May 10th, 2012
Hobbies: sailing, shooting trap, exercise, spending time with my wife and children, traveling
First Job: McDonald’s cook
First Car: Chevy Malibu 1966
Favorite Song: Brown Eyed Girl
If you had not become a doctor what would have been your career path?: Biochemist
What advice would you give your High School self?: Nothing different. Work hard.
Who has helped you the most during your career? My wife
Best advice you have ever received: Marry a respectable lady
What do you love most about living in Mobile or Baldwin County? Mobile Bay
Favorite Local event: Dauphin Island Regatta
Family Life
Married with 4 children
Education
University of New Orleans, BA, Chemistry, Tulane University, Master of Science Biochemistry,
Tulane University, Doctor of Medicine
Internship
Tulane Affiliated Hospital – General Surgery
Residency
Tulane University School of Medicine – Orthopaedic Surgery
Areas of Specialty:
Sports Medicine, Shoulder and Knee Arthroscopy
Memberships:
Alabama Orthopaedic Society, Hughston Sports Medicine Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Clinical Orthopaedic Society, American College of Sports Medicine, International College of Surgeons, Hispanic American Medical Society, Southern Medical Association, Tulane Caldwell Society
May 2nd, 2012
One question often asked by athletes before they undergo ACL reconstruction is “When and will I be able to return to sports?” This is an important question because returning to play (RTP) is just one of the factors taken into consideration as to the decision to undergo this invasive procedure. The answer to this question depends on many factors: level of activity before the injury, extent of the damage inside the knee, and level of competition. We turn recent articles in the medical literature to help answer this question.
Namdari et al in The Physician and Sportsmedicine in February 2011 reported on a study of 18 WNBA basketball players who underwent ACL reconstruction. They found reported that 78% returned to play in the WNBA. For those that did return, changes in performance were not statistically reduced compared to a comparison group.
Shah et al reported in The American Journal of Sports Medicine in November 2010 on a group of NFL athletes who had ACL reconstruction. This study of 49 NFL players who underwent primary (first-time) ACL surgery found that 63% returned to NFL game play at an average of 10.8 months. They found that the odds of returning to play were higher for those with more than four years of NFL experience. Furthermore, Shah et al found that those drafted in the first four rounds of the NFL draft had higher odds of returning to play than those drafted later. They concluded that more experienced and established athletes are more likely to return to competition at the same level after ACL reconstruction than those with less experience.
Return to sports two to seven years after ACL reconstruction was studied by Ardern et al and reported in The American Journal of Sports Medicine in January 2012. This medium term analysis of 314 patients with the average age of 32.5 years used a self-reported questionnaire to ask questions regarding knee function and attempt to RTP. Adern et al found that 45% of participants reported playing sports at their pre-injury level and 29% were playing competitive sports. However, younger patients were more likely to return to pre-injury levels of participation, and most patients reported good postoperative function of their knee.
In a separate study reported in The American Journal of Sports Medicine in March 2011, Adern et al reported on RTP 12 months after ACL reconstruction in Australian athletes. These athletes in competitive level Australian football, basketball, netball, or soccer had a return rate to competitive sport of 33% at twelve months. However, 47% indicated in this short term study that they planned on returning. Ardern et al concluded that people may require a longer rehabilitation period to return to competitive sports than previously believed.
As you can see just from these few studies here, more research is needed to provide patients with the answer of returning to play after ACL reconstruction. Currently, there is a wide range of answers depending on age, athletic ability, and lifestyle that has to be factored into this important issue.
Article by W.Christopher Patton, MD
Click to learn more about Dr. Patton
LIKE AOC on Facebook
Follow AOC on twitter
April 24th, 2012
From ACL Rehab to MulletMan Champion
Meet Clint Martin. In the fall of 2008, he had his ACL repaired and replaced by Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic‘s Dr. Clayton Lane. After hard work and rehabilitation, Clint place 1st in the 2012 FloraBama MulletMan Triathlon (Mountain Bike Division) and placed 2nd in both the 2010 & 2011 triathlons. According to Clint, “…The surgery was a success. Just wanted to thank you again.”
Congrats, Clint, for being a champion, and good luck next year.
Click to learn more about Dr. Lane
LIKE AOC on Facebook
Follow AOC on twitter
Visit mysportsdoc.com for more information about Sports Medicine
April 3rd, 2012
Knee injuries in sports are a common occurrence. One dreaded injury is a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Most ACL tears occur after a non-contact injury such as a wide receiver or soccer player making a sudden change in direction. The leg planted on the ground during the cutting move may experience enough force to tear the ACL. Seventy percent of acute hemarthosis (blood in the knee) after such injury is an ACL tear.
Non-surgical treatment for complete ACL tears in young, active patients has generally been met with less than satisfactory results. Loss of the ACL can result in instability or the feeling that the knee is loose. The knee wants to “give way” when a change in direction occurs. This instability can result in further damage to the knee and the C-shaped cartilages called the meniscus. Rebuilding the ACL and restoring stability to the knee can protect the meniscus from further damage.
