What a Year… Looking back at a year in practice

Andrew Patton, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine at Orthopedic Specialists of Louisiana in Shreveport/ Bossier City. Dr. Patton recently celebrated his first year in practice and we decided to ask him a few questions about his first year at Orthopedic Specialists of Louisiana and coming home to the Ark-La- Tex. Here’s what he had to say…

OSL- Dr. Patton, you specialize in Sports Medicine… do you see a lot of young athletes?

AP- I have seen my fair share of young athletes this past year…mostly sprains, strains, overuse injuries, but luckily most young athletes are resilient, and we can treat them without surgery, and hopefully get them back to playing quickly. A lot of people do think that because I am a sports medicine doctor, that I only treat athletes, but really anything can be a sport. A big part of my job is to help patients of all ages and all activity levels to maintain or restore their level of function. This can be the weekend warrior trying to get back to the gym, an elderly patient who is looking to maintain their independence or the young athlete wanting to get back out to the playing field. In many ways, a physician specializing in sports medicine is the new general practitioner of orthopedic health.

OSL-What is your approach to care?

AP- I really believe a non-operative treatment plan is best, unless an acute injury would affect a patient’s mobility long term. Maintaining a team mentality between my patient and me is so important. We must be on the same page in terms of treatment and what their goals are to achieve their desired level of function. I try to educate the patient on their treatment options and from there, the patient really dictates where they want their treatment to go.

OSL- In your first year of practice, what are the most common conditions you have treated?

AP- I see a lot of patients with back pain, shoulder pain and knee pain… the wear and tear, overuse injuries. Most the time the patient’s pain is interfering with their day-to-day activities. I am always a little surprised when a patient will put off coming in to see an orthopedic surgeon because they are scared that the only treatment option will be surgery. The reality is most patients will not have to have surgery and the sooner they come in, the faster we can help them get rid of the pain and restore their level of function. If your musculoskeletal pain is interfering with your sleep or your day-to-day activities, make an appointment! Most the time we have conservative, non-surgical treatment plans that will offer patients a lot of relief. I have treated acute injuries, as well, where surgery is the very best option… without surgery, it really could affect the patient’s level of function long term. I’ve also done some total knee replacements utilizing the Mako Robotic Knee Replacement technology.

OSL- What has been the best thing about your first year in practice?

AP-The best part of being in practice at OSL is the people… new patients, my OSL partners and staff and my medical assistant, Brooke, have all made my first year in practice great. I have loved meeting patients and being able to help them get back on track with what they want to do. The most rewarding part of my field is to see my patients after I have treated them, whether it be surgically or non-operatively, and to see them out and about at the grocery store or even back in clinic and see them demonstrate to me how much they have improved and that their level of function is where they want it to be- that’s incredibly rewarding.

OSL- What have been the challenges you have faced in your first year of practice?

Starting a practice amid a pandemic was not ideal… any fear or anxiety a patient already has about going to see a doctor or sitting in a doctor’s office has been intensified by the threat of being infected with COVID-19. I really want my patients to know that our clinic is doing everything we can to ensure the safety and health of all.

OSL- You were born and raised in Shreveport, have you and your family enjoyed returning to the Ark-La- Tex?

We really have. My wife, Suzanne, and I are both from Shreveport. We are the proud parents of two young boys and having the opportunity to raise our boys surrounded by our family and friends has been incredible.