Knee
Meniscus surgery
The meniscus is an important shock-absorbing cartilage cushion in the knee.
A healthy meniscus gives us the “bounce” in our step. Meniscus
injury can occur from a variety of activities--from athletic trauma and
falls to just “wearing out” with age. When our surgeons suspect
a torn meniscus is the source of the patient’s pain, we will usually
determine the size and shape of the meniscus tear with an MRI (magnetic
resonance imaging). If the patient needs surgery to correct the torn meniscus,
then arthroscopic minimally invasive knee surgery (“knee scope”)
will usually be offered. Partial meniscus removal (“partial meniscectomy”)
or meniscus repair will be performed based on the specific clinical situation.
Often, patients will be allowed to bear full weight and walk right after
surgery, and will return to light exercise within a month from surgery.
Ligament reconstruction
The ligaments are the “ropes” that hold our knee bones together.
They are critical for keeping our knee stable and pain-free in many activities,
from walking down the stairs to jumping for a rebound. The most commonly
injured ligaments include the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and MCL
(medial collateral ligament). While most ligament sprains can recover
without surgery, those patients with a full ligament tear often will need
a ligament reconstruction or repair procedure to return to their normal
activities, including work and sports. Our fellowship-trained orthopedic
surgeons specialize in the latest ligament reconstruction techniques,
including “all-inside” ACL surgery and ACL repair. We partner
with expert physical therapists in our community to ensure that patients
receive the ideal rehabilitation program for a speedy return to their
sport and activities.
Cartilage Restoration
Knee cartilage (“articular cartilage”) is the smooth white
coating covering the ends of the bones in all of our joints. Having a
thick, smooth cartilage surface in our knee joints is critical for walking
and standing. Cartilage injuries most often occur from athletic activities
and everyday trauma, such as tripping and falling, and are more common
as we get older. Traditionally, patients with cartilage injuries have
had very few options for restoring their cartilage back to normal. Our
surgeons are equipped with the most well-studied cartilage repair procedures,
including microfracture (biologic drilling), cartilage grafting (biologic
cartilage repair), the OATS procedure (osteochondral allograft transplantation
surgery), and osteotomy procedures to re-align the bone and joints. We
know that deciding which surgery to have can be a difficult one, so our
surgeons look forward to the opportunity to spend extra time with our
cartilage patients to help them navigate this often complex process.
Partial Knee Replacement
Often called unicondylar knee replacement, a partial knee replacement is
performed for patients who have “bone on bone” arthritis in
only one area of their knee. Patient who have a partial knee replacement
may have a faster and less painful recovery after surgery when compared
to those who have a full knee replacement. The most common areas for partial
knee replacement are the medial compartment (inside of the knee) and the
patellofemoral compartment (under the kneecap). Our surgeons will help
you decide whether a partial knee replacement or a full (total) knee replacement
will be best for you. Partial knee replacement may be a great solution
for some patients who have been told they are too young to have a total
knee replacement.
Total Knee Replacement
One of the most successful and common orthopedic surgeries in the world
is the full (total) knee replacement. This surgery is a game-changer for
patients with severe knee arthritis who are living with pain and limitations.
Our orthopedic surgeons perform a high volume of small incision, less
invasive knee replacements using the most advanced implant surfaces, including
newer ceramic and zirconium alloy implants. We take pride in using only
knee replacement systems that have been on the market for many years (“battle-tested”)
without product recalls or FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) warnings.
We partner with our hospital teams, including our surgical nurses, postoperative
nurses, and physical therapists, to provide the patient with a comprehensive
joint replacement program to make their recovery faster, easier, and safer.
Learn more about our
nationally recognized total joint replacement program.