Can orthopedic researchers reach rock star or even hip hop status?
The answer, if you are the ever curious Robert LaPrade, M.D., Ph.D., who is one of the most prolific research scientists to ever grace an orthopedic laboratory as well as one of the world’s leading complex knee and orthopedic sports medicine surgeons is…yes, you can.
We caught up with Dr. LaPrade on the occasion of his 500th published study in Minnesota, at the offices of Twin Cities Orthopedics, where he’s recently moved from the Steadman Clinic in Colorado.
His landmark 500th published study, the culmination of more than 20 years of research, and a lifetime of asking questions and designing scientifically robust ways of answering them, is “Single-Stage Multiple-Ligament Knee Reconstructions for Sports-Related Injuries: Outcomes in 194 Patients.”
Of course, we review his 500th study, but that comes later in this article.
First, inquiring minds want to know, what makes Curious LaPrade such a research machine?
Presenting Robert LaPrade, M.D., Ph.D.
In his own words, Dr. LaPrade credits a burning desire to learn, a great team and the unique nature of his clinical practice for his amazing research productivity.
“I strongly believe that I have learned a great deal from each and every research project that we have completed, and I have always surrounded myself with an eager and bright research team which makes it easy to juggle our research program with a full clinical schedule.”
“Due to my complex knee referral practice, many pathologies that may be rare in other’s practices are quite common in my practice and it has been fulfilling to develop bench-to-bedside research solutions which solve many of these pathologies and improve patient outcomes.”
Given his unique position atop the research mountain, what does Dr. LaPrade think are the hottest areas of research for knee injuries right now?
“I feel that the most important thing to highlight is that the anatomic-based reconstructions that we have developed enable a quicker initiation of postoperative rehabilitation so that their ability to return to high level full activities after complex knee injuries is enhanced.”
“Our recent publications have validated that double bundle PCL [posterior cruciate ligament] reconstructions can have postoperative outcomes similar to ACL [anterior cruciate ligament] reconstructions and that athletes with multiple ligament knee reconstructions, including professional athletes, can have excellent outcomes and return to the highest levels of sport with these techniques.”
“Additionally, we have validated that we can successfully repair meniscal tears that were previously considered to be ‘non-repairable,’ such as radial tears of the meniscus.”
