Event: 5K Run/Walk or 2K Fun Walk

Location: OhioHealth Westerville Medical Campus, 300 Polaris Parkway, Westerville, 43081

Date: Friday, January 1st, 2010

Start Time: 11:00am

Registration/Packet Pickup: 10:00am

Packet Pickup: Begins Saturday, December 26th at NOON through Thursday, December 31st at 2:00PM at Fleet Feet Sports. Fleet Feet Sports is located just off Polaris Parkway at 1174 E. Powell Rd. in Lewis Center.

Registration Prices:

$25 thru Dec. 19.  $30 after the 19th and on race day
FAMILY SPECIAL $15 EACH (4 OR MORE)

For more information and to register online CLICK HERE

Skin grafts are a critical part of care for patients suffering from acute wounds, chronic wounds or burns. Currently, a split thickness skin graft is the gold standard for coverage when treating these conditions. However, donor site morbidity or a lack of donor skin due to the size of the wounds needing covered create situations where split thickness skin grafts (or allografts and xenografts) may not be feasible.

At the Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Center, I had the opportunity to be the first in Ohio to use a “Minced” skin autograft for the coverage of chronic wounds. This exciting technique has several advantages over a split thickness skin graft in certain situations. Split thickness skin grafts are usually expanded no more than six times with a maximum of nine times. With a minced skin technique, we’re able to expand the skin autograft up to 100 times, enabling us to effectively to cover much larger wound areas with less donor skin.

THE FOLLOWING PHOTOGRAPHS GIVE YOU A GLIMPSE INTO THE MINCED SKIN AUTOGRAFT TECHNIQUE.

A single-use disposable kit with dermatome and mincer.

The wound bed is prepared in the typical fashion to receive the graft.

The graft is taken with the non-powered dermatome.

The donor site after the graft is taken.

The autograft skin placed on the back table.

The autograft skin is then minced into pieces 0.8mm X 0.8mm.

The minced skin ready to be grafted.

The graft is then inserted into the wound and covered with a non-adherent dressing.

Using this new technique, we’re now able to cover acute and chronic wounds as well as burns while using minimal donor tissue.  We’ll be following this patient and carefully watching his progress. I encourage you to check back often to see the benefits of this technique in treating chronic wounds.

I’ve always wanted to be on the forefront of medical technology and perform the latest procedures – that’s what inspired me to be a surgeon. At OFAC, that’s exactly what I’m able to do every day. I’m glad I can help more patients with the minced skin autograft technique, and I look forward to even more advancements.

Will DeCarbo, DPM, AACFAS – Fellowship Trained Foot & Ankle Surgeon

The OFAC Fitness Challenge has become an annual tradition and the time is here again!

The holidays can be a tough time to stay active and healthy. So, now is the time to finish off the last of your cravings and desserts and buckle down for the OFAC Fitness Challenge.

A Final Dessert

Each year we put together a competition to encourage health and fitness in a fun, lively atmosphere with a little competitive spirit thrown in as well. This contest has grown in number every year and each year is a bit different. It has been my pleasure to organize this year’s challenge with help from our friends at Baseline Fitness.

This year we are going to use social media and our OFAC Facebook site to help coordinate and update everyone on the contest over its 3 months. Sorry, you will need a facebook account to view the postings I believe.

Here are some details:

• Contest open to all ‘friends of OFAC’- everyone is welcome to participate. The more the merrier.
• Contest runs from Jan 4 to March 31. Yeah, I know—IT’S 3 MONTHS LONG! Only the strong survive.
• RSVP to Katie Allen @ OFAC to confirm you’re joining  allenkm@orthofootankle.com
• Coordinate with Eve Ann @ Baseline Fitness to complete your BOD POD which is a body analysis of lean muscle and body fat content. We’ll do this as a ‘weigh-in’ at the beginning of the contest and another at the end as a ‘weigh-out’. ‘Weigh in’ has to be done by Jan 1.
• You’ll need a pedometer. You can use your own or get one from Eve Ann @ Baseline. One that measures steps for a week is preferable and easier on you.

We will have a Weigh Out Party in early April to celebrate everyone’s improvement and announce the winner!

• This party will feature all the fried food, carbs and sugar laden treats you’ll be skipping on during the contest. This is a nice reward for a job well done.

