Knee

ACL reconstruction restores your damaged ACL so you can realize full function. Even in elite athletes who constantly demand the very most from their bodies, nearly 85% return to their sport successfully after ACL reconstruction. At Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates, the board-certified orthopedic surgeons offer ACL reconstruction using the most effective state-of-the-art techniques. There are two offices in Voorhees and Turnersville, New Jersey. If you're in the Greater South New Jersey area, call either office or request an appointment on our website to book a consultation now.

WHAT IS THE ACL?

Your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the four ligaments within your knee joint. This ligament crosses the front part of your knee cap, and helps to guide knee motion and stability.

The ACL is one of the frequent areas of injury in sports accidents, with ACL tears or ruptures (complete tears) affecting up to 200,000 Americans annually.

WHAT IS ACL RECONSTRUCTION?

ACL reconstruction is an arthroscopic knee surgery in which your doctor removes your ACL and then builds the framework for a new one using donor tissue. Usually, the donor tissue is tendon tissue from your own hamstring or patellar tendon.

Your surgeon creates small openings in your thigh and shin bones to place and secure the tendon tissue with metal fixation devices. The tendon then works as a scaffold where new ligament tissue can grow.

WHEN DO I NEED ACL RECONSTRUCTION?

You may need ACL reconstruction if your injury doesn't heal with conservative care, or if you have an ACL rupture. Milder ACL injuries, which include ligament overstretching and partial tears, may heal naturally over time with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, physical therapy, and other nonsurgical treatments.

With ACL ruptures, the ligament doesn't heal on its own, so if you want to return to full function, you may need an ACL reconstruction. In general, Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates may recommend reconstruction for an ACL rupture if:

• You're physically active
• You want to return to your sport
• You have significant impairment
• You have other knee damage

It's important to know that age doesn't exclude you from ACL surgery. Your activity level (and desire to stay active) are the factors that matter most. The only way to know for sure if reconstruction is the right path for you is an evaluation at Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER ACL RECONSTRUCTION?

Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates offers comprehensive orthopedic care, which includes rebuilding your strength and function after surgery.

For the fullest and fastest recovery, you need to follow the rehabilitation plan closely. This usually includes progressive physical therapy, activity modification, and wearing a knee brace.

With ACL reconstruction and rehabilitation, you can resume your normal activities without pain or restrictions. Book your appointment at Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates by calling the office nearest you.

The team at Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates is experienced in all types of minimally-invasive joint surgeries, including arthroscopic knee surgery, so patients in and around Voorhees, Turnersville, and throughout the Greater South New Jersey area can get the treatment they need with less pain and faster recovery. To learn more about arthroscopic knee surgery, call either location or request an appointment online today.

WHAT IS ARTHROSCOPIC KNEE SURGERY?

Arthroscopy is a special surgical technique that uses small incisions and a camera to look inside joints. Images from the camera are viewable on a computer monitor. