Dr. Anikar Chhabra accepts opportunity as the Director of Sports Medicine at Mayo Clinic Arizona

Dr. Anikar Chhabra has accepted an opportunity to continue to pursue his academic endeavors as the Clinical Professor with Mayo Clinic in Arizona. The physicians and staff at TOCA hold in high esteem the clinical and professional talent and dedication that Dr. Chhabra has brought to TOCA for the last seven plus years. TOCA is proud to continue a relationship with Dr. Chhabra through his continued participation with the Banner Good Samaritan/TOCA Orthopedic Sports Medicine Fellowship Program. Congratulations Dr. Chhabra!

"Over the past several weeks, I have been saying my goodbyes to my TOCA colleagues, physicians, staff and to my patients. As most of you know, I have accepted a position as the Director of Sports Medicine at Mayo Clinic Arizona. I believe that teaching and research are keys to the future success of medicine. Since my new position will allow me to educate our future physicians and give me the satisfaction of building a sports department, I could not turn down the offer.

I am very proud of what I have accomplished as a member of TOCA over the last 8 years. In addition to taking care of patients to the best of my ability, we have had an integral role in educating residents and fellows, successfully cared for teams at all levels, and advanced sports medicine not only in Phoenix, but also nationally. I could not have done these things without the support of the other TOCA physicians and staff. I am forever thankful to my mentors at TOCA for teaching me how to be a successful Orthopedic surgeon and to "take care of patients the right way." I truly believe the physicians at TOCA are some of the best in the country and am honored to have had the chance to work with them.

In pursuing my new endeavor, I am honored to continue my partnership with TOCA in education, research, and patient care in the future. To my patients, staff at TOCA, and my partners, I am forever thankful to you for helping me develop as a person and Orthopedic Surgeon."
- - Anikar Chhabra, MD MS

#RESULTS.RECOVERY.RELIEF.

TOCA

602-277-6211

www.tocamd.com

Congratulations to TOCA's Top Docs!

Congratulations to Dr. Anikar Chhabra and Dr. Evan Lederman who where voted PHOENIX magazine Top Docs! TOCA's Nationally and Internationally recognized orthopedic physicians and surgeons have been ranked as Top Docs since 2003! 
‪#‎Results‬.‪#‎Recovery‬.‪#‎Relief‬. ‪#‎TOPDOCS‬

TOCA
602-277-6211
www.tocamd.com

Dr. Burgess and Lisa Babel, PA-C, returned to El Fuerte in Sinaloa Mexico for another LIGA trip in early March

Dr. Burgess and Lisa Babel, PA-C, returned to El Fuerte and the clinic of San Blas in Sinaloa Mexico for another LIGA trip in early March.  Each trip back to Mexico has allowed this team to reconnect with staff and gain continued familiarity with their surroundings.  As always, the complexity and great need for care humbles and overwhelms those medical personnel who travel from different parts of the country to treat these patients.

This trip brought along some new volunteers from the Phoenix area.  An anesthesiologist and surgical nurse from the valley added to the San Blas team and were a great help to Dr. Burgess and Lisa.

Dr. Burgess was able to follow up with some of his previous surgical patients and was kept busy with surgeries his first evening in clinic and throughout the day on Saturday.  “It’s always a thrill to see previous patients and how they are progressing.  I was especially excited to see the patient I treated last fall who was highlighted in the MundoFox video segment.  He has been able to recover good finger and thumb movement despite not having access to a therapist,” said Dr Burgess.

Their first patient, Carmen, is a 53 year old female who had an explosive detonate in her hand in 2012.  As a result of this injury she lost her ring and small fingers while deforming the other remaining digits on her dominant right hand.  She is a florist and has to work in order to provide food for her family.  One of the local translators who assists with the clinic watched as she arranged flowers with her hand and was able to hear her story.  Carmen struggled with scar tissue in her hand making it difficult for her to reach or grasp objects.  Dr. Burgess was able to help her by surgically releasing the contractures giving her more space between her thumb and index finger improving pinch, grasp and grip. Carmen is recovering well and the translator was able to pass on she is pleased with her recovery and early outcome.

Carlos is a 3 year old male who suffered a high voltage cable accident in 2013 that left him with a contracted long finger in his right hand.  The initial treatment he received simply sewed the finger down onto itself rendering it useless and also preventing normal use of the rest of his hand.  As it turned out, do to his initial tendon, nerve and vessel injury, the only option was to remove the contracted segment of the digit.  He is now able to fully open and close the rest of his hand significantly improving his function. 

Edwin is a 7 year old male patient with Down’s syndrome.  He sustained burns to his hand after picking up a red hot coal from a fire when he was 3 years old.  As a result he had scars throughout his hands that prevented him from being able to flex or extend his fingers.  The fingers were stuck together creating a webbed hand which continued to progress as his hand tried to grow with his advancing age.  His surgical challenge was to separate the digits from one another and then lengthen scar in the palm in an effort to allow him to extend his fingers.  He has a very complex condition and Dr. Burgess expects to see and treat him in the future as his condition required progressively staged operations.

Roberto is a 44 year old male who suffered a severely broken wrist and severed tendons when he came upon thieves trying to steal his electrical tools.  He was beaten with a machete.  As a result, he has lost the use of his hand due to the severed tendons, he has developed contractures and scar to the hand and he has poorly aligned bone healing restricting joint movement.  The injury changed his life and has prevented him from doing his job.  Dr. Burgess operated on Roberto to release the scar tissue and to try and improve the tendon function of his wrist and hand.  His next procedure in the fall will be to release more of the joints in his hand and possibly transfer more tendons to increase strength.  Eventually he will require work on the bone to correct the joint destruction.  Dr. Burgess was deeply moved by Roberto.  “Roberto is a man of faith.  He harbors no resentment to those who harmed him and he has accepted his disability.  He was grateful I was willing to try anything to help him and said he accepted the outcome, good or bad, as God’s will,” said Dr. Burgess.  “You hear those words and it makes you want more than anything to make a positive difference in this man’s life,” reflected Dr. Burgess.

