JAAOS Author Spotlight: Joseph X. Kou, MD

This is the inaugural posting of Author Spotlight, which is meant to salute the contributions of our authors by introducing readers to one of those authors whose article appears in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Dr. Joseph Kou doesn’t consider himself an “experienced” author. He says he wrote (with Paul D. Fortin, MD) “Commonly Missed Peritalar Injuries,” appearing in the December issue of JAAOS, to raise awareness of the existence of peritalar injuries and, by doing so, to help lower the rate of misdiagnosis of certain foot injuries.

In the article, he notes that injuries involving the talus are among the most often misdiagnosed, partly because of physician unfamiliarity. Radiographic findings with peritalar injuries, defined as fracture or ligamentous disruption resulting in instability of one or more peritalar joints, can be subtle. Because of the effect on hindfoot kinematics, missed or delayed diagnosis of peritalar injuries can result in permanent functional impairment. In many such cases, salvage arthrodesis may be necessary to limit pain and to restore function to the extremity.

Dr. Kou was encouraged to write the article by Dr. Fortin, whom he describes as his mentor. He began by submitting a proposal via the JAAOS online system, the procedure for which he describes as “simple and easy to initiate.” Following editorial consideration of his proposal, he was invited to submit a full manuscript. After sending in his draft, he says, the review process was “at times tedious,” but he adds that the steps involved “demonstrated JAAOS's dedication to providing quality publications reviewed by highly respected peers.” He acknowledges that writing an article is a time-consuming exercise but observes that “writing about something that you have a personal interest in makes the process seem much more manageable.” His advice to would-be authors: “Setting a self-imposed deadline for completing sections of your paper is important to stay on track, since it’s very easy to let something collect dust and never finish.”

The time and effort invested in writing the article was worthwhile, Dr. Kou says. “I think that being able to contribute to the orthopaedic community, and playing an active role in a community that I highly respect, is why I wanted to commit the time to writing an article. I think it is a good way to recognize the contribution that many others have made and to acknowledge my many mentors who have made me who I am today.”

Dr. Kou's practice comprises 24 partners, 22 of whom are orthopaedic surgeons, and he focuses primarily on foot and ankle disorders. He received his medical degree at Wayne State University of Medicine, in Detroit, Michigan, completed a residency at William Beaumont Hospital (Royal Oak, Michigan), and served a fellowship in foot and ankle reconstruction at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. “I went into medicine to become a surgeon,” he says. “I wanted a job where I could make an impact with the use of my hands. I've never been that interested in solving long, complex puzzles or mysteries. I like to see what the problem is, have the ability to address the problem directly, and observe the outcome of my intervention. I chose orthopaedic surgery because of the various surgical tools and the ‘toys’ we use. Also, I have a particular interest in deformity correction, since the results of the surgery are readily visible at the end of the procedure, which I find very satisfying.”

At home, Dr. Kou enjoys life with his wife, Loui, his son of 3 years, Xavier, and his infant daughter, Lexie, along with a dog named Toby. He describes himself as having an enduring interest in “high-tech gadgets” and has a passion for working on his Mitsubishi Evolution automobile, with which he spends time both tinkering and driving on the track. “I like to take the car to the race track to learn how to properly drive a car fast,” he says, “and then modify the car to make it even faster.”
—Terry Stanton