Our specialists use a variety of techniques to address chondral (cartilage) lesions in the knee. When a full-thickness cartilage lesion is found without damage to the underlying bone, a particulated juvenile chondral allograft may be implanted. This tissue is harvested from the healthy joint of a young donor and can be implanted into the full-thickness chondral defect, then secured with fibrin glue. This technique has been shown to be effective, even for very large cartilage defects. Unlike other techniques, such as autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), which require two surgeries, this technique can be performed in a single stage.

Shoulder instability is a common issue we encounter in young athletes, particularly those involved in contact sports. When the shoulder dislocates, the most commonly injured structure is the labrum, resulting in what is known as a Bankart tear. The first line of treatment for shoulder instability is typically conservative management, including physical therapy. However, arthroscopic surgery is occasionally required, particularly in young athletes with recurrent instability. Through the years, numerous techniques have been developed to repair Bankart tears. Recently, our specialists began employing an innovative knotless technique that avoids the need for intra-articular suture knots, which have the potential to cause damage to shoulder joints. 

Lateral-sided hip pain is another common problem we encounter. One recent study demonstrated that lateral-sided hip pain may be as debilitating as end-stage degenerative joint disease. Greater trochanteric pain syndrome and trochanteric bursitis can be treated with nonsurgical management, which is successful in most patients. However, there is a subset of patients whose pain is not improved with rest, physical therapy, ultrasound and/or injections. Our sports medicine specialists have had tremendous success treating these patients with endoscopic ITB lengthening and trochanteric bursectomy. Through the use of two small, one-centimeter portal incisions, we have been able to return patients to the activities they love.