Sports Doc Talk SportsDocTalk

In this episode, we discuss the recent surgery that Lonzo Ball underwent, his third knee surgery in over a year. Dr. Grant Garcia explains cartilage transplant surgery and how it is a unique procedure that is not commonly performed on professional athletes. We also talk about the history of Lonzo Ball's knee injuries and how his meniscus tear led to the loss of cartilage in his knee. I ask Dr. Garcia if he has any Big Baller Brand gear in his wardrobe…



Dr. Garcia does about 30 to 40 of these procedures a year. The recovery process is a long one, taking about 9-12 months, but the success rates for the procedure are high. Dr. Garcia notes that success rates for professional athletes may be different. Rebless is a robotic by H Robotic that most likely will be used in Lonzo Ball’s recovery, which we’ve discussed in previous shows.



Sports Doc Talk is a podcast hosted by Will Sanchez and Dr. Grant Garcia, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist. Check out Sports Doc Talk on all major podcast platforms and on our YouTube channel. Please reach out to us for any questions or show ideas at sportsdoctalkpodcast@gmail. You can also reach Dr. Grant Garcia at grantgarciamd.com for great orthopedic information and content.



This podcast aims to educate listeners about sports medicine and the procedures that are used to help athletes recover from injuries.

How do orthopedic surgeons take a napkin idea into a full-blown product? In business, there are well-validated step processes to get this done. In this show, Dr. Grant Garcia discusses taking an idea through to full approval from the FDA: the BEAR Implant. We also discuss how innovation is manufactured and marketed, and the concerns surgeons and hospitals may have especially when they are hesitant to adopt new tech due to concerns about safety, effectiveness, and costs. We touch upon how using the 501(k) pathway is a faster and less expensive way to gain FDA approval for a new use of an existing device or implant.

Dr. Garcia discusses how he and other surgeons utilize Biomechanical labs for innovation in orthopedic implants. In these labs, extensive testing is done to validate the performance of orthopedic implants before they are used in patients. They must provide the necessary data and effectiveness before meeting FDA approval.  Last, but not least we discuss Arthrex, the industry leader. Arthrex is a hub for all levels of design, engineering, marketing, teaching, learning videos, and more. Dr. Garcia mentioned he had utilized the SwiveLock anchor numerous times and how suture tape was a staple in his surgeries just like so many other doctors.  I joked that I had seen one of their videos online utilizing the nano-SwiveLock on a patient's finger as they did a finger repair using an internal brace. I told him I was ready to perform surgery. Maybe not just yet.

Check out Sports Doc Talk with Will Sanchez and Dr. Grant Garcia on all major podcast platforms and also on our YouTube channel. Please reach out to us for any questions or show ideas at sportsdoctalkpodcast@gmail.  You can also reach Dr. Grant Garcia at grantgarciamd.com for great orthopedic information and content.

It’s Super Bowl week!

This football season is about to be concluded and there will only be one team to bring the elusive Lombardi trophy back to their city and fans. In this episode of Sports Doc Talk, we discuss key injuries that could affect both teams and their players. Before we look ahead, we look back to a key injury in the NFC championship game to quarterback Brock Purdy. Purdy will have an elbow repair using a technique we have discussed in previous shows called internal bracing. What’s the difference between an elbow repair versus Tommy John surgery?

We talk about Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson playing with a torn adductor (ouch). Also, Patrick Mahomes has been dealing with a high ankle sprain. Could that injury lead to a more serious issue in the future and perhaps surgery in the offseason depending on the severity?  We discuss other players as well involved in the big game. We have Super Bowl trivia, predictions sure to go wrong, and lots of excitement discussing our new show platform. Thanks for spending time with us and listening. We hope you enjoy and learn something along the way.

For more information on Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Grant Garcia check out grantgarciamd.com

One of the scariest scenes unfolded this NFL season for the world to see. There was great excitement for the Bills versus Bengals game, as two of the best teams in the NFL were competing head-to-head with playoff implications. A packed stadium and a buzz that only great teams can generate. Shortly after the game had started the unthinkable occurred…

24-year-old Damar Hamlin was injured on the field. Just a routine tackle. A play that you’ve seen numerous times in a game and one that you would never think twice about. As Hamlin stood up, he soon then collapsed back down and lay motionless on the field. Doctors rushed by his side, administered CPR, and 20 minutes later he was rushed to the hospital by ambulance.

Dr. Grant Garcia wanted to share some information about what happened and explain what Commotio Cordis is: a trauma to your chest, a type of injury that is usually associated with Baseball, Lacrosse, Hockey, and combat sports. Dr. Garcia wants to let coaches and families know how to be prepared and recognize the difference between a common injury and a life-threatening one.

As we get excited about all the possibilities and new shows for 2023, we look back at some of our favorite topics and conversations of 2022.

In 2022, we talked about several hot topics including the future of cartilage, meniscus, and ACL surgeries. We discussed internal bracing, fantastic tech wearables, and what it takes to make it to the next level. We thought a fun show looking back at some of our top segments would allow our listeners to hear some of the highlights they may have missed or some they may want to hear again.

In response to some of these segments, we have had a few updates including the introduction of one of the first cartilage stimulation products with Cartiheal Agili-C Implant (tag) which may be the future of cartilage transplants. Also, ACL repair (tag) has taken off including the tightrope and internal brace combination that has been impressing Dr. Garcia and his patients on their speedy recovery as we enter 2023. Finally, wearable technology was taken one step further at the World Cup in which high-tech soccer balls and player tracking apps were used to provide the best experience yet and allowed a fairer and safer tournament. (Read: https://www.jumpstartmag.com/4-cutting-edge-technologies-used-in-fifa-world-cup-qatar-22/)

Thank you to all our listeners. We hope you enjoy this 2022 recap podcast, and we look forward to bringing you new and exciting shows in 2023.