Ryan Gursky, D.O. |
ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY WARREN CLINIC ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY AND SPORTS MEDICINE
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Ryan Gursky talks about inspiration, patient education, the most recent advancements and what’s ahead.
What inspired you to choose orthopedic surgery as a specialty? In college, I started out in engineering before changing to medicine. After graduation, I spent a year working at Saint Francis as a surgical technician. I saw all types of surgery— general, cardiovascular, orthopedic. The moment I saw joint replacement, I knew what I wanted to do. It was exciting to see the structural change from a worn and unusable knee to a functional joint. How has your focus changed? I started out as a general orthopedic surgeon, but now have a strong focus on joint replacement. Saint Francis is in the process of expanding its joint center. Our plans include greater emphasis on patient education and preparedness, standardization of procedures and rehabilitation therapies. What advantages do Warren Clinic and Saint Francis Health System offer your patients? Saint Francis is known for being proactive in providing healthcare services for this community. Patients have access to procedures here that aren’t done everywhere. Also, Warren Clinic has knowledgeable doctors in many different disciplines, which is especially important for orthopedic patients who have other medical issues. How do you prepare patients for the joint replacement process? We manage patient expectations as much as we can for before, during and after surgery. We also include the family, who will most likely be involved with the care once the
patient leaves the hospital. For the first five to seven days out of the hospital, it’s important for everyone—patient and family members— to know what to expect. We treat the hospital discharge as a continuing phase of recovery, the first stage of a return to normal life. What trends have you seen in joint replacement in the past seven years? Since I’ve been in practice, the biggest change has been with minimally invasive surgery. Using computer-based navigation techniques makes the procedure more precise; also, outcomes are more predictable and successful. These advancements have also made the actual surgery and recovery process much easier on patients. What advancements do you expect in the next seven years? I foresee continued advancement in the design of joint devices, all of which will ultimately benefit patients as they recover from surgery.
“My job is to help patients and family members feel knowledgeable and comfortable with the treatment plan. We sit down together to discuss the process in detail.” RYAN GURSKY, D.O.
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