Author: Carolyn DaSilva

Posted on by Carolyn DaSilva

It’s with great sadness that we announce the passing of our friend and partner – John M. Aversa, MD

It’s been said that Dr. John Aversa embodied all the best qualities of a Doctor. He was empathetic, inquisitive and had tireless dedication to his patients and the welfare of his colleagues. He was a magnet of warmth and a first-class physician.

As one of the original partners and a long-time president of our board, his vision and leadership helped shape our company in every conceivable way. It’s not a stretch to say that without his leadership, there wouldn’t be a COS today. Along the way, John won many hearts and minds – amongst his partners, co-workers and the community. He also helped to significantly grow our group by recruiting the best Orthopaedic physicians and facilitating several mergers and partnerships. He truly was a visionary.

The Heart and Soul of Connecticut Orthopaedic Specialists – he will be deeply missed.

Posted on by Carolyn DaSilva

“A lot of us within COS have a lot of local ties to the community – whether we grew up in the area or went to school here, or have a lot of family. I came back and joined the group here and in a way it’s kind of like coming home.”

Dr. Curtis Campbell is our newest orthopaedic surgeon. While he specializes in knee and hip replacements, he’s also trained in general orthopaedics, arthroscopy and all types of trauma and fractures. As a Fairfield University graduate, Dr. Campbell is thrilled to be back in the area and looks forward to serving the families and communities of Fairfield County.

During a recent interview he shared his thoughts about his new patient-centered practice and how modern methods and techniques can allow surgery patients to be up and walking rapidly. He’s very focused on getting people back to the quality of life they expect and doing it in a way that’s personalized, compassionate and understanding of their goals.

Posted on by Carolyn DaSilva

Two SCC Student-Athletes are Recognized with Scholarship Awards

Two student athletes – Erin Keary (Shelton HS) and Thomas LaTorre (Daniel Hand HS) – are the recipients of the 2019 SCC “Comeback Player of the Year” awards. Both students suffered severe injuries, yet were able to overcome them to become outstanding role models in their respective schools. Sports Medicine Specialist, Dr. Jeffrey Klauser (Erin’s orthopaedic doctor) was on hand to present the awards.

A corporate sponsor of the Southern Connecticut Conference (SCC), Connecticut Orthopaedic Specialists P.C. (COS) has offered a Comeback Player of the Year Scholarship for student-athletes who participated in an interscholastic sport during the 2018-2019 academic year and showed great leadership both on and off the field after their severe injury.

Coaches and school’s athletic directors nominated these student-athletes after they each suffered an unfortunate injury that prohibited them from playing for their high school teams. Both will receive a financial scholarship to be used for their college education.

“This is our ninth year in awarding student-athletes from the SCC with scholarships,” explained Glenn Elia, Chief Executive Officer of COS. “Our goal has been to acknowledge student-athletes who have overcome the challenges of an injury and, through hard work and determination, have become positive role models for their fellow teammates. Because we are sports medicine specialists, we understand intimately what it takes to recover from an injury and return to playing sports at a high level.”

“Many thanks to the doctors and staff at Connecticut Orthopaedic Specialists for their support of the SCC and these scholarships,” explained SCC Commissioner Al Carbone. “Our league has many outstanding student-athletes who excel in the classroom and on the playing fields; but it is a tremendous gesture to recognize traits like courage, perseverance and selflessness.”

Thomas LaTorre, Daniel Hand HS (soccer)
Tommy tore his ACL in the spring of his junior year, while playing at a college showcase soccer tournament. He received surgery in April 2018 and undertook extensive rehabilitation – most of the time in the morning before school started – to return to the team, one that was coming off two straight Class L state titles and one he would serve as one of the team’s captains. During his physical therapy, Tommy worked diligently and was cleared to play mid-season (in October) and was a catalyst as the Tigers earned their third straight Class L state title, culminating with a 2-1 victory over Maloney on November 18.

Daniel Hand head soccer coach Greg Cumpstone said, “While injured, Tommy served as a source of support and leadership to his teammates. His return to the field gave the team the fire that was infectious; he was up for any battle, and his actions on the field became crucial to the team’s late-season state championship run.” Tommy will attend Elon University in the fall with plans to major in sports management.

