Meet Dr. Adnan Saithna, MD | Orthopedic Surgeon Specializing in Arthroscopic and Minimally Invasive Knee & Shoulder Surgery

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Adnan Saithna, MD and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Saithna, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind my success is the satisfaction I get from seeing my patients recover from orthopedic surgery (or following non-operative treatment). I find it very rewarding when they tell me that they have been able to get back to doing the things they love – whether that means participating in recreational sports, competing at a national/international level, or simply being able to use their joints without pain. The sense of achievement I get from helping people in this way is profound and it has always been the main source of motivation for me to continually strive to be at the leading edge of orthopedic surgery

My work in orthopedic sports medicine (minimally invasive and arthroscopic knee and shoulder surgery) has received the highest research awards from both the Arthroscopy Association of North America (Richard O’Connor Award) and the Royal College of Surgeons, UK (King James IV Professorship). The work I have done in improving the outcomes of patients undergoing Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstruction (ACL reconstruction is the most common surgical procedure for knee ligament injuries sustained during sport) is internationally recognized and likely to have influenced the practice of thousands of surgeons, subsequently improving the outcomes for patients undergoing orthopedic surgery worldwide. My research has resulted in approximately 200 publications and over 80 podium presentations at national and international specialist society meetings. Knowing that my work has had such a global impact and helped many more patients than I could see individually is also a great source of motivation to continue academic work alongside my busy clinical practice.

Another important factor behind my success is the wealth of experience I have gained from working in different health systems. I undertook my fellowship training in internationally recognized centers of excellence in sports medicine in both the UK and Canada. This allowed me to gain expertise in particular areas of knee and shoulder surgery which would otherwise not have been possible. An example of this is that the FDA have recently approved the InSpace Balloon (Stryker Sports Medicine), a device used for the treatment of massive rotator cuff tears (a group of tendons in the shoulder, particularly important in allowing overhead and reaching activities). Many US surgeons are excited about using this for the first time over the next few months, but I already have a wealth of experience with this device, having used it in my practice in the UK since 2016. It gives me great pleasure to share my unique transatlantic experience locally, knowing that this will help to ensure that patients in Arizona get the best possible treatment

What should our readers know about your business?
At AZBSC Orthopedics we pride ourselves on providing the best possible orthopedic treatment with a compassionate and caring approach. We know that having an orthopedic injury is stressful and can have a major impact on your life. We do our best to provide you with the best possible treatment option (whether that means non-operative treatment or surgery), with a care plan that’s individualized to your particular circumstances.

What sets us apart is that Dr Saithna is a multi-award winning orthopedic surgeon with excellent clinical results and outstanding patient testimonials

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Phoenix is an amazing city to live in and that’s why my wife and I chose to move here permanently, relocating my practice from Kansas City.

We love it because of the great people, no shortage of fun things to do, great restaurants, and the beauty and wildlife of the desert.

For out-of-towners our favourite hike is Pinnacle Peak. Not too easy not too hard, and great views. There are also some great cycling trails and road rides, and I love cycling (especially competitive time trial racing) a favorite route is out to Bartlett Lake.

Restaurant/cafe recommendations include LGO, Snooze, Tryst Cafe, Flower Child, True Foods Kitchen, elements at Sanctuary (awesome views), Roka Akor, Virtu, Ghost Ranch, Capital Grille, Postinos, the list is endless,

…..and for cocktails and a view of the planes at Scottsdale airport…Volanti

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA) and honorary “Godfather” Dr Rick Angelo, MD

AANA is a professional society of more than 6,000 orthopedic surgeons and other medical professionals who are committed to advancing the field of minimally-invasive orthopedic surgery to improve patient outcomes. Earlier this year I was awarded the AANA traveling fellowship, which is a 2 week tour of leading orthopedic centers in the US. This accolade is only awarded to a select few surgeons from across the US annually, so I was very grateful to receive this honor.

On this occasion the “Godfather” was Dr Rick Angelo, and he provided fantastic mentorship, experience and camaraderie during and after the fellowship that will benefit me for the rest of my career. One of the many highlights of the traveling fellowship was visiting Vail, Colorado, where many US ski team athletes train. I presented my clinical research demonstrating significantly reduced failure rates of ACL reconstruction surgery in professional skiers when we performed an additional procedure known as an anterolateral ligament reconstruction.

Although, I have had numerous fantastic mentors throughout my training and my career, I dedicate my shoutout to AANA simply because of the outstanding support and numerous opportunities they have given me to achieve success. In addition to the traveling fellowship I have also received the highest research award from AANA, a research grant (that is supporting the development of a smartphone app to better identify knee injuries), and I have also served on their research, international and fellowship committees.

Website: https://azbscorthopedics.com

Others: http://www.adnansaithna.com