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YSU doctor promotes increased safety measures
By Greg Gulas
BEAVER TOWNSHIP
Plenty of advanced techniques have been developed since 1988 when Dr. Raymond S. Duffett became the team physician for Youngstown State University’s 19 varsity athletic teams.
Precautionary measures have been added for teams and organizations in order to deal with head injuries and to ensure safety for all participants.
Speaking Monday to the Curbstone Coaches, Duffett said that Turning Technologies in Youngstown with its highly acclaimed 3D printing has begun to aid in total knee replacement surgery.
Duffett said concussion protocol, from scholastic to professional sports, has been a much welcomed addition.
“In regards to concussions, an athlete must be cleared by a medical professional, either an M.D. or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine before they can return to the field and resume competition,” Duffett said. “If a player is concussed, then it could take in upwards of a week, depending on its severity before they are cleared.
“What we don’t want are any permanent problems down the road.”
According to Duffett, concussion protocol, like that which has been instituted by the NFL, has been a long time in coming.
“For about 15 years or so, I was very vocal about the need to address players who suffered possible concussions,” Duffett said. “We were able to get Dr. Don Tamulonis, an area neurologist, involved and he sees a lot of our concussion patients.
“He’s on the sidelines at home games and has been a valuable addition to the YSU medical staff.”
Duffett, a knee specialist, said Turning Technologies has changed the way orthopedic surgeons approach surgery with its PSI or Patient Specific Instrumentation.
“PSI has been around about seven or eight years, but over the past two or three years has become more prevalent,” Duffett said. “It involves an extra step in that the patient must have an MRI taken of their knee.
“From that MRI and using 3D technology, we are then able to make a model of the arthritic knee. That model then allows us to place the new knee more precisely and accurately.”
The model works exceptionally well on candidates who have deformities above and below the knee.
“Six weeks ago, I had a patient who was involved in a car accident over 40 years ago and had suffered a broken thigh bone and tibia,” Duffett said. “He had healed fractures both above and below the knee and was a perfect candidate for this type of instrumentation.
“I am able to do about three-quarters of my patients in this manner while my partner, Dr. J.J. Stefancin, a former YSU punter, uses this process on most of his patients.”
Despite the violence associated with contact sports, Duffett said he believes that necessary precautions are being taken to keep all sports as safe as possible.
“As a medical professional, there is still a place for warrior sports in our society,” Duffett said. “My son, Ross, wrestled and played football in high school and while I would have liked to see him continue collegiately, he opted not to pursue either when he entered Furman University.
“I must compliment the YSU equipment staff because my son once had a helmet issue and our late equipment manager, Carmine Cassese, gave him his undivided attention to make sure that it was properly fit,” Duffett said. “That was the best half hour we spent.
“Current equipment manager Alvy Armstrong and assistant Tim Gallo continue to do a great job ensuring that all YSU athletes are totally prepared for their various competitions.”