Erin Keary, Shelton HS (soccer)
A four-year starter at defensive center, Erin sustained an ACL injury during the 2017 state girls soccer tournament. Erin showed her dedication through the rehab process, following the regiment set for her with diligence and persistence, starting with spring workouts, into the summer and fall preseason. Her return to the field in 2018 was admirable, but also impressive. She played in all 20 games, leading the team in minutes played and also scored six goals and added four assists from her defensive position. For her efforts, she earned All-SCC and Second Team All-State honors.

Shelton head girls soccer coach Marvin Miller said, “Persistence has always been Erin’s strongest character attributes along with her extremely high personal expectations she puts on herself as a student and as an athlete. With that, she has earned the respect of her opponents and teammates and holds a place of honor with them.” Erin will attend the University of Connecticut in the fall with plans to major in Allied Heath Sciences.

 

Posted on by Carolyn DaSilva

He’s a joint replacement specialist with local ties.

Curtis Campbell, MD, MS attended Fairfield University and was a member of the Varsity football team. He then completed master’s degrees in Evaluative Clinical Sciences from Dartmouth College and Biologic/Medical Sciences from Drexel University. This provided him with an excellent skill set for a career in medicine.

He earned his medical degree from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. He completed his Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School in Newark, NJ. Dr. Campbell pursued advanced training as an Adult Total Joint Reconstruction Fellow at Steadman Hawkins Clinic of the Carolinas.

Dr. Campbell specializes in minimally invasive hip and knee replacement surgery. He performs direct anterior approach hip replacements. This muscle-sparing approach allows for rapid recovery from hip replacement, early return to activities, and has excellent clinical outcomes. In addition to total joint reconstruction, his interests also include trauma and fracture care, arthroscopy, and general orthopaedics in which he treats all conditions of both the upper and lower extremity. He reserves surgical treatment for patients that have not had acceptable improvement in their condition after a thorough course of appropriate nonsurgical treatment.

Dr. Campbell has completed publications and lectures in his areas of expertise and has also served as faculty at both the Seton Hall-Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and the Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.

As a Fairfield University graduate, Dr. Campbell is thrilled to be back in the area and looks forward to serving the families and communities of Fairfield County.

Posted on by Carolyn DaSilva

Recovery, because the surgery is so much less invasive, is also much quicker than traditional therapies have been in the past.

Pain is what most patients associate with a diagnosis of Spinal Stenosis which is most commonly caused by wear-and-tear changes in the spine related to osteoarthritis. According to The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, spinal stenosis affects an estimate of 8 to 11 percent of the population, and is most common in people over the age of 50.

Until the invention of the Superion Indirect Decompression System (Superion), the more invasive open surgical decompression surgery was often recommended for relief which could require hospitalization and posed a greater risk of infection, and a longer road to recovery. For patients who suffer from moderate spinal stenosis, Superion is proving to be a more effective alternative to more invasive surgery.

“Superion is done in an outpatient setting without having to expose the patient to a hospital, where there is a greater risk of infection,” explains Dr. Gene Tekmyster, a Physiatrist at Connecticut Orthopaedics. “It takes a half hour to 45 minutes to do and you go home the same day. Recovery, because the surgery is so much less invasive, is also much quicker than traditional therapies have been in the past.” Dr. Tekmyster was the first in Connecticut and all of New England and remains the most experienced in performing this procedure.

Superion can be the best option for patients who have tried six months of conservative care treatment without finding relief from their pain, or where traditional spinal surgery could be too demanding. According to Dr. Tekmyster, during the procedure “The Superion device is implanted into the spine and continues to stay there, allowing continued pain relief. It is the only device of its kind that allows us to do that.” After the procedure, patients may experience a significant reduction in leg pain within the first few days.

Posted on by Carolyn DaSilva

COS hand specialist and general orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Tedd Weisman, was recently featured in the international edition of Weston Magazine. In the article he keenly separates fact from fiction about bone health.

