Competitive Ice Hockey Player Kicks Foot Injury

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Last year, Holly Barocio, 34 of Chicago, skated with gusto onto the ice, ready to defend her co-ed hockey team’s championship title. She never thought that rather than skating away with a trophy in hand, she would be carried off the ice by an ambulance.

Holly remembers the moment she was injured vividly. “Every part of me went left except for my foot. My blade got caught in a groove in the ice and I immediately felt acute pain. After that, I think I was in a state of shock trying to understand what happened.”

To make matters worse, her team lost by a two point margin. She says it didn’t help that her teammate and husband, Jason, also left the game when he accompanied her to the hospital. “My husband and I have this brain synergy. We always know where the other is on the ice without even looking.”

At the emergency room, Holly was told she had a clean break and likely wouldn’t need surgery. However, she was not confident in this assessment and sought a second opinion.

“Without a doubt Rush kept coming up, specifically Dr. Kamran Hamid’s name,” she explains. “I liked him right out of the gate; he had great bedside manner and a level of attention and care that I found unique.”

“I liked him right out of the gate; he had great bedside manner and a level of attention and care that I found unique.”

Dr. Hamid took thoughtful measures to consider how Holly’s treatment would affect her commitment to return to hockey. He performed a “Stability Test” to definitively determine whether she needed surgery or not. The results confirmed that her ankle was unstable and would benefit from a surgery.

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Dr. Hamid used a special low-profile metal plate that he felt would best accommodate Holly’s ability to skate. This plate lies closer to the bone to have less irritation with a skate while still providing excellent stability.

Holly’s recovery revolved around her passion for hockey. “I was direct with Dr. Hamid and told him, this is not a deterrent for me. I will return to hockey.” In fact, she was determined to help her team qualify for playoffs. “I am going to play hockey again no matter what. That is how much I enjoy the sport,” she remembers telling Dr. Hamid. “I have a hard time seeing myself as a non-hockey player.”

Now, equipped with her newly repaired ankle, Holly has officially returned to her second home on the ice and reports, “I have been smiling non-stop! No pain, no discomfort.”