There are over 400,000 ACL reconstructions a year in the United States. Much research has occurred and is on-going into different techniques and choices of tissue to use to rebuild the damaged ACL. Two of the more common tissue (graft) choices are hamstrings and patellar tendon. Both are usually taken (harvested) from the same knee and used in the reconstruction process. Other options include quadriceps tendon and tissue that has been donated to tissue banks (allografts). There are pros and cons to each graft choice, but analysis of multiple recent studies show little difference in long term outcomes between hamstring and patellar tendon autograft (tissue taken from the same patient.)
In part two of “ACL Injuries in Sports” we shall discuss current data on the return to sports after ACL reconstruction.
Article by W.Christopher Patton, MD
Click to learn more about Dr. Patton
LIKE AOC on Facebook
Follow AOC on twitter
March 29th, 2012
Pediatric and Adolescent Sports by Dr. Clayton Lane
When parents read stories of childhood “prodigies” such as Michelle Wie learning a sport as young as 3 years old, it is natural for us to wonder what sports are best for our child and at what age they should start. While there are no sure answers as to when a particular child is ready for a sport, there are well-studied developmental patterns that can guide us.
Infants and toddlers, for example, gain gross and fine motor skills along a predetermined path, and any attempts to speed this up with training will fail. That being said, there are windows of opportunity in which a toddler learns certain movements more readily and should not be missed. So, the best course in this age-group is to expose the child to a wide variety of interactive games so that they can have the tools to progress at their own pace. Mom and Dad can create a variety of activities with a ball and things around the house or get some ideas at the local toddler gym.
In preschool a child can follow simple instructions and has basic postural control and balance to allow sports participation. Soccer is a great activity at this level because it can be played by following one simple instruction; “kick this ball in that goal!” Preschoolers do not have the ability to engage in rapid decision-making to account for unexpected events. So, they all stick with the one thing they do get – kick the ball! The result is the “swarm” phenomena we see in all soccer games at this level. This is normal behavior and should not be a source of frustration to parents—and oh, by the way, kids this age cannot distinguish multiple instructions coming from the crowd, so you can save your breath!
A classic study has shown that by elementary school, 6 out of 10 children can throw, kick, run, jump, catch, strike, hop and skip. This opens the door to a wide variety of sports. However, children this age also become aware of their status among their peers and their own inadequacies (they know who is “cool”, who is “athletic”, etc.). Keep in mind that children of the same age and grade may be at very different developmental stages, so comparing them to their peers is misguided. For these reasons, confidence-enhancing activities for all children are important. Parents should choose at least one noncompetitive activity and always emphasize socialization and sportsmanship more than physical performance. Additionally, contact sports are not ideal because coordination is not fully developed and children have little ability to consider future consequences of current behavior. For example, they cannot think through the consequences of spear-tackling. Weight-training with light weights under strict supervision can begin as early as 8 years of age. Strength gains can be achieved in pre-pubescent children, but no gains in muscle size will occur until the hormones kick in at puberty.
As a child transitions to adolescence, their growth dramatically increases. Bones grow faster than tendons which can result in loss of flexibility and “growing pains”. This is a crucial time for skills development, and most are ready for organized sports of all types. However, precautions, such as pitch counts and cross-training, must be taken to avoid overuse injuries to the growth plates. This is the most appropriate time to begin weight-training. There is no evidence that a proper weight-training program during adolescence stunts growth. However, to avoid injury, explosive exercises such as clean-and jerk should not be done until skeletal maturity (15-16 years old).
In summary, children are not just “little adults”. They react to physical and emotional stress at different developmental stages in different ways. Moderation should always rule, and as my grandmother used to say about raising children, “the best that we can hope for is to not mess ‘em up.”
Article by Clayton G. Lane, M.D.
- Orthopaedic Specialist at Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic P.C. in Mobile, Alabama
- Official Team Physician for the Mobile Baybears 2008,2009
- Participated in surgical and clinical care of athletes from the New York Giants, New York Knicks, and New York Mets 2006-2007
- Rutgers Football 2004
Click to learn more about Dr. Lane
LIKE AOC on Facebook
Follow AOC on twitter
March 28th, 2012
Suanne White-Spunner of Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic P.C.
Married with 2 children.
Loves running and water-skiing.
Just won the Women’s Grand Master Award at the 2012 Azalea Trail Run (49:55 10K).
First job was a Veterinary Assistant.
First car: Toyota Corolla
Favorite song: too many to choose but I like jazz and rock, esp. Green Day
If I wasn’t a doctor I would have been a Vet.
Advice to high school self: Don’t worry about saying something stupid. We all do. It’s ok.
My biggest help during my career: My husband kept me fed. Bob Zarzour kept me laughing.
Philosophy on patient care: Treat everyone as a child of God.
Future of Orthopaedics: Voice recognition for dictation.
Favorite thing about living in Mobile/Baldwin County: The water & sunshine
What I would like to see most in the Bay Area: football stadium & nice track for USA
Favorite local event: Any event that is a good time with friends. Although Joe Cain block party is pretty good!
