Meet Dr. Sagers
Dr. Sagers is a Fellowship-Trained Total Hip and Knee Surgeon, with specialized focus in robotics and advanced approaches in surgery to ensure the optimal outcome for each patient.
Starting early in his education, Dr. Sagers wanted to do something that would make a difference in people’s lives. However, in medical school he quickly realized that much of medicine focuses on “managing” health issues, rather than “curing” them.
That realization is one of the main factors that drew him to orthopedics. He realized that patients, with the right guidance and care, could heal from injuries and ailments, and oftentimes get back to their prior level of function with minimal pain or limitation.
Through his training, hip and knee replacements became more and more appealing for this very reason: patients could come in for surgery hardly able to walk, and with a well-performed procedure and appropriate rehabilitation protocol, come out the other side being able to walk and move with no pain or limitation.
However, Dr. Sagers quickly realized that not every joint replacement turned out that way. He therefore made it his mission in his career to find and employ whatever proven techniques and technologies available to attempt to reproduce the best results as often as possible. This desire to always push surgical outcomes higher has led him to techniques like The JiffyKnee and the use of CORI Robotics in surgery.
Education
Dr. Sagers attended Brigham Young University in Provo, UT where he earned an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science while also playing on the Men’s Volleyball Team. There he also met his wife Mindy, who ran on the BYU Track and Field Team.
From there Dr. Sagers attended the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri for his medical degree. He appreciated the wholistic approach to medicine taught at this medical school, and felt that the hands on approach to treating patient better prepared him for a career in Orthopedic Surgery.
After graduating from medical school, Dr. Sagers continued his training in Orthopedic Surgery back in his home town in Las Vegas, at the Valley Hospital Orthopedic Surgery Program. It was great to be back close to family during this grueling training process, especially for his growing family. He also met some of his most influential mentors, which eventually encouraged and motivated him to pursue a fellowship in Hip and Knee Reconstruction.
Upon completing residency, Dr. Sagers was offered a fellowship at the prestigious Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem, NC. There he was taught the nuance of Hip and Knee surgery, whether in a straight-forward replacement or complex revision. He will be forever grateful for the opportunity to train under those that not only had decades of experience, but also innovated and changed the way surgeons in the United States perform these surgeries. Dr. Sagers even helped write the original technique article on a novel instrument used in Hip Revision surgery, which has since become widely used throughout the country by other surgeons and has significantly improved outcomes.
Practice Philosophy
Not every patient or condition requires surgery. It may seem strange for a surgeon to endorse that method of practice, but it is the reality of the situation when dealing with a variety of patients and conditions.
Determining what is right for each patient requires a thorough investigation of the pain and symptoms they are feeling, including events leading to the pain, underlying causes, and overarching conditions that may be contributing. This typically includes a detailed history from the patient, a physical exam, and imaging, typically starting with X-rays.
All of the findings from the above should be plainly discussed with the patient. One of the keys roles of physicians is that of educator. Each patient should clearly understand their diagnosis, including how the physician came to that diagnosis, and what treatment options are available. Only after discussion of all of the treatment options and their expected outcomes should a treatment plan be agreed upon, with the patient being the main decision-maker.
If surgery is necessary to improve quality of life, then we use the most up to date and evidence-based approaches, techniques, and technology to ensure we give the best chance at the best outcome for our patients. Most importantly, surgery should be done in a way that preserves and protects the other tissues around the joint. As Dr. Sagers has continually implemented innovative techniques, such as robotics and the JiffyKnee approach, patient outcomes have continually improved and surpassed even his own expectations.
