Frederick County is moving! As one of Maryland’s fastest-growing counties—and as we keep moving—it’s important to prioritize the health and wellness of our diverse, growing community. Keeping with this theme, and because November is a month to give thanks, let’s spotlight the people and resources that help keep our community moving.
Quite literally, orthopedic surgeons keep us moving. Orthopedics is a medical specialty that focuses on treating the musculoskeletal system, which includes your bones, joints, ligaments, muscles and tendons. Orthopedic surgeons treat a wide range of conditions from arthritis to dislocated joints to hip and back pain. They aim to reduce pain and enhance mobility, in order to help you to get back to the activities you love as soon as possible, whether it’s biking along the C&O Canal or taking a walk through Baker Park.
This is one of the reasons why Dr. Therlinsie Fleurizard decided to specialize in orthopedics.
“I became very interested in orthopedics after seeing how it can change people's lives for the better,” she says. “In many medical fields, it's hard to pinpoint a disease and then automatically have a treatment for it. With orthopedics, you can see the disease firsthand and offer a treatment that can effectively alleviate what the patient is experiencing.”
Dr. Fleurizard is distinguished as 1of 8 fellowship-trained Black women in the country who performs joint replacement or joint reconstruction surgery. She learned from Dr. Martin Roche, her fellowship director, source of inspiration and world-renowned orthopedic leader who performed the world’s first-ever Sensor Assisted and Robotic Assisted Knee Surgery. After completing her residency at Howard University, Dr. Fleurizard interviewed across the DC Metro Area and felt connected to the people in Frederick, her colleagues and the community of patients.
Dr. Fleurizard practices at Frederick Health Medical Group Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Frederick. She is part of a team of board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic experts focused on high-quality, patient-centered orthopedic care backed by the latest medical technologies. Patient-centered care means a focus on you (the patient) rather than your condition and the reciprocal relationship between you and your provider.
When making an appointment with an orthopedic specialist at Frederick Health you can expect a collaborative patient journey that starts with a conversation based around you—your concerns, your needs and your treatment goals. As a patient, you are fully aware of what is going on, what your exam will entail and, most importantly, your treatment options.
“As a patient under our care, you’ll leave each appointment very informed about your diagnosis and treatment options so that you can make the best decisions for you,” says Dr. Fleurizard. “You (the patient) need to be included in your care management and that's how our practice runs. We're making decisions together for the best way to treat whatever discomfort you’re feeling.”
First, you and your provider may explore conservative options, such as physical therapy or pain management. If surgery is the best option for you, Frederick Health specializes in minimally invasive techniques that ensure a faster recovery.
Patient education can help improve your surgical outcome. "We want patients to be well-informed about joint replacement procedures, which have benefits but also risks," says Dr. Fleurizard. "We educate you about these surgery risks, pre-and post-surgery precautions and how to achieve positive outcomes. Additionally, we advise you to address modifiable factors—such as alcohol, smoking and weight—to improve results."
In 2005, Frederick Health started Joint Works, a patient-friendly clinical program developed for joint replacement patients and their families. Core elements include pre-surgical patient education, pre-surgical rehabilitation, perioperative services and discharge planning with a team of experienced and expert providers, nurses and rehabilitation therapists who treat joint replacement patients every day.
“Every patient gets exercises to try to strengthen whatever extremity you’re having surgery on before your procedure. This helps with recovery afterward,” explains Dr. Fleurizard. “After 18 years, the program continues to improve surgical outcomes and recovery time. Many patients notice the difference and realize how effective it was when they did rehab and exercises before surgery.”
Keeping Frederick County moving and getting you “back to better” is the goal of Frederick Health Medical Group’s Orthopedics & Sports Medicine team. Providers will work with you to understand your movement goals and develop a personalized treatment plan and post-operative care to achieve positive results.