Physician specializing in Orthopaedic Surgery, Arthroscopy and Hand Surgery
Click to see Dr. White-Spunner’s education and medical background.
LIKE AOC on Facebook
Follow AOC on twitter
March 15th, 2012
Concussions: “When in doubt, sit them out.”
An estimated 300,000 sports-related traumatic brain injuries occur in the United States each year. 63,000 of these injuries occur at the high school level. Football causes 63% of these injuries, and girls’ soccer is the second leading cause. Most of these types of head injuries recover within a week, but some can take a month or longer to recover. However, unfortunately, there are still approximately 900 deaths a year from sports-related traumatic brain injuries (concussions).
Click image to see Coach Jones' video.
So, what can be done to decrease these numbers? Makes sure athletes, coaches, and parents know the signs and symptoms of concussion. Athletes should be encouraged to speak with someone (teammate, parents, coaches or healthcare professional, etc.) if they “don’t feel right” after a hard hit to the head. If at all possible, make sure your school has a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) present at games and practices. ATCs are trained to recognize, evaluate, and treat athletes who show signs and symptoms of concussions. They work closely with the team physician to get athletes the care they need quickly and to keep them safe. They will also work with the treating and/or team physician, coaches, parents and athlete to transition them back into the game once their symptoms have resolved and have been cleared by the physician. If your school does not have an ATC, make sure the coaches follow the general guideline, “When in doubt, sit them out.”
March is Alabama Brain Injury Awareness Month and National Athletic Training Month.
For more head injury information, please go to nata.org or alabamabraininjuryawareness.org
Click here for more information about Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic, P.C.
LIKE AOC on Facebook
Follow AOC on twitter
March 9th, 2012
GET TO KNOW YOUR AOC DOC:
Dr. Kevin Donahoe of Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic P.C.
- Married with 3 children.
- Loves the outdoors: hunting, fishing & golf
- First job was at Movie Gallery
- First car: 1981 K5 Blazer
- Favorite song: Sweet Home Alabama – RTR
- If I wasn’t a doctor I was destined to be a used car salesman
- Advice to high school self: Study more. Play Less.
- Family has been my biggest help during my career.
- Best advice I ever received: Measure twice. Cut once.
- Philosophy on patient care: Treat patients like family.
- Future of Orthopaedics: More Computers. Smaller incisions.
- Favorite thing about living in Mobile/Baldwin County: Fishing & Golf
- Wishes there were more restaurants in the area.
- Favorite local event: Mardi Gras.
Physician specializing: Adult Spine Surgery. Orthopaedic Fracture Care, General Orthopaedics
Click to see Dr. Donahoe’s education and medical training background.
On Tuesday, March 6th, 2012 join Dr. Kevin Donahoe & Dr. Wayne Cockrell of Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic, P.C. for a FREE patient seminar addressing neck and back pain. They will discuss surgical and non-operative treatment options for neck & back pain available today.
LIKE AOC on Facebook
Follow AOC on twitter
February 29th, 2012
Hard work plus injury prevention is the key to getting to the big leagues.
Ask any of the BayBears what the key to becoming a pro athlete is, and most will say “staying healthy”. At the pro level, enormous amounts of time, resources and research is spent developing and implementing stretching, strengthening, and practice regimens.
At the little league and high school level, focus on injury prevention is even more critical for several reasons. Up to the age of about 15, young athletes have active growth plates in their bones. These growth plates are made of soft cartilage-like material that is far more susceptible to injury than mature bone. Additionally, rapid changes in weight, height, strength, and flexibility result in constantly changing body-mechanics. If care is not taken, the changing mechanics can quickly result in injury to tendons, joints and growth plates.
Too many times, parents and coaches, encourage excessive repetition to develop skills ignoring the physiologic weaknesses in the young athlete and injury results. In tragic cases, a child “with promise” may have to give up baseball all-together due to avoidable injury.
Here are some simple guidelines:
1. Do not play year-round baseball & never pitch two leagues at once
2. Follow age-appropriate pitch count and type guidelines
3. Warm-up and stretch regularly
4. Do not ignore or “play through” pain
5. Focus on good mechanics and fundamentals rather than speed/stats
Stayed informed. Check the following websites for more information:
alortho.com
littleleague.org
LIKE AOC on Facebook
Follow AOC on twitter
Article by Clayton G. Lane, M.D.
- Orthopaedic Specialist at Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic P.C. in Mobile, Alabama
- Official Team Physician for the Mobile Baybears 2008,2009
- Participated in surgical and clinical care of athletes from the New York Giants, New York Knicks, and New York Mets 2006-2007
- Rutgers Football 2004
February 8th, 2012
Want to look and feel younger? Then get up.
A recent study in The Physician and Sports Medicine Journal states that it is the lack of physical activity, NOT aging, that increases your risk of losing muscle tone and strength. Poor nutrition, sedentary living, and other lifestyle choices (such as not exercising regularly) can leave you feeling weak and frail which may cause you to feel older than you really are. See more.
(via JayParkinson)
LIKE AOC on Facebook
Follow AOC on twitter
