Denton County Living Well Magazine January/February 2016 | Page 16

ASK THE EXPERT Q&A with Orthopedic Surgeons Keith A. Heier, MD and Craig W. Goodhart, MD Surgery Season Postponing Surgery May Cost More Than You Think M edicine is constantly changing. These days increasing insurance rates along with high co-payments and deductibles are commonplace. The high deductibles of many plans have patients asking, “when I should have my surgery performed?” November and December Dr. Goodhart have become the peak time to schedule elective surgeries because many people have met their insurance deductibles by the end of the year and they often have time off from work or school. However, there are many factors to consider that might make you think twice about waiting till the end of the year for surgery. Q: What should patients consider before scheduling an elective, orthopedic surgery? A: Goodhart: The first question will be, “how will this affect me financially?” The second question should be whether or not waiting to have surgery would result in further physical injury. A: Heier: Nobody wants to spend a large amount of money on medical care, but oftentimes waiting too long will cost the patient more and can lead to permanent injury. 14 DENTON COUNTY Living Well Magazine | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 Q: Which type of orthopedic injuries can worsen with delay? A: Goodhart: Injuries that occur acutely, such as a fracture, nerve or vascular injury, need to be addressed immediately. Also, structural problems such as acute damage to Dr. Heier the labrum of the shoulder, and knee injuries, such as meniscal tears and ligament injuries, generally do better if addressed earlier rather than later. Small tendon tears may become larger, more difficult to fix, and more difficult to rehab . A: Heier: Waiting to have an operative procedure performed with these injuries will often lead to further structural abnormality, which ultimately causes permanent damage to the joint. Problems with one body part may exacerbate a problem with another body part. For example, continued limping from a bad knee or ankle may worsen a back problem. Q: Which type of orthopedic injuries can typically be addressed later? A: Goodhart: More chronic conditions such as rotator cuff tears, tennis elbow, and arthritis of the shoulder hip or knee can usually be addressed at a later time. - See Advertisement on Page 13 -