Date: Mon, 3 Oct 1988 21:43-EDT From: J.S.Singh@CIVE.RI.CMU.EDU To: bovik Subject: knee surgery Dear Harry, This is what I found about knee surgery. I have an appointment with Freddie Fu given the number of people who reccommend him. Jeff -------------------- Date: Fri, 30 Sep 88 11:24:19 EDT From: Mark.Perlin@CAD.CS.CMU.EDU Subject: orthopods Jeff, Freddy Foo over at Presby has the best reputation in Pittsburgh. I.e., 4 out of 5 physicians would go to him. - Mark (MD) Subject: Knees Date: Fri, 30 Sep 88 11:19:13 EDT From: Daniel Klein - 412/268-7791 Jeff- The best guy I know of is Dr. Freddie Fu. He has an office in the Falk Clinic, and rebuilt my elbow. *EXCELLENT* surgeon, comes highly recommended by the chief of thoracic surgery (my neighbor). If you go see him, he will be extremely busy, and will seem not to have paid any attention to you. Don't be fooled or put off - he really does know what is going on, and is very aware. He's just super-hyper. -Dan P.S. Good luck with the knee, and don't be put off by the time it takes to heal. Joints are always slow, but they *do* get better. From: Clark.McDonald@CIVE.RI.CMU.EDU Subject: Re: Knee Surgery FYI Bryon had his knee operated on back while we were still building the RWV: He was out of work for aprox. 2 days, and was back running his usual ten miles within two or three weeks! I suggest that you have a chat with him about his doctor and his experience. --hope this helps, and hope your knee gets better real soon. --mack Date: Fri, 30 Sep 88 12:18:41 -0400 (EDT) From: Tom Finholt Subject: Re: Knee Surgery I had ACL and cartilege surgery done in December, 1986. I received a first opinion from a doctor in Pittsburgh. He was quite good, and his diagnosis was exactly right. His name was Charles J. Burke III. He practices with Graham Johnstone's group at 200 Meyran Avenue in Oakland. Since it was close to Christmas, I decided to have the actual surgery done in Minnesota by another doctor. Here's what all the surgeons told me. Reconstructive ACL surgery is really only indicated for people that make a living off of their legs (e.g., pro athletes, dancers etc.). If the rest of the knee architecture is OK they simply trim off the ACL stump and one goes on with one's normal activities (including sports etc.). They fitted me with a CTi brace for use when the risk of hyperextension is high. I have found that the rehab was so successful, though, that I really only wear it under very high stress conditions (e.g., long bike rides, backpacking, playing tennis, cross-country skiing). Why didn't they reconstruct the ACL? There is no real blood supply to the cruciate ligaments. Hence, the odds of successful reconstruction are restricted. Further, the extensive joint exposure required to do the reconstruction (even arthroscipically) is not really justified in terms of superior knee rehab (i.e., the longer the surgery, the more holes they make, the greater the probability of infection, scarring etc.). ACL reconstruction was described to me as a mostly experimental operation. If this is true, it may not be covered under standard insurance policies. Burke thought most of the other Pittsburgh orthopods were quite good. However, he specifically recommended against Freddie Fu. In Burke's opinion, Fu was a hotshot more interested in furthering his own career than in making his patients healthy (which wasn't to deny Fu's obvious brilliance as a surgeon). Perhaps this was professional rivalry, I don't know. I do know that most of the people I've spoken to about Johnstone's group have been very pleased. Unless the knee is particularly "sloppy" I suspect ACL reconstruction is not worth it. Hope this helps. Date: Fri, 30 Sep 88 12:45:11 -0400 (EDT) From: Kevin William Ryan Subject: Re: Knee Surgery I have not had reconstructive surgery, but: In 1983 I went to Dr. Freddie Fu (I kid you not), of Falk Clinic, to see what could be done with my knee. He performed an arthroscopy (sp?), basically checking what the problem was. The preliminary diagnosis was cartilage damage, the inspection revealed a strained cruciate ligament. Since it wasn't torn, just strained, the prescription was for physical thearapy, which has worked fairly well. Fu is _the_ knee doctor for the U. of Pitt football team - he gets lots of work. Seems reasonably competent, though I would recommend a second opinion if he calls for surgery right off the bat. (A little on the eager side.) But if surgery is called for, he's good. kwr "Jest so ya know..." From: Anthony.Stentz@IUS1.CS.CMU.EDU Subject: Re: Knee Surgery Jeff, Would you like to talk to my brother? His surgeon is in Cincinnati, but it's only 300 miles away. --Tony From: Jill Murray Subject: Re: Knee Surgery Having been the cheerful recepient of 6 knee operations (over the years) athough none were ligament in nature, I can highly recommend Peter Cohen, located on 5th Ave. He's a cautious surgeon, but will do it when it's warranted. I sent a few people to him with different ailments and they were all well-treated and are healing! jm From: Suzanne Liebowitz Subject: knee surgery Date: Fri, 30 Sep 88 13:43:49 EDT Jeff, A friend of mine, Sharon Nutter, had very successful orthoscopic (sp?) surgery on her knee last year. I don't know the name of her doctor, but you should send her mail d218sn0c@vb and ask her. They cannot read the bboards from that machine. Good luck, Suzanne From: Suzanne Liebowitz Subject: arthro . . . Date: Fri, 30 Sep 88 15:00:23 EDT I have just been informed by Webster that I should have said "arthroscopic" surgery instead of orthoscopic. Anyway, you should contact Sharon anyway if you still need information about knee surgery. suzanne Date: Fri, 30 Sep 1988 15:17-EDT From: Vincent.Cate@SAM.CS.CMU.EDU Subject: Re: Knee Surgery I do NOT recommend Dr. Enke at Steel Valey Othopedic. He is a good/ok sergeon, but not a nice person. He does not answer questions or tell you what is going on. After my operation I asked everyone how the operation went and they all said that the doctor would come by. It was 2 days later (just before I checked out) before he came by and told me how it went. A Dr. Hunt in California is much better. Also, Dr. Enke did not get one of the pieces of my knee back in place and cut nerves that he did not need to cut. He made his incision vertically instead of horizontally and the nerves run horizontally across the knee. The net result is that the left half of my knee has lost feeling and it would not have if Dr. Hunt had done it. I saw Dr. Hunt this summer, while I was in California, and I will have him operate on my knee over X-mass. Good luck, -- Vince Date: Fri, 30 Sep 1988 17:58-EDT From: Marion.Kee@A.NL.CS.CMU.EDU Subject: Re: Knee Surgery Disclaimer: I have never had knee surgery myself. I have heard from a number of different sources that Dr. Freddy Foo, at Presby, is one of the best in the business, anywhere. Whoever needs the surgery (yourself?) has my sympathy! --Marion Date: Mon, 3 Oct 1988 08:33-EDT From: Jeanne.Bennardo@ISL1.RI.CMU.EDU Subject: RE: Knee Surgery Dear Jeff: My husband has gone to an excellent orthopedic surgeon for knee surgery who is also the team doctor for the CMU athletic program. His name is Dr. Graham Johnstone and his office is located at 200 Meyran Ave. right off of Forbes Ave. His phone number is 621-2141. -Jeanne Bennardo