Dignity Health | St. Rose Dominican | Reach | Spring 2018

StRoseHospitals.org  5 “I was on the last obstacle, the 18-foot warped wall, when it popped. I knew what happened immediately,” Casey says. “It was an intense pain that felt like someone hit me in the back of the calf with a baseball bat.” Dr. McGee repaired Casey’s Achilles with the internal brace technique. As with ACL repairs, internal bracing offers added stability—through a single small incision. Several sets of strong sutures tie together the ends of the tendon. This internal infrastructure braces the tendon during healing. Again, the result is less pain and a speedier recovery. “Previous repair techniques would require the patient to be in a cast for six months,” Dr. McGee says. With the internal brace technique, patients typically recover much more quickly, he says. Casey wore a boot for four weeks before he went back to his job as an operating room technician—and to his athletic pursuits, as well. He hasn’t had a problem since, even doing strenuous workouts, he says. —Turn the page for more on the custom solutions Dr. McGee brings his patients. Do you know what R.I.C.E. stands for? It’s a good first treatment for mild sprains and strains. It can reduce your discomfort and help you heal faster. Learn it to the letter at StRoseReach.org . What if you need medical help for an injury? To check out our handy option for online emergency room scheduling, see page 9. Roddy McGee, DO Orthopedic surgeon “The faster recovery times mean you can return to an active life quicker.” Great Scott! From tattered and torn to strong and steady If you’re a sports fan, you know that many knee injuries involve the ACL, the smallest of the four main ligaments in the knee. It is the main stabilizing ligament in the center of the knee. It keeps your shinbone (tibia) from sliding forward and rotating on your thighbone (femur). Treatment for ACL injuries is typically reconstruction, often using tendons from other places in the body. By using the internal brace technique, surgeons can offer additional strength and support to the reconstructed ligament. It stabilizes the ligament, helping it heal at an appropriate length. It accelerates recovery—allowing people to walk more naturally and return to their activities sooner. ‘I knew what happened immediately’ Your Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in your body, connecting your calf muscle to your heel bone. You need it for walking, running, and jumping. It’s strong, but it can still be vulnerable to painful injuries in both professional and recreational athletes. Just ask Casey Craven. In February 2017, Casey was trying out for a regional level of American Ninja Warrior when his Achilles gave out in a painful and dramatic way. Professor Gordon Mackay, a leading sports surgeon from Glasgow, Scotland, developed the internal brace technology for joints. This innovative solution is now bringing relief to athletes and active people in southern Nevada, thanks to orthopedic surgeon Roddy McGee, DO.