Dr. Gabriela Yurkanin, DPM, is a board-certified foot and ankle reconstructive surgeon and the founder of Yurkanin Foot and Ankle Reconstructive Center in Plains, PA, and Restorative Limb Center in Clarks Summit, PA, which focuses on nerve-related conditions like drop foot and peripheral neuropathy. With a largely surgical practice and an older patient population, Dr. Yurkanin is always looking for ways to help patients recover faster and get back to their jobs, sports, and daily routines.
That search led her to MLS laser therapy. After trying the technology in her own office on post-op tarsal tunnel patients, she brought it into both practices and built it into post-op recovery, orthobiologic procedures, and treatment protocols. In this Q&A, Dr. Yurkanin shares how the laser fits into both practices, the outcomes that have stood out, and what other podiatrists should know before adding it.
Dr Gabriela Yurkanin, DPM
Yurkanin Foot and Ankle Reconstructive Center
Plains, PA
What have you used MLS® Laser Therapy for across your two practices?
At Yurkanin Foot and Ankle Reconstructive Center, I’ve used it to implement many protocols, specifically for plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and a lot of the sports injuries I see in my practice. At Restorative Limb Center, I’ve used it for orthobiologics and bone marrow aspiration cases. It’s been wonderful in both places.
What was the tipping point in choosing Cutting Edge Laser?
The tipping point was definitely the technology. I remember meeting Mike, one of the reps, and he let me use the technology in my practice for up to two weeks. I used it in my post-op recovery for tarsal tunnel syndrome, and I was really amazed at the swelling and how much it had reduced in just a few treatments, like two to three treatments.
The second thing that made the decision easy was how efficient it is. As long as your office is trained, it’s fast, and the training itself is quick. Treatments only take about 10 to 12 minutes. I have a dedicated space in my office where the medical assistant performs the treatments, and then I come in and evaluate the patient briefly.
What impact have you seen for drop foot and peripheral neuropathy patients?
In my patient population, MLS has been very instrumental in developing protocols for neuropathy and drop foot. But MLS on its own isn’t the standalone treatment option for many of those patients. In my practice, I use it alongside hydrodissection techniques and orthobiologics such as PRP, and in my post-op recovery treatment plans. Used that way, patients get decreased pain and increased sensation more immediately than with the MLS laser alone.
For my postoperative patients, I’ve seen a significant reduction [in pain and swelling] in just three visits with the MLS laser. It’s helped with recovery and range of motion, getting them back on their feet and increasing sensation much quicker.
Has the laser helped patients avoid surgery or more invasive treatment?
In some cases, no. When patients have severe ankle deformity or disruption of ligaments and tendons, the MLS laser is not a standalone treatment. But in many conditions, like plantar fasciitis, sprains, chronic ankle instability, and Achilles tendonitis, using MLS along with the orthobiologics I’m incorporating has allowed me to reduce the number of surgeries I’m doing for a lot of my patients. They’re much happier, and they’re able to return to their activities and sports much sooner.
Can you walk us through a case where the laser made a real difference?
About a year and a half ago, I had a patient who’d had Charcot arthropathy for about two years. I had braced him, he had failed conservative treatment options, and I performed a gastroc recession. He ended up with a rupture of that tendon postoperatively. Two years later, I discussed performing a tendon transfer with him. When I got in to do the surgery, I noticed he was chronically denervated, with a lot of atrophy in the muscle I was transferring to support his foot and ankle.
Following the surgery, he developed a very large dehiscence over the tarsal tunnel, which I had also released, and over the Achilles tendon area. I immediately added the MLS laser, and postoperatively he did amazingly. He had increased range of motion with inversion and dorsiflexion, increased sensation on the plantar aspect of his foot, and the wound healed completely with four laser treatments.
How does the MLS laser compare to what you were using before?
Before this, I didn’t have any technology like it. My practice is more surgical, so a lot of my patients are going in for surgical intervention, and I have a much older population. Since adding MLS, I’ve seen much happier patients. They’re able to return to their jobs and their activities of daily living, patient satisfaction rates are much higher, and it’s easy to use.
When I’ve combined it with orthobiologics, instead of seeing the 50% or 60% reduction in pain I would typically see at week six or week eight, I’m seeing that within three to five days after applying MLS. That has made such a huge difference. Patients come in after a PRP or bone marrow aspiration procedure, and by day five they’re already telling me they’re 50% better with their pain.
Has the MLS laser changed patient volume, visit frequency, or revenue?
Yes. Since bringing in the MLS laser, I’ve seen a dramatic increase in patient visit frequency. Patients love coming to the office, especially when we’re evaluating them after surgery. I’ve been able to implement these protocols after surgery easily, and they help increase healing. So it’s increased patient frequency, and it’s also increased patient revenue. When I discuss postoperative protocols that include the MLS laser, patients are very happy to have it included as part of their recovery.
What would you tell another podiatrist considering the MLS laser?
I would tell another podiatrist, surgeon, or any doctor considering this as an adjunct to their current treatment protocols that it is well worth it. You do have to train some of the staff, and you need a dedicated space for it instead of moving it from room to room. But it was definitely well worth my time, effort, and money.
It has helped my practice by bringing in another type of revenue at a time when we’re all struggling with insurance. I’ve had no issues training my assistants to use it, and the treatments are short, anywhere from 10 to 12 minutes. It’s been very easy to use and has brought in a lot of revenue to my practice.
How would you sum up what MLS has done for your practice?
What MLS has done for my practice is allow me to bring in advanced technology and orthobiologics and help my patients, which is most important to me: getting them back on their feet and recovering much faster with any of the treatment protocols I’ve implemented.
