columbushosp.org 11 Local expertise for every orthopedic need Columbus Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Clinic offers comprehensive care for all musculoskeletal conditions. Visit columbusorthopedics.com. scan Treatments Many treatments begin with conservative, nonsurgical approaches. While details depend on each individual’s condition, those approaches might include immobilizing the hand with a custom-made splint, working with an occupational therapist, or having injections of anti-inflammatory medications or platelet-rich plasma (PRP). “We work very closely with occupational therapists, who can make custom splints for people or help to recover strength and range of motion,” said Kulovitz. “We are a team, and we approach each patient’s case in a unique and individualized way.” But if such strategies aren’t enough to ease your pain and restore your function, you and your doctor may discuss surgery. Kulovitz and Delarosa perform the full gamut of hand and upper extremity surgeries, including minimally invasive procedures that allow you to recover faster and get on with your life. One example is a carpal tunnel release procedure performed through an endoscope (lighted camera) instead of with larger, traditional incisions. “It allows people to get back to their work, hobbies, and normal activities much sooner,” Kulovitz said. Elbow and wrist “scopes,” as well as joint replacements, are some of the other surgeries available at the Columbus clinic. “There are tiny implants that we can utilize to either replace or reconstruct a joint when it comes to the elbow, wrist or hand,” Kulovitz said. Highly skilled team For Kulovitz, the ability to provide immediate and significant improvements in patients’ lives is part of what inspired her to complete a hand and microvascular surgery fellowship after earning her doctor of osteopathy degree. “I love being able to help people and see that immediate change,” she said. “It’s the best feeling when you can see someone reach their ultimate goal — whether that be to return to work, eat a meal, hold their child, or get back on the playing field.” Delarosa completed a hand and wrist surgery fellowship following his medical school training and residency. Hands and arms are crucial for interacting with the world, and restoring patients’ function gives them back their freedom, he noted. “People may not recognize how much they would actually benefit from treatment until they’ve undergone it,” Delarosa said. “They don’t realize how much they’ve lost until it’s fixed.” < Dr. Kulovitz, left, and Dr. Delarosa, right, help patients with hand, wrist and elbow conditions find relief.
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