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Kronlage and O'Grady Perform Life-changing Outreach
Posted on 11-27-2024 in Missions & Outreach by Dr. Steven Kronlage, Dr. Chris O'Grady
Posted on 11-27-2024 in Missions & Outreach by Dr. Steven Kronlage, Dr. Chris O'Grady
Late last month, North Florida Bone and Joint Specialists orthopaedic surgeons Dr. Steven Kronlage and Dr. Chris O'Grady performed a life-changing procedure on two ½-year-old Nassir Andrew from Grenada through their newly formed non-profit, Hands of Hope Medical Mission (HoHMM). Drs. Kronlage and O'Grady, who also serve as Co-Presidents of HoHMM, performed the organization's first sponsored stateside patient operation at the Andrews Institute Ambulatory Surgery Center.
Born with brachial plexus palsy, Drs. Kronlage and O'Grady addressed the residual contracture of Andrew's elbow and shoulder resulting from neurologic injury sustained during birth. He also spent time with the practice's certified hand therapist, who gave him night splints to extend his elbow. While his hand and forearm still have some deficits, the procedure allowed Andrew to regain the function of many affected nerves and raise his arm above his head for the first time.
"Nassir may learn to work around the deficits in his hand and forearm, or he may need to return for additional procedures, including tendon transfers or releases. Marta, our certified hand therapist, and I look forward to following up with him via telehealth visits from his home in Grenada. We are so proud of how far he's come already," said Dr. Kronlage.
In addition to procedures in the U.S., Drs. Kronlage and O'Grady perform specialized surgical interventions in Ecuador and other underserved populations worldwide who would not otherwise have access to comprehensive care. The physicians also coordinate volunteers to travel with them to assist in various supporting roles, including nurses and surgical technicians. HoHMM is also responsible for fundraising endeavors to support the organization's mission.
"I am heading to Ecuador again in June to perform procedures on a few cases and coordinate a fundraising bike ride through the beautiful Ecuadorian countryside to benefit Hands of Hope. We truly appreciate the generous support of our event participants abroad and community partners here at home, including the Andrews Institute Ambulatory Surgery Center," said Dr. O'Grady.
Drs. Kronlage and O'Grady will return to Ecuador again this fall with additional volunteer support to perform a full slate of surgical cases. Dr. Kronlage also has a trip to Mexico planned for early 2023. Visit Hands of Hope Medical Mission online or our Outreach page to learn more about our various initiatives and programs.
With National Family Health History Day approaching next week on Thanksgiving, it’s an ideal time to consider family health history’s role in your orthopaedic and sports medicine care. While many people think of family health history in relation to heart disease or cancer, a family history of orthopaedic conditions like arthritis, osteoporosis and other joint and bone issues can also impact your own risk and health management. Understanding and documenting your family health history can empower you and your orthopaedic provider to proactively manage or prevent conditions that could affect your long-term mobility and quality of life.
October is recognized as Physical Therapy Month, a time to highlight the essential role physical therapists play in improving the lives of patients dealing with orthopaedic conditions and sports injuries. At North Florida Bone & Joint Specialists, we provide comprehensive physical therapy services designed to help our patients recover faster, avoid surgery, and regain their mobility.
The United States is currently fighting an opioid epidemic on a scale never before seen in the history of our nation. Billions of dollars have been spent in an attempt to mediate the devastating effects of the rampant overuse of prescription opioids, including fighting the heroin addictions that often arise when prescription pills become too expensive for addicted patients. In the last two years, impacted states like Ohio and West Virginia have banded together to sue the large pharmaceutical companies that profited off of the sale of opioids even after knowing about their damaging side effects, mirroring the legal strategies that took down Big Tobacco in the 1990s. The resulting settlements have ranged from hundreds of millions to many billions of dollars, and there are more to come. In fact, plaintiffs recently rejected one of the largest settlement offers to date after investigators revealed that the Sackler family, owners of Perdue Pharma, one of the largest profiteers of the opioid crisis, transferred $10 billion out of the company and into overseas accounts as pressure began to mount on the company and its role in perpetuating the devastation.