Founded on the pillars of education, research, and community outreach, Hoag Orthopedics prides itself on partnering with donors to fund some of the most highly sought-after orthopedic fellowships in the country at the Hoag Orthopedic Institute (HOI). Key features of HOI’s fellowship programs include participation in over 500 surgical cases per year, weekly meetings reviewing cases and literature, presentations at national orthopedic conferences as well as HOI’s Annual Orthopedic Fellowship Research Day, and two research projects with the goal of publication.  

For Drs. Rocío Crabb and Kyle Schoell, Hoag’s two 2023-2024 orthopedic sports medicine fellows, HOI’s research requirements have presented an opportunity to explore the connection between anxiety and surgical outcomes like opioid use, recovery time, and hospital stays. Together, these studies are helping to inform the delivery of care at Hoag and institutions across the country for a more elevated, whole-person patient experience. 

Anxiety and Post-Operative Opioid Use

Dr. Kyle Schoell will study whether anxiety contributes to prolonged post-operative opioid use and slower recovery times. If a connection exists, this discovery could allow physicians to appropriately counsel high-risk patients and provide resources to cope with pain and anxiety. Armed with the right solutions, both physicians and patients will see improved surgical outcomes, a result HOI has long been committed to as one of the top 20 best orthopedic hospitals in the country according to U.S. News & World Report. 

Predictors of Time Spent in the Hospital After Shoulder Replacement Surgery 

Dr. Rocío Crabb is currently at work on a journal article for publication that examines predictors of patients’ length of stay in the hospital and readmission rates after total shoulder surgery. Research results showed that while anxiety wasn’t a factor, patients who requested less information prior to surgery were more likely to return to the hospital, a significant indicator of the importance of pre-operative counseling and post-operative instructions. According to Dr. Crabb, these findings will help physicians better understand how patients experience the surgical process, thus allowing them to further refine delivery of care.

Hoag Orthopedic Institute Fellows’ Top Choice 

When asked about why they chose Hoag, both Drs. Crabb and Schoell commented on the Hoag Orthopedic Institute’s privademic model, which offers the rigor of an academic medical center in a private, community hospital setting. This unique opportunity allows fellows to gain specialized orthopedic experience and work with professional sports teams, like the Los Angeles Chargers, while learning the ins and outs of running a private practice. The fact that both physicians also grew up in Southern California made Hoag even more ideal.   

5 Tips for Maintaining Joint Health

To keep you in motion and out of the operating room, Dr. Steven Barnett, chief medical officer at the Hoag Orthopedic Institute, shares his top tips for healthy joints.

1.   Exercise regularly, concentrating on lower-impact activities like swimming, cycling, and walking rather than running or jumping. 

2.   Build and maintain muscle through strength training to protect adjacent joints and promote longevity. 

3.   Perform weightlifting, exercise, and other activities with the appropriate footwear and the proper technique, bracing when necessary. 

4.   Maintain a healthy body weight for your height, which goes a long way in protecting your weight-bearing joints from premature degeneration.  

5.   If an injury occurs, seek appropriate medical attention from an expert for a proper diagnosis. Don’t try to work through the pain.  

Read More Stories