We expect you’ll be pleased to learn that 2013 was an especially productive year for the Steadman Philippon Research Institute. Why? Because caring friends much like you made it possible! We hope you’ll decide to make an impact yourself by making a special gift to SPRI via our secure online form.

Here are three examples of how your philanthropy has advanced SPRI’s vision. Of course, some things our donors help provide aren’t glamorous. But it can take surgical screws as well as outcomes-based research to put people back on their feet . . . back at work . . . and back to pursuing their dreams.

A New Landscape for Hip Surgery

Dawn Ommen was a triathlete and a certified physical therapist with an interest in sports and medicine. Then, while teaching a physical therapy student, she suffered a debilitating injury to her hip.

For five years her pain got worse, misdiagnosed and mistreated.

Thankfully she came to Dr. Marc Philippon, who, although not yet at SPRI, was already doing ground-breaking work in the treatment of injuries like Dawn’s. She received the world’s first ligamentum teres reconstruction via iliotibial band.

Thanks to philanthropic support, SPRI has validated the long-term results of this innovative technique developed by Dr. Marc Philippon and his team, in which the labrum is reconstructed using a segment of the patient’s own iliotibial band—fibrous tissue extending from the upper hip to the tibia, a bone in the lower leg.

The results, published in 2013, show 76 percent of patients monitored for between 36 and 70 months after the operation reported high satisfaction with the outcome – changing the landscape of arthroscopic hip surgery.

When Dr. Philippon came to SPRI, Dawn followed him as a patient. Not only did she return to high-level competition as a triathlete, she was so inspired by the work we do she decided to go to medical school and become a sports medicine physician.

Dawn’s surgery changed the landscape of arthroscopic hip surgery, and Dawn—now Dr. Ommen—is looking to make some changes of her own as a Research Assistant with SPRI.

Thanks to our generous donors like you, Dr. Ommen may achieve her goal of establishing a sports medicine center to address the surgical, rehabilitational and other needs of female athletes.

Improving Outcomes for Posterolateral Knee Injuries

The posterolateral corner (PLC) of the knee stabilizes the joint. PLC injuries from external trauma or hyperextension are difficult to diagnose and treat. They can be debilitating for you and me, and career-ending for gymnasts and other athletes who play soccer, basketball or football.

A team recently completed a comprehensive research program to improve understanding of the complex anatomy of the posterolateral knee. Investigators studied PLC diagnostic approaches, surgical techniques and post-op protocols. They then developed better radiographic diagnostic measures, and biomechanically validated ligament reconstructions. Following treatment, patient outcomes have significantly improved.

Arthroscopic Treatment for Patients with Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Two years ago, world champion skeleton racer Matt Antoine had a problem.

With the 2014 Sochi winter Olympics approaching, his chronic knee pain had reached the point where he had trouble walking, climbing stairs, and even sitting. Competing in his sport, which involves racing head-first down a track at 80 miles per hour, seemed out of the question. Matt could lose his chance to be an Olympian.

Thankfully, Matt came to SPRI’s Dr. Peter Millett, who treated Matt with a comprehensive series of procedures to treat and preserve arthritic and pre-arthritic knees like Matt’s.

Over the years, gifts from friends like you helped Dr. Richard Steadman and his team at SPRI develop this series, called “The Package”. Patients who have received “The Package” have been understandably worried about if or when they might have to require total knee replacement (TKR).

Long-term monitoring by SPRI of the repaired knee’s “survivorship” has shown that many patients have been able to delay TKR for up to 10 years. Thanks to your support, this landmark study was shared with the world through its publication in 2013.

“[Treatment started in] July and the season was going to start in October,” Matt recalls. “Eighteen months after that, I wanted to be ready for the Olympics. Dr. Millett was positive about me being able to compete not only in the upcoming season, but for the rest of my career.”

Thanks to SPRI—and you!—this February, Matt Antoine became the first U.S. member of the skeleton team to earn an Olympic medal since 2002: a Bronze!

Now that’s donor impact! Please open up opportunities for SPRI to do even more in 2014. Join our team with a generous gift today. Thank you.

View/Download the Donor Impact Report (PDF)