(Courtesy of Center for Musculoskeletal Diseases) The Center for Musculoskeletal Diseases is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Donald Heitman to its expert medical staff. Dr. Heitman is an orthopedist with a focus on sports medicine and a specialty in arthroscopic surgery.
Why did you choose your specialty?
For many people entering medical school, the concept of choosing a specific focus can seem challenging. Growing up, I loved building things whether it was houses made of lego blocks or model cars. In fact, I always thought I’d become an architect. Around age 10, I watched my mother battle breast cancer and survive and I suppose that’s when ideas of going into medicine began. During my undergraduate years at Cornell University, I took advantage of their externship shadowing program to spend vacation time with busy surgeons in a few specialties like cardiothoracic surgery. It was during my latter two years of medical education at New York University School of Medicine, however, that I appreciated how much an understanding of structure and biology are critical to the practice of orthopedics, and I knew then I had found what I wanted to do with my career. My focus on sports medicine, and specifically joint preservation, has developed from positive mentoring relationships and the intellectual and personal satisfaction that comes from treating an individual’s pain and getting them back to doing what they enjoy most.
Why did you choose to join The Center for Musculoskeletal Disorders?
I’ve been in practice for seven years and when I was looking to make a change I decided that I wanted to be a part of a group with both an excellent reputation within the communities it serves and one that had a track record of professional growth and long-term success. It was also important I join a practice that’s ready for the challenges within the field of medicine that lie ahead. To me, CMD presents such an opportunity and I’m happy to be working with them.
What is your philosophy/approach to patient care?
My goal with every patient encounter is to first identify their problem in an efficient manner. I then take the time to educate my patients regarding both the nonsurgical and surgical treatment options with specific attention paid to understanding their concerns and perspectives. I find this is the best way to come to a plan of action that addresses a patient’s needs effectively. I expect each of my patients to leave their visit with me having a newfound knowledge and appreciation of their situation and a plan in place they can trust is in their best interests.
Which conditions do you like to treat?
I enjoy treating all problems of the knee and shoulder whose solution is focused on joint preservation. Specifically, I have an interest in soft tissue injuries of these joints, and when surgery is necessary, many of these conditions can be addressed with the minimally invasive techniques made possible with arthroscopic surgery.
What is arthroscopy?
Arthroscopy is a surgical technique rather than a specific type of surgery. For most of the 20th century and prior to, surgical procedures were performed in an open manner. Open surgery involves the utilization of an incision large enough to allow the surgeon direct view of the organs and tissues that are the focus of the procedure. The use of large, open incisions was the standard of care until arthroscopic techniques began to be developed, the use of which gained popularity in the 1970s and 80s. Instead of one larger incision, arthroscopy, as it applies to orthopedic surgery, involves the use of multiple smaller incisions placed strategically around the involved joint such as a knee or shoulder. Through these smaller incisions, the surgeon places tiny cameras and instruments that allow him or her to directly view the target of the surgery in an unimpeded fashion. These smaller incisions have obvious cosmetic advantages but also provide a surgical environment less likely to result in infection and stiffness of the joint after surgery. Every year, as surgical techniques evolve, we can accomplish more arthroscopically than we ever thought possible.
What types of joint injuries can be treated with arthroscopic surgery?
Arthroscopic surgical techniques have come a long way over the last 40 years to treat a variety of knee and shoulder injuries. For example, the vast majority of meniscal and cartilage tear injuries can be addressed with arthroscopy. Only occasionally would the goals of such a surgical procedure require the use of a larger incision. Reconstructive techniques like those used to replace an injured ACL or PCL can also be performed arthroscopically. With regard to the shoulder, arthroscopy is commonly employed in my practice to treat almost all types of rotator cuff tear and labral tear injury as well as to adequately address the presence of inflamed tissues causing pain. Arthroscopic surgical techniques can further be applied to conditions of the ankle and hip as well.
What is the recovery period from arthroscopic surgery?
Arthroscopic procedures, as compared to open surgical procedures, tend to have faster recovery times; and such recovery may be as little as three to six weeks after arthroscopic knee and shoulder surgery. This is largely due to the fact that multiple precisely placed smaller incisions lead to less soft tissue disruption and less surgical incision site pain and risk of infection. Because of this, I often advise patients to resume use of the operated body part as soon as they see fit after surgery. This rapid return to function wouldn’t necessarily be advisable without the use of arthroscopy. Occasionally, a patient’s resumption of activity may be delayed as per my advice depending on what repairs were performed at the time of surgery. Ultimately, recovery often means different things to different people with varying vocational obligations and goals in mind. I gladly spend the time necessary discussing these concerns so as to construct a post-operative plan with which the patient is comfortable.
What are your personal interests/hobbies and/or community involvements?
Outside of my young and growing family, music is a big part of my life. I enjoy playing electric guitar on a regular basis.
