Jacksonville Orthopedic Surgeon Earns Award for Invention to Repair Achilles Tendon
Dr. Jorge Acevedo wins prestigious Edison Award, recognized for innovative implant and technique
JACKSONVILLE, FL (June 19, 2024) – Not too many doctors can say they have invented something to help their patients. However, Dr. Jorge Acevedo, a nationally recognized Foot and Ankle surgery expert with Southeast Orthopedic Specialists, cannot only say he helped invent an important advance in orthopedic care, but also won an award for it.
Recently, the Jacksonville orthopedic surgeon earned the prestigious Edison Award – often referred to as the “Oscars of Innovation.” Just like the Olympics, winners in various categories are given a gold, silver, or bronze award. Dr. Acevedo and New York-based Dr. James McWilliam won the gold award, recognized for developing the Arthrex MIS FiberTak Achilles SpeedBridge Repair Implant System. This innovative system is used to repair the Achilles tendon, the large tendon at the back of the heel.
“We are proud to support Dr. Acevedo and Dr. McWilliam in their quest to revolutionize Achilles tendon repair,” said a spokesperson for Arthrex, Inc. “Their innovative implant system exemplifies our commitment to empowering surgeons with cutting-edge technology that improves patient outcomes.”
The Achilles tendon is comprised of strong tissues that connect the calf muscle to the heel. In some instances, the tendon may get damaged through overuse, physical activity or repeated stress and may require surgery.
With traditional Achilles tendon surgery, surgeons may need to open the back of the heel to repair the tendon. There may be large incisions, potential damage to surrounding tissue, major scarring and recovery time could be extensive.
Dr. Acevedo’s invention involves a minimally invasive procedure and specialized technique that minimizes damage to surrounding tissue. A series of innovative instruments and implants are used. Small incisions are made in the back of the heel and strong sutures are placed to hold the tendon against the heel bone.
As the area heals, patients are left with minimal scarring and a faster recovery time compared to traditional surgery.
“We are honored to receive the Thomas Edison Gold Award for our work in advancing orthopedic care,” said Dr. Acevedo. “Our goal was to develop a solution that not only effectively addresses Achilles tendon pathology but also prioritizes patient comfort and recovery.”
For more information, please visit www.se-ortho.com. Click “here” to view an animation of the Arthrex system.
About Southeast Orthopedic Specialists
Established in 2001, Southeast Orthopedic Specialists is a regional leader in musculoskeletal care. Southeast Orthopedic Specialists was founded on the principle of providing high-quality, comprehensive care in the Northeast Florida region. The entire spectrum of orthopedic care is provided to patients, including orthopedic surgery, spine care, physiatry, pain management, chiropractic, podiatry and physical therapy. Physicians at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists are leading experts in their field with decades of experience, including the completion of multiple fellowships and groundbreaking research. Visit www.se-ortho.com to learn more.
About Healthcare Outcomes Performance Company (HOPCo)
Healthcare Outcomes Performance Company (HOPCo) is the national leader of integrated musculoskeletal value-based health outcomes management, practice management and health system service line management. This includes comprehensive expertise across all MSK specialties, including orthopedics, spine, neurosurgery, hand, pain management, rehabilitation and neurology. HOPCo’s integrated care, analytics, and facilities development and management platforms have proven to increase the quality of patient care while reliably reducing the total cost of care across the care continuum for practices, health systems and payors alike. HOPCo’s affiliated payors, practices, and health systems successfully participate in highly efficient value-based contracting (bundled payments, chronic episodes of care initiatives, population health programs, and other advanced risk-based arrangements) utilizing HOPCo’s proprietary platforms, IT solutions, integrated analytics, and evidence-based comprehensive care pathways. Visit https://hopco.com to learn more.
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