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One of the scariest scenes unfolded this past Monday night for the world to see. There was great excitement for this game, as two of the best teams in the NFL were competing head-to-head with playoff implications. A packed stadium and a buzz that only great teams can generate. Shortly after the game had started the unthinkable occurred…

24-year-old Damar Hamlin was injured on the field. Just a routine tackle. A play that you’ve seen numerous times in a game and one that you would never think twice about. As Hamlin stood up, he soon then collapsed back down and lay motionless on the field. Doctors rushed by his side, administered CPR, and 20 minutes later he was rushed to the hospital by ambulance.

Dr. Grant Garcia wanted to share some information about what happened and explain what Commotio Cordis is: a trauma to your chest, a type of injury that is usually associated with Baseball, Lacrosse, Hockey, and combat sports. Dr. Garcia wants to let coaches and families know how to be prepared and recognize the difference between a common injury and a life-threatening one.

Happy New Year!!!

As we get excited about all the possibilities and new shows for 2023, we look back at some of our favorite topics and conversations of 2022.

In 2022, we talked about several hot topics including the future of cartilage, meniscus, and ACL surgeries. We discussed internal bracing, fantastic tech wearables, and what it takes to make it to the next level. We thought a fun show looking back at some of our top segments would allow our listeners to hear some of the highlights they may have missed or some they may want to hear again.

In response to some of these segments, we have had a few updates including the introduction of one of the first cartilage stimulation products with Cartiheal Agili-C Implant (tag) which may be the future of cartilage transplants. Also, ACL repair (tag) has taken off including the tightrope and internal brace combination that has been impressing Dr. Garcia and his patients on their speedy recovery as we enter 2023. Finally, wearable technology was taken one step further at the World Cup in which high-tech soccer balls and player tracking apps were used to provide the best experience yet and allowed a fairer and safer tournament. (Read: https://www.jumpstartmag.com/4-cutting-edge-technologies-used-in-fifa-world-cup-qatar-22/)

Thank you to all our listeners. We hope you enjoy this 2022 recap podcast, and we look forward to bringing you new and exciting shows in 2023.

As the World Cup takes the planet by storm, we look at some common soccer injuries and discuss them along with our semifinal and final predictions sure to go wrong. Dr. Grant Garcia discusses serious to nagging injuries such as ACL, quad, hamstring, tears, strains, and others. When do doctors use PRP, shockwave, and other treatments for these injuries and how do these treatments work best for patients? We discuss.

The World Cup excitement begins as there are only 4 teams left. Can Croatia and Morocco win their first World Cup? Lionel Messi will be looking to win his first title and Argentina’s third overall. Not to be outdone the defending champions France will look to win back-to-back titles. If France can win, it will be the first time a nation has won in consecutive tournaments since Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962. Each team has suffered injuries. The type of injuries that Dr. Garcia discusses in this show.

Enjoy the games. Enjoy the show. Be on the lookout for our end-of-year best of 2022 show. Thanks for listening.

For more information on Orthopedic Surgeon & Sports Medicine Specialist, Dr. Grant Garcia

Contact: grantgarciamd.com / orthopdedicsspecialistsofseattle.com / (206) 633-8100 or (206) 784-8833

Robotics, cameras, and rehab. A perfect combination. 

Orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Grant Garcia discusses a new technology that will revolutionize how patients can rehab and how surgeons can teach. We start out discussing the Avail system. A camera system that utilizes technology, networking, and software to combine the perfect partnership. This Avail system will allow doctors to learn and teach in a way they haven't done before.

One technology that has the industry buzzing is coming from the company Hrobotics. They have come out with an FDA-registered robotic, physical therapy device for both the upper and lower extremities called Rebless. Rebles allows for passive, active, active-assisted, and resisted training and range of motion measurement, so therapy can be customized based on each patient’s condition and progress. To simplify, as a patient you can take this machine home, and your doctor can program, monitor, and adjust your rehab in real-time. This device can do much more and Dr. Garcia explains all of it. Take a listen, get informed, and enjoy.

Like any other night for football fans, Thursday Night Football is a time to sit back, root for your teams, and enjoy the game. A fast-moving, action-packed, adrenaline-filled sport that is fascinating to watch. We watch the game in awe, we connect, and it reminds us of our communities and love of the sport at every stage of our childhood. We know with this violent game comes injuries, we expect them, we hope not to see them, but they are inevitable. Blown ACLs, shoulders, ankles, and sometimes frightening compound fractures. These injuries are obvious and then there are those that are by far the scariest of injuries...Head injuries. Concussions. The dirty little word that football leagues don't want us to talk about. An injury that for years the NFL had lied about. The repercussions of this type of injury, until Dr. Bennet Omalu exposed the NFL and the catastrophic results of these injuries. We know the risk, the players know the risk and so does the NFL. 

In this show, Dr. Grant Garcia discusses the injury that quarterback Tua Tangoviola suffered, and the concerns with concussions. Especially, Second Impact Syndrome. He discusses Fencing, Gross Motor Instability, and the doctors' responsibilities to his patient. What can or should be done moving forward to fix these protocols that seem to have loopholes in them? How does the responsibility of a doctor to his patient affect the decision-making when it comes to million-dollar athletes and their billion-dollar owners?

If anything, we hope that this show reminds parents and coaches of the big picture especially when it comes to the health of your kids, and players. 

