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Hand surgery returns quality of life for hobby artist

After retirement, Van Gignilliat found comfort and purpose in a new hobby – coloring. He could have never imagined he would be in a situation where he may not color again.

Mr. Gignilliat experienced a low blood pressure event that resulted in a hard fall on his right arm. The day following the injury, he realized he had lost all ability to do his artwork.

“The injury significantly impacted my quality of life,” he says. “The pain and numbness in my hand was becoming worse by the day, getting so bad that I was afraid to shave for fear of hurting myself.”

He could no longer write, use chopsticks, color, or perform other activities because of the pain and weakness in his hand. Van knew it was time to see a specialist to regain his quality of life.

“I was impressed by everyone greeting me at The Orthopaedic Group, P.C.,” he says. “I knew immediately when Dr. Barbour took me by the hand that he knew what pain I was in and what he needed to do to return me to my quality of life.”

Dr. Barbour performed hand surgery at The Surgery Center and Van says he has gotten better each and every day. He says he has largely gone back to his way of life, especially with his artwork, and he credits it to the compassionate care he received at The Orthopaedic Group, P.C.

“Going to The Orthopaedic Group was like a breath of fresh air to me,” he says. “Dr. Barbour gives off a sense of gentleness, concern, compassion, and gave me the overwhelming sense that I was in the right place at the right time with the right surgeon.”

He continues to recommend Dr. Barbour and the Hand & Elbow Center of Excellence to his friends and family, telling them, “he was my right hand man!”

For more than 40 years, patients throughout the Gulf Coast have chosen our orthopaedic doctors at The Orthopaedic Group, P.C., for specialized care in the spine, shoulder, elbow, hand and wrist, hip, and knee, and foot and ankle.

Our fellowship-trained doctors have extensive education and experience in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating all orthopaedic injuries and conditions.

Experienced, Expert care for over 40 years.