Certified in Surgery and Vascular Surgery by the American Board of Surgery

American Board of Pediatrics, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, pediatric advanced life support certified

Ask Dr. Payne | IS IT A SINUS INFECTION OR JUST A COLD?

Parents often ask how they can distinguish a common cold (viral upper-respiratory infection) from a sinus infection (acute bacterial sinusitis). According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, sinus infections should be considered in children with nasal congestion and/or cough when there are: 1) persistent symptoms for at least 10 days that are not improving; 2) worsening symptoms that were initially improving; and 3) severe onset of symptoms that include at least three days of high fever.

Contrary to popular belief, the color of nasal discharge does not help differentiate between the common cold and a sinus infection.

Sinus infections are treated with antibiotic medications. Antibiotics should not be prescribed for a common cold because they are ineffective in treating viruses, they can cause side effects such as diarrhea and allergic reaction, and their overuse is leading to antibiotic resistance.

Neither colds nor sinus infections are anything to “sneeze” at! With a focused history and physical examination, your pediatrician will be able to recommend the best treatment plan for your child.

American Board of Internal Medicine

Meet Dr. Ashwini Reddy

American Academy of Otolaryngology, American Head and Neck Society

Otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon Dr. Paul van der Sloot joined the Head and Neck Cancer Care Center at Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute at Swedish Medical Center in August, 2019. He treats head and neck tumors and specializes in transoral robotic surgery and microvascular reconstructive procedures.

What type of head and neck procedures do you perform?
Surgeries range from biopsies to tumor removals to reconstructive surgery. I’m thankful that my training allows me to remove life-threatening cancerous tumors while also restoring a patient’s quality of life through restorative surgery. For example, I can treat an oral cavity cancer that involves the removal of soft tissue, jawbone and all or part of the tongue. As a reconstructive surgeon, I can take soft tissue, including skin and muscle, as well as bone from other parts of the body to rebuild lost tissue. In this way, I’m able to restore function and appearance.

How do you use robotic technology to perform surgeries?
Certain types of tumors, such as oropharyngeal cancer, are difficult to access because they form in the base of the tongue or tonsil area. In the past, surgeons often had to break the jaw to gain access and remove these tumors. With robotic technology, I can use a remote console to manipulate a small binocular camera and tiny surgical instruments attached to robotic arms into the mouth. This technology enables me to safely remove a tumor from a very confined space with minimal trauma to the patient. Patients have a much easier recovery. My partner, Dr. Andrew Nemechek, uses a microscope and laser technology to remove tumors. These complementary techniques allow us to treat a wide range of patients.

What is oropharyngeal cancer?
This cancer develops in the back of the throat or oropharynx, which includes the base of the tongue and tonsils. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the human papillomavirus (HPV) causes 70% of these cancers. There are more than 200 types of HPV, making it the most common sexually transmitted infection in America. Most people exposed to HPV don’t know they are infected and never have any problems. However, certain HPV types can cause cancer decades after exposure. We now have a vaccine that can protect against HPV and therefore prevent this cancer. The CDC recommends this vaccine for children before they become sexually active, but even sexually active adults can benefit. I recommend talking to your doctor about it.

Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, 1998

Orthopaedic Trauma Association, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, American Orthopaedic Association, American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma

Meet the Doctor: Wade Smith, MD

Board-certified orthopedic trauma surgeon with Swedish Medical Center Orthopedic Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

What attracted you to the field of orthopedic trauma surgery?
Smith: Multiple and severe bone breaks can be life altering. It’s rewarding to be able to help someone who is severely injured. We get to help people of all ages and from all walks of life reclaim their lives by restoring function.

What types of orthopedic trauma services do you offer?
Smith: As a Level 1 trauma center, Swedish treats the most severely injured patients. I’m fellowship trained in both pediatric and adult orthopedic trauma surgery. My focus is on the care of the severely injured, as well as patients with pelvic fractures or who have complications such as infections or bone breaks that take longer to heal or don’t heal properly. My colleague at OrthoONE, Dr. Steven J. Morgan, and I also specialize in saving limbs – hands, arms, feet and legs – that are damaged due to traumatic injury or illness. We have many years of experience and a great team to help us.
  
What types of injuries do you commonly see during the winter, and how can a person lower this injury risk?
Smith: We see a lot of knee and wrist fractures from people falling while skiing, snowboarding or from slipping on ice. Our reflexes slow as we age, and we aren’t as physically fit. This deconditioning makes it harder to prevent or stop a fall. I recommend that people engage in activities like tai chi, dance or team sports that promote strength, balance and flexibility. You want to engage those fast-twitch muscle fibers that can help you react more quickly during a fall. Weight training in particular is great, especially as we age.

What is the M60 Mature Fracture Program?
Smith: People ages 60 and older have a higher risk of fractures, often due to falls. As a result, they often experience complications, such as chronic pain, infection, loss of mobility and delirium following surgery. This unique program at Swedish helps older adults recover from fractures while lowering complication risk. We start by administering a nerve block to stop the pain while the patient is in the emergency department. This step reduces the need for narcotics, which can cause confusion in the elderly. We get patients into surgery quickly and perform minimally invasive, often bloodless procedures through very small incisions. Patients are walking within 24 hours. We also have specialists who perform home assessments to lower the risk of falls in the patient’s home.

American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons

INNOVATIVE HIP SURGERY STOPS PAIN, REDUCING NEED FOR HIP REPLACEMENT

Sydney Potkanowicz started experiencing hip pain at the young age of 12. “It felt like my hip joints were slipping in their sockets. It was a constant painful, uncomfortable feeling,” she says. Sydney’s mom blamed growing pains, puberty and an active lifestyle for her daughter’s aches. By the time Potkanowicz started Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins, the pain made playing sports unbearable. She gave up both basketball and softball. “I told people that I didn’t like those sports anymore, but the truth was that it hurt too much to run,” she says.

It was during a family trip to San Francisco in 2017 that Potkanowicz decided something had to be done. “I took so many breaks while we walked,” Potkanowicz recalls. “There came a point where I told my mom I couldn’t go any farther. We agreed that I would see a doctor when we returned to Colorado.”

The doctor recommended surgery on both hips to repair torn labrums, cartilage rings that aid joint movement. Trauma, repetitive motions or improper hip alignments can cause a labral tear. Hip surgery on someone so young seemed drastic to Potkanowicz and her parents, so they sought a second opinion from Dr. Presley Swann, an orthopedic surgeon with Advanced Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Specialists, who performs surgeries at Sky Ridge Medical Center.

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Certified in Surgery and Vascular Surgery by the American Board of Surgery

Board certified in General Surgery by the American Board of Surgery

American Academy of Family Physicians

Colorado Academy of Family Physicians, American Osteopathic Association

Meet Dr. Christen Cage Vu DO

American Board of Plastic Surgery

LONE TREE PLASTIC SURGEONS OFFER ADVANCED BREAST RECONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE

“Part of our synergy and success stems from the fact that we received the same training at the same hospital from the same experts, we approach each operation identically and methodically. This synergy greatly benefits our patients.”

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American Board of Plastic Surgery

Lone Tree Plastic Surgeons Offer Advanced Breast Reconstruction Procedure

“Part of our synergy and success stems from the fact that we received the same training at the same hospital from the same experts,” says Dr. Jeremy. “We approach each operation identically and methodically. This synergy greatly benefits our patients.”

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