Avoids Surgery With the Expertise of Dr. Christopher Doumas of University Orthopaedic Associates (UOA)

Sometimes the right diagnosis is the least diagnosis. That’s what Ariana Mangano and her mother Joy discovered.

Ariana’s encounter with a sports injury was a tough one. When you are a nationally ranked young athlete, your body is your instrument. That’s why it was so distressing for this champion fencer to face the prospect of shoulder surgery after an injury during Nationals last summer. Upon her return home, she met with not one but two very well respected orthopaedic surgeons and they both recommended surgery.

A fencer since age eight, this Colts Neck resident faced a potentially crucial obstacle in her journey. Joy explains, “She loves fencing so much that when she was told she would have to undergo surgery and be out for a year, she was devastated. Although she is right-handed, to avoid the injury she was even determined to fence lefty.”

An avid supporter of her daughter’s sport and a wise medical consumer, Joy thought it best to opt for a third opinion. Based on a friend’s recommendation, she took Ariana to University Orthopaedic Associates (UOA), where they met Dr. Christopher Doumas. “He could see we were struggling,” relates Joy.

Dr. Doumas diagnosed Ariana with severe biceps tendinitis of the shoulder – a completely different injury than the other doctors had identified. His treatment method? Rest.

“It sounded almost too easy,” relates Joy, noting how close they came to surgery, which could have ruined her daughter’s fencing career.

To further cement Joy’s decision, Dr. Doumas brought Dr. Kenneth Swan into Ariana’s appointment. Dr. Swan agreed with the diagnosis of his colleague.

“The thing I really found amazing is that Dr. Doumas felt so strongly about the diagnosis. He was so concerned he wanted to reassure me with another opinion of someone in his practice. To me, taking that extra effort is astounding,” says Joy.

Concludes Dr. Doumas, “Ariana is fine and had resolved pain with a proper diagnosis. This case highlights the importance of surgeons reviewing their own MRI images and not just going based off of what a radiology report says. Additionally, a thorough clinical exam is vital in establishing the proper diagnosis as imaging clearly cannot be relied on all of the time.”

For additional reassurance, Joy consulted an Olympic fencing team doctor. “He absolutely agreed with Dr. Doumas,” she reports.

Prior to UOA, Joy’s hope was that her daughter could get through a November, 2015 meet without pain. But her counsel with Dr. Doumas was more than rewarded. On November 15, 2015, Ariana won the Y14 Women’s Epee at the Kansas City North America Cup (NAC), beating out fencers from the USA and Canada. In December, she competed in the Division I Women’s Epee at the Baltimore North America Cup and fought her way to the top 22, gaining Division 1 National points and qualifying to compete in the April Division 1 Championships. And, finally, in January 2016, at the St. Louis North America Cup, Ariana reached the podium with a top eight finish in the Junior Women’s Epee division. “These are all such amazing results especially considering her injury this past summer,” says Joy.

“I am forever indebted to Dr. Doumas. I think he is an amazing doctor. He saved Ariana’s opportunity to compete. He will now be on board our team as she grows in the sport.”