(Poll) Modified brostrom surgery: orthopedic surgeon or ankle specialist?

Today, I’m posing a question to readers:

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Here’s some background:

Last November, in a championship rec basketball game, I landed on my opponent’s foot and felt a pop.

“Nothing unusual,” I thought, since I had sprained this particular ankle about twelve times in my basketball career. So I laced my sneakers a bit tighter and continued to play – and win

Turns out, however, that this was not such a simple injury. It was the turning point – at least as far as the stability of the lateral ligaments in my right ankle is concerned.

The next week, I could barely walk.

A few more weeks past, and still – considerable pain.  Two different orthopedic surgeon visits and two four-month sessions with physical therapy  later, I still feel considerable intermittent pain, particularly after exercise and with long periods of standing or walking.

Finally, I made an appointment to go see Dr. Paul Cooper at Georgetown Foot and Ankle Clinic. He immediately recommended a procedure called “modified brostrom.”

Apparently, when you sprain your ankle enough times, the ligaments loosen and it creates instability, which results in pain. If you look at the pictures in this post (yes, they’re my actual x-rays) you’ll notice that there is some considerable space between my ankle bones. (that’s not supposed to happen)

Modified brostrom surgery essentially tightens everything up and “makes you feel like you have a new ankle,” or so Dr. Cooper says.

He told me it would require a month in a cast and at least another month of physical therapy. But this would be a simple procedure that he could do in about half an hour.

The next day, Dr. Cooper’s surgeon scheduler called. She proceeded to tell me that Dr. Cooper is booked for surgeries until March of 2009.

“Uhh… that’s a little ridiculous,” I replied.

She told me the operating room is jam packed and Dr. Cooper is booked solid. This really sucks for someone who loves to play rec sports in the spring.

So I made an appointment with another well-respected sports medicine orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Weimi Douoguih at Washington Hospital Center. Impressed by Dr. Wouoguih’s contribution to Insider Medicine and his e-mail address present on his business card, I was hopeful that he would be right for me.

I was immediately impressed by his personality and ability to talk to me.

Dr. Douoguih said he thinks I do, in fact, need the surgery. He mentioned that he doesn’t do a lot of this type of surgery, but he’s trained in it and feels comfortable performing it. And – even better – he can work around my schedule.

So here’s what I need help with – do I wait until March for the specialist (Dr. Cooper)? Or, do I get it done sooner with Dr. Douguih? Does anyone have any experience with this?

Appreciate your opinions.

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