The total number of patients treated at the San Blas clinic in March for the weekend was 234.  These included specialties in general medicine, podiatry, plastic and general surgery, and hand surgery.  Dr. Burgess and Lisa are looking forward to returning again in the future.

You can learn more about LIGA on their website, at www.ligainternational.org.

#RESULTS.RECOVERY.RELIEF.

TOCA

602-277-6211

www.tocamd.com

Dr Grant Padley was recently asked to teach a mobile cadaver lab in Tuscon, AZ

Dr Grant Padley was recently asked to teach a mobile cadaver lab in Tuscon, AZ. The main focus of the lab was educating orthopedic surgeons on newer techniques and products used in shoulder and knee arthroscopic surgery. This included rotator cuff repairs, shoulder labral repairs and knee anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Dr Padley is fellowship trained in sports medicine with an emphasis on shoulder and knee arthroscopy as well as expertise in advanced hip arthroscopy. The growing popularity of mobile labs offer the opportunity to bring the training facility to the surgeons. This allows for a lower surgeon to educator ratio and a more convenient way for a group of surgeons to learn without having to leave their practice.



#RESULTS.RECOVERY.RELIEF.

TOCA
602-277-6211
www.tocamd.com

TOCA Tip: Ladder Safety

Spring is the time when everyone starts thinking about sprucing up the house and yard. Over a half-million ladder-related injuries occur each year. Whether it is washing the windows or cleaning the gutters, one of the first tools that homeowners reach for is a ladder.

Knowing how to properly set up and use a ladder is an important first step in reducing the chance of a fall or other ladder-related accident. Staying safe on a ladder can be made easier if you follow these tips developed by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons for Prevent Injuries America! Soon, you will be on your way to successfully and safely completing your spring fix-up chores.

*Inspect the ladder. Check the ladder for any loose screws, hinges or rungs that you might not have fixed before you put it away for the winter. Clean off any mud or other liquids that might have accumulated on the ladder.

*Properly set up the ladder. Every ladder should be placed on a firm, level surface. Never place a ladder on ground that is uneven -- in spring, the ground may be very bumpy because of the freezing and thawing during the winter, or there could be soft, muddy spots. The same is true for uneven flooring. Remember to always engage the ladder locks or braces before you climb. If you're working outside, make sure the ladder will not hit electrical wires, tree limbs or any other obstructions when it is extended.

*Remember the 1-to-4 rule: the bottom of the ladder should be 1 foot away from the wall for every 4 feet that the ladder rises. For example, if the ladder touches the wall 16 feet above the ground, the feet of the ladder should be 4 feet from the wall. If you are going to climb onto a roof, the ladder should extend at least 3 feet higher than the roof. And, the upper and lower sections of an extension ladder should overlap to provide stability.

*Do not use a ladder as a seat between tasks. You might want to take a break from your chores, but never use a step ladder's top or pail shelf as a seat.

*Select the right ladder for the job. If you're washing windows inside the home, choose a step stool or utility ladder--they're often used when working at low or medium heights. Extension ladders are ideal for use outdoors to reach high places like cleaning the gutters on the roof of a house.

*Move materials with caution when on the ladder. When you are cleaning out the garage or closet, be careful pushing or pulling anything from shelves while standing on a ladder. You could lose your balance and fall off.

*Always re-position the ladder closer to the work. Over-reaching or leaning far to one side when you're on the ladder could make you lose your balance and fall. Your bellybutton should not go beyond the sides of the ladder!

*Wear proper footwear. Make sure your shoelaces are tied and the soles of your shoes are free of any greasy, oily or wet substances. Do not wear leather-soled shoes -- they are slippery! Pant legs shouldn't be too wide or too long.

*Be careful when climbing, get help if you need it. Be safe, ask someone to hold the ladder while you climb. Stay in the center of the ladder as you climb, and always hold the side rails with both hands.

Each year, more than 511,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms, doctors' offices, clinics and other medical settings because of injuries related to ladder use. Most injuries are cuts, bruises and fractured bones.

#RECOVERY.RESULTS.RELIEF

TOCA
602-277-6211
www.tocamd.com

Dr Bailie attends rodeos in the Southwest to care for the PRCA (PRORODEO.com) athletes

Dr David Bailie serves as a volunteer Team Physician for the Justin Sports Medicine Team, the official medical team for the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association). Having volunteered his services for nearly 20 years, he is one of only a few Orthopedic Surgeons in the US designated an official Team Physician (Justinsportsmedicine.com). 

Dr Bailie attends rodeos in the Southwest to care for the PRCA (PRORODEO.com) athletes at the arena and provide overall Orthopedic care, including surgical care if needed, to help these tough athletes minimize downtime. Although PRCA are some of the most dangerous athletic events of any professional sport, the athletes do not get paid if they do not compete. They need to earn as many points during the season as possible, in hopes of qualifying for the NFR (National Finals Rodeo) in Las Vegas, where millions of dollars are at stake. They rely on the Justin Sports Medicine Team (Sponsored by Justin Boots, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway) to help them throughout the season. Dr Bailie understands that the unique injuries seen in PRCA and does everything he can to make sure these athletes are ready for their next ride!

Be sure to catch some of the exciting rodeo action televised on CBS Sports Network!