
Anna’s Comeback: Double Knee Surgery Brought Her Back to the Game She Loves
Ever since Anna was little, her kneecaps would dislocate due to their anatomical structure. For the past 15 years, Anna has played competitive softball and had become accustomed to her kneecaps regularly dislocating throughout the season. Even walking would lead to her knees popping out of place. Wearing knee braces on both knees and using sports tape helped to an extent. She also pursued many years of physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around her knees. For a young athlete, it was frustrating to have to be so careful when participating in activities. Eventually, Anna’s knees progressively worsened and surgery was the only option left for her.
At the recommendation of family friend, Dr. Mark Musgrave, an orthopaedic surgeon at nationally- renowned Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center, Anna and her parents scheduled an appointment with Musgrave’s Crystal Clinic colleague, Dr. Paul Fleissner, a pediatric orthopaedic specialist.
“The first time I went to Crystal Clinic regarding my knees, Dr. Fleissner knew exactly what was wrong just by looking at them. In addition, the procedure for my knees was fairly new and he was very reassuring and confident,” Anna shares. “I definitely felt like I was getting the care I needed because he was very thorough in diagnosing the problems that came up.”
In the summer of 2017, Anna, who played softball at Medina High School, underwent surgeries on both knees to correct the dislocation issue. She had her left knee done first and followed with the same procedure on her right knee less than two months later.

Intense physical therapy, also at Crystal Clinic, started after each surgery. Anna felt confident about the progress she was making with the therapists there.
“The physical therapy I received brought me back to playing softball for my upcoming sophomore high school season,” she says. “The team of doctors and physical therapists work hand-in-hand to provide a high level of care for rehabilitation. Having a diverse array of orthopaedic specialists provides comfort and reassurance to the patient that they truly have an ‘expert’ handling their injury.”
Fast forward to 2020. Anna is grateful for the exceptional care that Dr. Fleissner and his team provided. She feels stronger than ever, especially when it comes to playing her beloved sport of softball.
“I definitely recommend Crystal Clinic to others. The care I received has positively impacted my life by correcting my issues,” she says. “I have become a stronger, more competitive athlete, and that has led me to earn a Division 1 athletic scholarship to the University of Akron for softball, starting this upcoming fall.”