A collaborative effort of two Orthopedic Specialists
What exactly is the “IT” factor? Have you ever watched an athlete play and just say to yourself, “They got it”? It’s a finesse that makes it look so easy. You can see the calculated moves they make and just know it’s the right one. These super human individuals are committed to a relentless pursuit of excellence in their craft. They inhabit an intense desire for perfection, and a love for knowledge. The constant drive to be their best, and to give their best is evident by the success they obtain. Just like athletes, surgeons who possess the “IT” factor have these same qualities.
Two surgeons that have these characteristics are: Dr. Daniel T Huttman, a shoulder and elbow specialist and Dr. Ryan A Harrell, a sports medicine specialist. Their collaborative effort to help a patient in need demonstrates these qualities. The patient’s long and complicated story began a few weeks prior to surgery when she fell at work and broke her upper arm. To complicate treatment, she previously had a shoulder replacement on the same side a few years prior. So when she broke her upper arm, the bone separated exposing the stem of the humeral implant. This created a complex situation and a daunting task for the surgeon to tackle. The x-rays of the patient’s shoulder were inconclusive to whether the humeral implant was knocked loose when she fell. Therefore, Dr. Harrell decided to consult Dr. Huttman concerning the complexity of the fracture. They both agreed that the best option would be to revise the humeral implant if it was found to be loose and place a long plate on the humerus bone to secure the fracture. If the humeral stem was stable, they would move straight to reducing the fracture and plating the bone. Once the game plan was developed, the next challenge was finding the time for two surgeons in two different practices to come together for this patient. The surgeons understood that time was of the essence in repairing the patients fracture, so Dr. Huttman offered his OR time at Maryview Medical Center to Dr. Harrell. On February 17, 2020 the collaborative effort began. In the operating room, it was an effortless back and forth of communication between the surgeons, as if they had been operating together for years. During the surgery both surgeons concluded that the humeral stem implant was stable, and they began the complex process of reducing the fracture and stabilizing the bone. The humeral fracture was fixed with a plate and multiple screws and they used a new innovative fiber tape cerclage to ensure stability. Together, from start to finish, they were involved in every aspect of care.
Dr. Huttman and Dr. Harrell are providing compassionate care to our community and are willing to collaborate with one another for the best clinical outcome. They continually go above and beyond. Their passion for orthopedics and commitment to patient care set them apart as exceptional surgeons. It goes without saying: Dr. Daniel T Huttman and Dr. Ryan A Harrell possess the “IT” factor!
Ashley Meyerhoffer RN
MMC Orthopedic Surgical Coordinator
