Returning to the Sport She Loves: Annabel's Story

Annabel is a 17-year-old Shriners Children’s Philadelphia patient with a special new tie to the hospital.

She was referred by a New Jersey upper extremity physician, who realized that the specialized surgery she needed should be performed by Dan Zlotolow, M.D., at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia.

Annabel is a gymnast and unfortunately suffered an osteochondritis dissecans lesion in her left elbow that required an osteochondral autograft transfer system procedure on her left knee and elbow. Dr. Zlotolow performed the surgery and it was successful. Dr. Zlotolow said, “Annabel had the equivalent of a 'pothole' in her elbow joint. We used a camera to look inside the joint, and then filled in the hole with a plug of cartilage from the knee. She worked really hard to get back her motion and strength so she could return to gymnastics.”

Annabel shared a special experience she had while at the hospital for a follow-up visit: “A couple months after my surgery, Dr. Zlotolow brought me into another patient’s room, also a gymnast, and about a month behind me in the recovery from the same surgery I had. It was a really meaningful experience to me to be able to speak with someone who I could relate to, and I hoped I helped her look forward to when she was recovered.”