A South Buffalo, New York, native, Michael Parentis, MD, serves as an orthopaedic surgeon with the Western New York Knee and Orthopaedic Surgery Group. In conjunction with his professional career, Michael Parentis, MD, maintains an active membership with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).
The AAOS recently announced the release of a reference book titled Spine Injuries in Athletes. The result of a partnership with health care expert Wolters Kluwer, the book provides comprehensive details of spinal injuries that occur in those who participate in competitive sports. The chief of spine surgery for the Mount Sinai Health System, Andrew C. Hecht, MD, served as the book’s editor.
The topic is especially germane in today’s sports culture, where athletes who participate in high-contact sports are often fearful of spinal injuries, given the potential of these injuries to negatively impact health and end athletic careers. Included in the book are numerous examples of how spinal injuries should be assessed during games, and the criteria for releasing an athlete to return to the game versus holding him or her out, as well as other important information.