The 2022 football season is underway, and already key players such as Zach Wilson, the quarterback of the New York Jets has not played a down yet due to a torn meniscus suffered early this preseason. In this show Orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, Dr. Grant Garcia discusses the torn meniscus and more importantly the technology, and decision-making between reparation versus preservation. Also discussed are...

- Not all patients are alike

- Age limit on repair?

- Radial tears: A lack of blood flow complicating the healing process

- Meniscus tears combined with ACL

- Cartledge damage is the key

- Meniscus deficiency syndrome: When to transplant

- Future Tech

- Scaffolds: What is it

- When and why: Preserving the knee

- Does Dr. Garcia have a fantasy football team?

An informative show for all. Also, try to count how many times I said “last question”, but the conversation was too good to end right there. Take a listen and as always, we hope you learn something along the way.

For more information on Orthopedic Surgeon & Sports Medicine Specialist, Dr. Grant Garcia

Contact: grantgarciamd.com / orthopdedicsspecialistsofseattle.com / (206) 633-8100 or (206) 784-8833

When technology and creativity intertwine great discoveries are explored. This is what is occurring in the orthopedic field. The discussion of restoration versus reconstruction of a torn ACL at times has been debated, but now more than ever restoration has given patients a great option. Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Grant Garcia discusses the BEAR Implant. The Bridge Enhanced ACL Restoration (BEAR) technique is a procedure used to treat ruptured or torn ACLs. This new, FDA-approved procedure serves as a much better alternative than traditional ACL reconstruction. It's less invasive and less complex in nature.

Dr. Garcia talks about how the BEAR Implant enables your body to heal its own torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The implant is different because it works with your own blood to heal the torn ends of your ACL back together. We discuss who is a prime candidate, and how soon after your injury should you have this procedure done, pros and cons of restoration versus reconstruction, affordability and getting insurance to approve this procedure. Dr. Garcia covers all patients' questions. Real topics, realistic questions, and answers. Dr. Garcia is always at the forefront of technology and the BEAR implant has him excited for his patients as they recover and get back to normality faster than ever. Why might the BEAR implant be good for you? There’s a lot more that we discuss, but I guess you need to listen and enjoy.

Patients can now achieve complete functional restoration without the consequences of traditional ACL surgery. A few fun facts. the BEAR implant is FDA-approved. A tiny incision can place the implant as it will be situated in the space between the two ACL ends. Also, the patient's blood will be added to the BEAR implant to activate clot formation (Dr. Garcia explains all of this).

The scene is set as the NBA and the NHL are ready to conclude their season and crown a champion. All season teams have one common goal in mind, a reward that every athlete dreams of and it fuels their desire to get to the biggest stage to make their dreams come true. The road is filled with daily competition, athletic endurance, pain threshold, mental fortitude, and luck.  Not everyone is fortunate to get to that stage let alone make it to that level of competition. Not everyone has what it takes.

In this show, Dr. Grant Garcia discusses his experiences working with the top athletes in sports and their unwavering drive when it comes to being the best.  We discuss these successes on the field and off it as well. Rainier Beach high school football coach Corey Sampson joins us to share his thoughts on the various ways to recognize success, especially when it comes to his players. It can be graduating, giving back to your community, becoming a professional in your field of interest, etc. This show is inspired by the movie “American Underdog” and it opened up the discussion of “what it takes.” to achieve success and how that looks different for so many of us.

For more information on Orthopedic Surgeon & Sports Medicine Specialist, Dr. Grant Garcia

Contact: grantgarciamd.com / orthopdedicsspecialistsofseattle.com / (206) 633-8100 or (206) 784-8833

Don't forget to mention the show when you call!

One of the most exciting conferences an Orthopaedic surgeon can attend is the annual AAOS conference. A conference that has more than 30,000 attendees includes Academy Fellows, AAOS members, international guests as well as allied medical professionals and exhibitors. This conference has representatives from 155 countries. These professionals discuss procedures, old and new. They learn about future technology and its usage, but overall, this is a place where great minds come to share and learn.

In this episode, Dr. Grant Garcia discusses a few things that caught his attention. The future of using virtual reality. Also, the expansion of using 3D printing and how it allows the surgeon to prepare for his patient’s procedures before he does the procedure. There are new advancements and data surrounding ACL procedures such as the Bear Implant and the benefits of preservation versus reconstruction. Who are the best candidates for these procedures? What does the data say about the pros and cons of certain procedures? We discuss topics like this and more. Last, but not least, I attempt to Stump the Doc. As usual, we try to give you the information you the patient is interested in hearing while we try to have a little fun.

Lacrosse is one of the fastest-growing sports in America. It is also the oldest team sport in North America. In fact, one of the earliest accounts of lacrosse comes from a document that was written in the early 17th-century, but the sport was clearly around before that time. We also know that the document recognizes the First Nations people first played it across Canada over 500 years ago. Each nation had its own version of “Stickball”, later changed to Lacrosse. “La Crosse” (The Stick), but they all played it to thank the Great Spirit — called Gichi-manidoo in Anishinaabe.

Dr. Grant Garcia discusses injuries that apply to lacrosse, and some of the signs to look for when they’re not so obvious. As he says…” he rather be safe than sorry.” Especially when it pertains to neck injuries. It’s a show that is beneficial to coaches, parents, and fellow teammates. It’s not just about the injuries, but the love of the sport. These shows are not to discourage playing sports, in fact, there are countless benefits to playing team sports, but we should be aware of some of the injuries and be prepared for them as they occur. Now get out there and play.