication because there was not much pain to speak of. Six months out from the April surgery, and she’s running on a 12% incline on the treadmill with no pain and she’s had no pain through all of rehab. And, this has not gotten her spirits down. She’s amazing.”
Emily has taken charge of her rehab and works diligently at her PT appointments, home and school, where she can use the high school gym with her Athletic trainer.
Emily says, “I have a Physical Therapy team that has really helped me, and at-school PT has been cool. I miss playing a lot, but I should definitely be playing next year.”
Everyone here at CFO is rooting for Emily and wishing her and her family the best of luck on next year’s season. If your student athlete is injured at a game, come to our CFO Injury Clinic or call 440.329.2800 to make your appointment today.
Jackie Koepf is no stranger to Center for Orthopedics. She works at UH Elyria Medical Center checking in patients. So the day after her trip to the ER for a broken wrist, she scheduled a next day check-in time at CFO’s Orthopedic Injury Clinic.
“I broke my wrist after a fall decorating a Christmas tree. I stepped on a wicker stool to reach something and that’s the last thing I remember.”
Jackie hit her head, broke some ribs and broke her wrist. “When I got to the ER my wrist was displaced, but they decided to send me to an expert. So I went online and scheduled a check in time at the Orthopedic Injury Clinic at the Center for Orthopedics in Sheffield Village.”
Her instincts were correct. When she came into the Injury Clinic, and saw Dr. David Marsh, he took one look at the wrist and said, “You need surgery.” Jackie, however, did not want to do surgery and asked about other options.
“I’m the kind of person who barely takes over the counter pain medication. I didn’t want to have surgery if I didn’t have to. Dr. Marsh let me know there was another, not very pleasant option -- manipulation. I knew it was the harder road, but I opted for 30 to 40 min. of pain. And, for me, it was worth it.”
After the manipulation procedure, Jackie said she felt immediate relief from ongoing nausea she’d had since the accident. And, that morning of the appointment, the Injury Clinic staff set up once a week appointments for follow up and helped her schedule physical therapy with a hand specialist.
Jackie said that Dr. Marsh’s Physician Assistant, Amanda, was “phenomenal.”
“I let her know couldn’t drive and she went above and beyond -- sorting the paperwork and faxing everything for me, so that I didn’t have to do any running around.”
The entire experience at the Center for Orthopedics Injury Clinic was overwhelmingly positive for Jackie, who described the process as “a well-oiled machine.”
“You walk into a full waiting room, but it’s so efficient. It worked out so well. They were really on top of everything. I had a great experience with Dr. Marsh. He’s a good guy. He’s down to earth, kind, and I never felt rushed.”
While Jackie doesn’t recommend getting injured, if you do, she does recommend an appointment at the Orthopedic Injury Clinic after you go to the ER. “I’m very glad I got the second opinion about my wrist. Dr. Marsh and I were both in agreement that it needed more attention.”
If you suffer from trauma that affects joints and bones, consider a trip to one of our four Center for Orthopedics Injury Clinics. Click HERE to learn more or call 440-329-2800.
Ruth Twardzik talks about her unique relationship with Dr. Zanotti and the pioneering procedure they both brought to Lorain County.
Ruth Twardzik has struggled with arthritis since 1965. Now she jokes that she has been rebuilt by Dr. Robert Zanotti. He’s replaced both of her knees, one hip, one shoulder and this year the second shoulder was due for replacement.
Ruth says, “My sister was with me at my last appointment and he said, ‘Would you like to do another injection or should we schedule surgery?’ She just looked at me, and I knew it was time to get it done. And I’m glad I did. Just like last time, I went in, had it done, healed well and didn’t really need pain meds.”
“Last time” Ruth had her should done, in 2007, it was a bit of a bigger deal than she originally realized. Because the damage to her shoulder was so extensive, she qualified for a brand new (at the time) procedure called a reverse total shoulder replacement. And it just so happened that Dr. Robert Zanotti had the unique expertise to complete the pioneering procedure.
But back then, all she knew was that corticosteroid injections were no longer cutting it. “I couldn’t get my arm up anymore, and I couldn’t use my hand. It was starting to keep me in the house.”
It wasn’t until she got to the hospital that she fully realized she played a key role in a pioneering surgical technique.
“When I first got there, the nurse told me, ‘You are historic.’ I barely paid attention. I just knew Dr. Zanotti was going to fix me. But then another nurse came in and asked for my permission for a team to learn from the surgery. That’s when they told me I was the first person to have a reverse shoulder replacement in Lorain County and maybe even in NE Ohio!”
The surgery involves implanting a “cup and ball” shaped device in the shoulder. A normal shoulder is considered a “ball and socket” joint, with the rounded portion of the upper arm being the ball and a shallow, dish-shaped structure attached to the shoulder blade being the socket. During the reverse shoulder surgery, the ball portion of the joint is attached to the shoulder blade and the cup is attached to the upper arm, thus “reversing” the normal anatomy. This changes the mechanics of the shoulder to allow the joint to maneuver even though there isn’t a functional rotator cuff.
Both times Ruth had the reverse total shoulder replacement, she came away with a fixed shoulder and a grateful heart. “Thank God for Dr. Z,” says Ruth. “I always hope I don’t have to go see him, but I’m glad he’s there when I need him.”
People ask Ruth why she and her husband travel from Parma out to Lorain to go to The Center for Orthopedics, but she tells them it’s worth the drive.
“These folks have been taking care of me for over 20 years. I have been in physical therapy so many times and each time, it is amazing. When I walk in, everyone is so caring from the woman at the front desk to the nurses and all the staff and doctors. I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else.”
And Ruth encourages anyone suffering to go see the docs at CFO too. “I know when you’re hurting you put it off. I know people hesitate, but don’t. I recommend that anybody that has trouble go to CFO and get whatever is hurting looked. Just get it fixed. They know what their doing.”.
If you’re suffering and have been putting off a doctor visit, consider a consultation with Dr. Robert Zanotti or another of our pioneering physicians here at The Center for Orthopedics. Just call 440.329.2800 to make your appointment today.