“In fact, the got milk? advertisements were carefully worded to avoid a direct claim that milk can build strong bones. That’s because the science does not prove that statement. The science does not show that milk drinkers have stronger bones than non-milk drinkers, nor is milk consumption correlated with hastening the healing process of fractured bones.”

Dr. Wiesman Educates International Readers about Bone Metabolism and Osteoporosis (PDF)

Posted on by Carolyn DaSilva

Guilford, CT native, Dr. Glenn S. Russo has joined Connecticut Orthopaedics as a spine, back and neck specialist.

“Dr. Russo helps us bring that little extra bit of community focus to our practice,” notes Glenn Elia, CEO of COS. “Like many of our doctors, he grew up and went to school in the area. Therefore, he will be able to quickly connect with our patients and in short order, become a trusted and valued orthopaedic provider in our growing practice.”

Dr. Russo graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and completed a residency at the Yale University School of Medicine. Prior to that, he received a Master’s Degree in Medical Science from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Stonehill College in Easton, MA.

Dr. Russo completed his fellowship in Spinal Surgery at the renowned Rothman Institute in Philadelphia, PA. There, he also served as a Clinical Instructor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University.

He will be seeing patients in five of our local offices (Branford, Hamden, Milford, Shelton and Wallingford) and will also serve as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Frank H. Netter School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT.

Posted on by Carolyn DaSilva

“Often, we ask patients what kind of music they like to hear during surgery,” explains Dr. Richard A. Bernstein, an Orthopaedic Surgeon with” Connecticut Orthopaedics (CO). “I know most of the ’80s or ’90s music, even the oldies, so they start to sing, and we’ll sing along with them.”

While Dr. Bernstein does not suggest that singing along with patients is one of the advantages of Wide-Awake Surgery, he does cite it as evidence of a significant benefit: patient ease. “Before the surgery, patients save time and anxiety, because they do not have to go through a lot of complex visits and testing. Once the surgery is done, they can walk out comfortably, drive themselves home, and do the things they want for the remainder of the day.”

Wide Awake Surgery, which uses local anesthetics rather than putting a patient to sleep using general anesthesia, provides many benefits to patients. Reducing patient anxiety is certainly one benefit, but there are several others including lower costs and quicker recovery. Also, because the patient is awake, the doctor is able to communicate the progress of the surgery right while it is occurring – a level of doctor-patient communication that is not possible in surgeries using general anesthesia. Post-operative recovery is measured in minutes rather than hours and the patient can return to their normal day afterwards, which includes eating what they want right away which is another unique and welcomed patient benefit of this approach.

“I was watching an old Addams Family video on my iPad during the surgery,” remembers Robert Rattner, a patient of Dr. Bernstein, “and he started singing the theme song. Then everyone else in the operating room joined. How many times do you leave surgery laughing? Not very often.”

“I enjoy the Wide-Awake Surgery,” Dr. Bernstein notes. “We talk about things like their family, their job, things they like to do, and sometimes we sing. Trust me, you don’t want to hear me sing, but I think it’s a really good way for me to get to know my patients and for my patients to get to know me.”

 

Posted on by Carolyn DaSilva

When you’re a State Department official stationed in Bahrain and you need a “top” spine specialist.

Luckily for David Pernal, another State Department employee stationed in Peru had already blazed the trail for him. The government’s Bureau of Medical Services already knew of Dr. Yue and suggested that David return to the states on leave to seek out the care of renowned spine specialist, Dr. James J. Yue. His only other option was to be part of a medevac flight back to Washington DC where he’d be assigned to a specialist – all at great expense to the government. Getting the surgery done in Bahrain was never an option for David. He explained, “When you’re overseas, you certainly have access to good medical care but, you don’t have a primary care doctor who will help you select the right surgeon and hospital team. It can be tricky to get the high-quality help you need.”

As a Community Liaison Officer, Mr. Pernal knows a great deal about the challenges of family life in a foreign country. Besides Bahrain, he’s also been stationed in Morocco and Indonesia with his wife who is a career diplomat. His job is to provide support to U.S. government employees and family members who are assigned to American embassies and consulates abroad. He told us that once he connected with Dr. Yue’s team at Connecticut Orthopaedic Specialists (COS) everything fell into place. Because he already had imaging studies available, he simply sent them digitally and then via email and telephone communication he was diagnosed and a treatment plan was laid out. He explained that for expatriates who are a long way from home, long-distance care is often the best approach. He added, “When I finally met Dr. Yue in person, I felt like I had been a patient of his for a long time and was already comfortable with him”.