Here’s how the competition will work:

Points will be calculated by-

• 20% BOD POD- you’re raw numbers won’t be published or identified. We’re looking at who can make the greatest improvement in loss of % body fat- % body fat is changed by losing fat and/or gaining lean muscle–either way, you make positive change to this number.
• 20% Pedometer steps- steps need to be recorded and reported on a weekly basis via email to Katie Allen allenkm@orthofootankle.com First email report to Katie will be Sunday, Jan 10 and every Sunday night after that. If you don’t report, you don’t get credit.
• 20% January Weekly Fitness Events- Each week will have a new ‘Fitness Event’ to perform. It can be done anytime during that week. These events are designed to promote health, wellness and camaraderie amongst contestants. Everyone of all activity levels will be able to perform.  Each Sunday night, starting January 3rd, the event and description will be posted on to the OFAC Columbus Facebook Site . Most events will require you to upload photo evidence to the Facebook site that you completed the event. If you don’t prove you did it, you can’t get credit for that week’s event.
• 20% February Weekly Fitness Events- same rules as January
• 20% March Weekly Fitness Events- same as Feb.

I hope everyone will consider joining this year’s contest! I think with the addition of a new event each week, we should have more fun than ever before!

Good luck—see you at the Weigh Out Celebration Party

Christopher Hyer, DPM, FACFAS

Orthopedic Foot&Ankle Center

Cleaning up mounds of snow can cause more pain than just a headache. While this seasonal activity may seem mundane, it can also be dangerous.
According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission:

In 2007, more than 118,000 people were treated in hospital evergency rooms, doctors’ offices, clinics and other medical settings for injuries that happened while shoveling or removing ice and snow manually.
More than 16,000 were injured using snowblowers.
Types of injuries can include sprains and strains, particularly in the back and shoulders, as well as lacerations and finger amputations.
The Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Center offers the following tips for safe snow clearing:

Check with your doctor. Because this activity places high stress on the heart, you should always speak with your doctor before shoveling or snow blowing. If you have a medical condition or do not exercise regularly, consider hiring someone to remove the snow.
Dress appropriately. Light, layered, water-repellent clothing provides both ventilation and insulation. It is also important to wear the appropriate head coverings, as well as mittens or gloves and thick, warm socks. Avoid falls by wearing shoes or boots that have slip-resistant soles.
Try to clear snow early and often. Begin shoveling/blowing when a light covering of snow is on the ground to avoid dealing with packed, heavy snow.
Be sure you can see what you are shoveling/blowing. Do not let a hat or scarf block your vision. Watch for ice patches and uneven surfaces.
Shoveling tips:

Warm-up your muscles. Shoveling can be a vigorous activity. Before you begin this physical workout, warm-up your muscles for 10 minutes with light exercise.
Pace yourself. Snow shoveling and blowing are aerobic activities. Take frequent breaks and prevent dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids. If you experience chest pain, shortness of breath or other signs of a heart attack, stop shoveling/blowing and seek emergency care.
Use a shovel that is comfortable for your height and strength. Do not use a shovel that is too heavy or too long for you. Space your hands on the tool grip to increase your leverage.
Try to push the snow instead of lifting it. If you must lift, do it properly. Squat with your legs apart, knees bent, and back straight. Lift with your legs. Do not bend at the waist. Scoop small amounts of snow into the shovel and walk to where you want to dump it. Holding a shovelful of snow with your arms outstretched puts too much weight on your spine. Never remove deep snow all at once. Do it in pieces.
Do not throw the snow over your shoulder or to the side. This requires a twisting motion that stresses your back.
Snowblowing tips:

Never stick your hands in the snow blower! If snow jams the snowblower, stop the engine and wait more than 5 seconds. Use a solid object to clear wet snow or debris from the chute. Beware of the recoil of the motor and blades after the machine has been turned off.
Do not leave the snow blower unattended when it is running. Shut off the engine if you must walk away from the machine.
Add fuel before starting the snow blower. Never add fuel when the engine is running or hot. Do not operate the machine in an enclosed area.
Stay away from the engine. It can become very hot and burn unprotected flesh.
Watch the snow blower cord. If you are operating an electric snow blower, be aware of where the power cord is at all times.
Do not remove safety devices, shields or guards on switches, and keep hands and feet away from moving parts.
Beware of the brief recoil of motor and blades that occurs after the machine has been turned off.
Never let children operate snowblowers. Keep children 15 years of age and younger away when snowblowers are in use.
Read the instruction manual prior to using a snow blower. You need to be familiar with the specific safety hazards and unfamiliar features. Do not attempt to repair or maintain the snow blower without reading the instruction manual.