BIOGRAPHY
Name

Mikel Tihista, MD

Biography

Home for me is Seattle, WA. I went to college at Washington State University. Although Medicine was always the intent, I took 2 years off after college to explore other interests, including epigenetics and genetic disease research, sales, teaching and traveling. I went to medical school thereafter at George Washington University in D.C. and discovered an interest in Orthopaedic Surgery. Currently an orthopedic resident at William Beaumont Army Medical Center/Texas Tech University Health Science Center. Areas of interest include Trauma, Joints, Sports and Pathology.

Topics

Elbow Joint Instability

Elbow instability can occur in the setting of a traumatic injury involving dislocation of the elbow joint, or less commonly, after surgical intervention for release of contracture or ulnohumeral synostosis (bone formation between the humerus and ulna). Elbow dislocations are the second most common joint dislocation in adults after shoulder dislocations and are the most common dislocation in children. The... Continue Reading

Symptomatic Cervical Disc Disease

Symptomatic cervical disc disease is a condition that results from damage and degeneration of the cushion (disc) between the bones (vertebrae) of the neck (cervical spine). When the disc between the bones is damaged or deteriorated, the bones can rub against one another causing significant pain. Damage to the intervertebral discs can also be an independent source of pain. When... Continue Reading

Tibial Shaft Fractures

Tibial shaft fractures are the most common long bone fractures and account for 4% of all fractures seen in the Medicare population. Fractures that occur in older patients are usually the result of a low energy torsional injury (e.g. fall/trip) and cause a spiral fracture pattern. In younger patients, tibia shaft fractures are typically caused by high energy direct trauma... Continue Reading

Distal Radius Fractures

Distal radius fractures are the most common orthopedic-related injury, accounting for 17.5% of all fractures in adults. Fractures are classified as distal radius fractures when they occur in the distal 1/3rdof the radius. Fractures typically occur in older patients with osteopenia/osteoporosis (weak bone) after a fall on an outstretched hand (most common), or in younger patients secondary to high energy... Continue Reading

Achilles Tendon Rupture

Achilles tendon ruptures are a common injury in elite and recreational athletes, most often occurring in men aged 30-40. Risk factors are episodic athletes (“Weekend Warriors”), active use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics, and history of steroid injections into the achilles tendon. This injury occurs after forceful plantar flexion during a sporting event, or violent dorsiflexion against a plantarflexed foot. Ruptures typically... Continue Reading