After being granted leave to come back to the U.S. with his family and meeting with Dr. Yue for consultation, it was determined that he needed a multi-level disc fusion and he was scheduled for surgery at the Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute (COI) at MidState Medical Center on July 31st, 2018. He’s been very happy with the care he’s received and raved about the nursing staff at COI. He explained, “As a former Emergency Medical Technician myself, I’m very tuned into my care. I can tell you that the nursing care was the best I’d ever received. Quite frankly, it’s probably the best I’ve ever seen! I attribute my speedy recovery to Dr. Yue and the efforts of the entire staff at MidState Medical Center. I will be giving Dr. Yue and his team high grades with the Bureau of Medical Services when I check in with them. I would expect that as word gets around, you’ll be seeing many more expatriates coming here for their orthopaedic care.”

The procedure was a complete success and David Pernal is well on his way to recovery. He has been staying with family in Connecticut (he grew up in Willimansett). He and his wife will be heading back to Bahrain in September.

 

Posted on by Carolyn DaSilva

WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The University of New Haven Department of Athletics announced a partnership with the Connecticut Orthopaedic Specialists which includes Dr. Rowland B. Mayor who takes over as the Chargers primary Team Physician.

“The health and wellness of our student-athletes is of the utmost importance,” said Chris Palmer, Director of Athletics and Recreation. “The physicians at Connecticut Orthopaedic Specialists are of the highest quality with extensive experience in treating sports related injuries. With 22 locations along the shoreline, including one just minutes from campus this partnership is convenient for our student-athletes. We are grateful to have them as an extension of our Charger family.”

This partnership enhances a relationship with Connecticut Orthopaedic Specialists that began with Dr. Stephanie Arlis-Mayor who serves at the Chargers concussion specialist. Dr. Mayor and Dr. Arlis-Mayor will head up a team of 55 physicians among 22 locations throughout the New Haven and shoreline area who will provide Chargers student-athletes care in more than 15 specialties.

Dr. Mayor is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon specializing in arthroscopic surgery, adult and pediatric sports medicine and reconstructive surgery of the knee and shoulder. He received his undergraduate degree from Yale University before completing his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Connecticut Orthopaedic Specialists CEO, Glenn Elia said, “We’re thrilled with the new University of New Haven partnership. The New Haven Chargers will join an already impressive list of universities, high schools and sports conferences that have benefited from COS’s comprehensive array of sports medicine services and programs.”

In addition to their 22 Connecticut office locations, Connecticut Orthopaedic Specialists also provide four urgent care walk-in centers, three in-house MRI centers, a state-of-the-art surgical center with five operating rooms, seven in-house physical therapy centers as well as the Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute at MidState Hospital.

ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN ATHLETICS
The University of New Haven has one of the finest comprehensive athletic programs in the Northeast Region, with a rich history and tradition of advancing to both conference and NCAA postseason tournament play. The University has been a proud member of NCAA Division II since the early 1980’s and continued the D-II tradition by joining the prestigious Northeast-10 Conference during the 2008-09 season. To learn more about the New Haven Chargers visit NewHavenChargers.com.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN
The University of New Haven, founded on the Yale campus in 1920, is a private, coeducational university situated on the coast of southern New England. It’s a diverse and vibrant community of more than 6,800 students with campuses around the country and around the world. Within its five colleges, students immerse themselves in a transformative, career-focused education across the liberal arts and sciences, fine arts, business, engineering, public safety and public service. More than 100 academic programs are offered, all grounded in a long-standing commitment to collaborative, interdisciplinary, project-based learning. At the University of New Haven, the experience of learning is both personal and pragmatic, guided by a distinguished faculty who care deeply about individual student success. As leaders in their fields, faculty provide the inspiration and recognition needed for students to fulfill their potential and succeed at whatever they chose to do. To learn more about the University of New Haven visit NewHaven.edu.

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