Surgical Innovations In Medicine

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Surgical innovations have evolved over the years as medicine has advanced. Dr. Denton Cooley, Dr. Frank Jobe, and Dr. Ben Carson have all contributed in great capacity to change the surgical field and to save lives. Though controversial and sometimes outspoken, Dr. Denton Cooley, Dr. Frank Jobe, and Dr. Ben Carson have all developed innovative surgical procedures that help change the lives of many people.
Dr. Denton Cooley innovated a procedure that bought time for his patients awaiting a second chance. According to Emily Wilkinson, Dr. Cooley revolutionized many surgical procedures after founding the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke’s Hospital (1). Cooley revolutionized the way heart procedures were performed. According to the author of
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Frank Jobe pioneered a successful surgery to help many people regain achievement after a catastrophic injury. According to Tim Rohan, over 25 percent of active pitchers in Major League Baseball have had a procedure to repair a torn elbow ligament (1). This injury has been a major problem in baseball and needed to be fixed by a revolutionary surgical procedure. According to the author of the article, “Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction in Major League Baseball Pitchers,” the first surgery of this kind was performed by Dr. Frank Jobe on Los Angeles Dodgers Pitcher, Tommy John in 1974; therefore, it became known as Tommy John Surgery (1). This revolutionary surgery was the first of its kind, but the results were unknown. According to Mike Tierney, Dr. Jobe believed the chances of returning to pitch were around 1 percent (2). Dr. Jobe did not know what would happen after the surgery. According to John Jeansonne, Dr. Jobe came up with the idea for the surgery after observing surgeries using tendons to strengthen joints in polio victims (2). He believed that an elbow ligament could be replaced in the same manner as a reinforced joint. This revolutionary surgery has helped many players return to the major leagues and continue successful …show more content…
Jobe, many players have successfully come back from Tommy John Surgery. According to Rohan, the success rate of the procedure today is around eighty percent (3). People are able to come back from major surgery now more successfully than in years past. According to a study by the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Penn Sports Medicine Center, 82 percent of pitchers who undergo Tommy John Surgery are able to come back with in two years, and they show only minor changes in statistics. The surgeries have evolved to help players attempt to return at same level as before the surgery. Many pitchers have come back to have great careers after Tommy John Surgery. According to Cory Franklin, Tommy John had more victories after his surgery than before (1). His determination along with the expertise of Dr. Jobe helped him have a long Major League career. According to Bob Nightengale, another pitcher who gained success was John Smoltz, who will be the first player to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame after Tommy John Surgery (1). The surgery is a success to many pitchers, but some pitchers did not get to enjoy the same results. Dr. Frank Jobe developed the surgery to give relief from a painful injury, and also to have a second chance at a

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