For Improved Patient Outcomes, Research Matters

Some treatment aspects turn out to be more helpful than originally thought; others prove less helpful than intended, Dr. David Porter explains. Follow-up research is the key to learning the difference, he emphasizes. "I've personally made significant changes to treatment plans based on prior research assessment," the Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon reveals. The only way of knowing which surgical and treatment techniques work better than others is follow-up research, Dr. Porter stresses. 

When research reveals that a given treatment lacks adequate benefits, that treatment can be omitted and a more effective one substituted. Patients want to know percentages, or the "odds" of full function recovery, Dr. Porter explains. "My research allows me to carry on a more accurate discussion with them." On several occasions, when the patients have done active follow-up on their own recovery process, he's been able to offer improved outcome expectations.

Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics’ physicians have prioritized research and innovation since its inception. That dedication to improving patient outcomes lives on today with the recent opening of the Forté Orthopedic Research Institute located at the Orthopedic Center of Excellence in Carmel, IN. The Institute includes a state-of-the-art, 15 station bioskills lab, 3D printing, and a virtual reality surgical simulator.