Ortho on the go

Chuck Dowell, PA-C, ATC
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Semiweekly

Welcome to Ortho on the go podcast. This podcast will revolve around all topics involved with Orthopedics. We will review interesting cases, MSK evaluation, functional orthopedics and discuss a variety of topics involving all aspects of orthopedics. My name is Chuck Dowell i am a PA and ATC with over 25 years of experience in the field. I enjoy teaching and have a passion for linking athletics and orthopedics, finding functional reasons for MSK complaints and helping patients return to sports and activities.

  1. Jun 4 ·  Video

    A Midfoot Misstep That Needed Surgery

    Send us Fan Mail We break down a real clinic case where a simple misstep leads to a suspected Lisfranc injury and a fast track from urgent imaging to surgical care. We share the exam and X-ray clues that help us spot midfoot instability early, plus what recovery often looks like after fixation. • case presentation after a plantar-flexion misstep with a pop and immediate inability to weight bear • key exam findings including diffuse midfoot oedema, focal medial midfoot tenderness, and pain with forefoot compression and rotation • X-ray alignment changes that raise concern for Lisfranc disruption and why CT helps define the injury • Lisfranc ligament anatomy and why plantar arch bruising can be a high-value clinical sign • when non-operative care may fail and why surgical referral is common with widening and instability • post-op course including splinting, casting, strict non-weight bearing, and gradual return in a walking boot with physical therapy • realistic healing timeline, persistent swelling, and practical counselling points for patients

    8 min

  2. May 26

    Pediatric Distal Radius Fractures

    Send us Fan Mail We walk through how pediatric distal radius fractures behave differently from adult injuries, using real X-ray cases to show what to measure and why it matters. We focus on remodeling potential, age-based angulation limits, and practical casting choices that keep kids safe while they heal fast.  • case study of a seven-year-old with a subtle metadiaphyseal distal radius fracture and dorsal angulation best seen on lateral view  • why distal radius and forearm fractures are so common in children and how buckle fractures can look deceptively mild  • how the distal radial physis drives growth and remodeling potential  • age-based acceptable angulation targets and why malalignment can block pronation and supination  • immobilisation strategy including short arm casting, cast moulding and typical timelines for cast then brace  • older teen sports injury example and why acceptable alignment is stricter after age 10  • red flags and associated patterns to rule out including Monteggia, Galeazzi and DRUJ injury  • urgent care and ER options including sugar tong or volar splint with orthopaedic follow-up  So you can log on to the YouTube channel and see the x-rays and the images that we discuss during the presentation itself.

    16 min

  3. May 12

    Distal Radius Fracture Essentials

    Send us Fan Mail A snowboard edge catch, a fall on an outstretched hand, and a wrist that instantly looks wrong. We take you step-by-step through a classic distal radius fracture presentation in orthopedic urgent care, featuring a 22-year-old with dorsal displacement and the unmistakable dinner fork deformity often seen in a Colles-type fracture. If you want a practical, real-world framework for evaluating acute wrist injuries, this case is built for you.  We start with how we describe the fracture correctly on imaging, focusing on the distal fragment, and what we look for on AP, oblique, and lateral X-rays including loss of radial height and radial inclination plus concern for intra-articular involvement near the DRUJ. From there, we shift to what can’t be missed: a careful distal neurovascular exam. With dorsal displacement, traction on volar structures can lead to neuropraxia, and we talk through why leaving a fracture unreduced can put nerves at risk.  Then we get hands-on with the hematoma block, a useful option when IV sedation is not available. I explain why the dorsal approach is typically safer, where to place the needle relative to the dorsal step-off, how much local anesthetic we commonly use, and why timing and patience matter, especially within the first three to five days. We finish with closed reduction mechanics, the alignment numbers that guide “good enough” reduction (radial inclination, radial length, volar tilt), and how a sugar tong splint with a strong volar three-point mold helps prevent the fracture from drifting back dorsally.  If you want to follow along visually, check out the YouTube version for the X-rays and illustrations, then subscribe, share this with someone who treats wrist injuries, and leave a review with your go-to reduction and splinting tips.

    15 min

  4. Apr 29

    High Ankle Sprain

    Send us Fan Mail A “simple ankle sprain” can be the most expensive diagnosis in sports medicine when it’s wrong. We’re unpacking a case that looks ordinary at first glance: a 16-year-old wrestler who can still walk, has normal-looking initial X-rays, and yet can’t return to the mat because the pain is higher than the usual sprain spot. That detail changes everything, pushing us toward a high ankle sprain and a syndesmotic injury rather than a routine lateral ligament strain.  We talk through the exact mechanism that should set off alarms, forced external rotation often paired with dorsiflexion and sometimes eversion. From there, we map the anatomy in plain language: the lateral ligaments that drive most inversion sprains versus the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament and the wider syndesmosis complex that stabilises the distal tibia and fibula. We also share the exam findings that matter most, including tenderness at the distal tibiofibular junction and pain reproduced with dorsiflexion plus external rotation.  On the imaging side, we cover the practical radiology checks clinicians use every day, including tibiofibular overlap, tibiofibular clear space, and medial clear space on AP and mortise views. We explain why gravity stress views can help but also why MRI is often the decision-maker when X-rays don’t match the story. Finally, we walk through treatment and recovery: conservative care with a CAM boot and delayed weight bearing versus surgical stabilisation such as tightrope fixation for athletes chasing a faster, more reliable return to sport, plus what rehab progression typically looks like.  If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with a teammate or clinician, and leave a review so more athletes and providers can spot a high ankle sprain before it costs a season.

    20 min

  5. Apr 19

    Case presentation on greater tuberosity fracture

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode we discuss a case presentation regarding a greater tuberosity fracture in a young patient. The X-rays and video presentation can be seen on the YouTube channel.

    15 min
  6. A case of hip injury in track athlete!

    08/31/2025

    A case of hip injury in track athlete!

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode we discuss a case presentation regarding a commonly seen hip injury in young athlete. The X-rays and video presentation can be seen on the YouTube channel. https://youtu.be/5PsWcvPSaI0

    6 min
  7. Case discussion regarding recurrent Effusion in young athlete

    08/02/2025

    Case discussion regarding recurrent Effusion in young athlete

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode we will discuss a case regarding recurrent effusions in a young athlete. The images including x-rays, MRI and operative photos can be seen on the YouTube channel for the podcast.

    10 min
  8. Discussion on how to evaluate and treat concussions

    05/29/2025

    Discussion on how to evaluate and treat concussions

    Send us Fan Mail This episode I talk with Emily Kosderka Ph.D., ATC Assistant Professor at Linfield University. Emily's research is in the use of exercise as a therapeutic intervention following sport-related concussion and she hopes her work will further our understanding of how exercise can be used safely to improve recovery. She is on the advisory board for the Collegiate Athletic Trainers’ Association and has been an invited speaker to conferences around the country. In this episode we discuss how to evaluate and treat concussion.

    44 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to Ortho on the go podcast. This podcast will revolve around all topics involved with Orthopedics. We will review interesting cases, MSK evaluation, functional orthopedics and discuss a variety of topics involving all aspects of orthopedics. My name is Chuck Dowell i am a PA and ATC with over 25 years of experience in the field. I enjoy teaching and have a passion for linking athletics and orthopedics, finding functional reasons for MSK complaints and helping patients return to sports and activities.

Information

  • Creator
    Chuck Dowell, PA-C, ATC
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ortho on the go
  • Show Website
    Ortho on the go

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