As an orthopaedics surgeon, Dr. Michael E. Pollack knows the value of donor tissue. He routinely uses donor tissue to help select patients with torn Anterior Cruciate Ligaments (ACLs), dislocated knee caps or severely separated shoulders.
Dr. Pollack’s patients can walk normally again, return to sports or live their lives without constant pain and disability because of the many surgeries he conducts with donor tissue. “These tissues or allografts enable us to reconstruct damaged ligaments using minimally invasive techniques that minimize pain for the patient,” he said.
“No man-made materials can replace the tissue we receive because of the generosity of donors,” said Dr. Pollack, a sports medicine specialist at the Hunterdon Orthopedic Institute in Flemington, NJ. Dr. Pollack also practices in Somerville.
To show his thanks, Dr. Pollack will support NJ Sharing Network’s 5K Walk & USATF-Certified Race on June 8 in New Providence. He will be a member of “Team Martial Arts for Life” created by one of his patients, Michelle Brugger, a business leader and owner of Martial Arts for Life in downtown New Providence. Brugger completely tore her ACL at age 24 and could not walk or maintain stability in her knee after suffering the injury. Since ACL reconstruction surgery performed by Dr. Pollack with donor tissue over 8 years ago, Brugger has resumed her very active lifestyle.
“The surgery allowed me to be myself again, to do what I love,” Brugger said. “I never really thought where the donor tissue came from or someone’s generosity to donate. I have a great sense of gratitude now. I have my life back because someone chose to give a gift that could help so many.”
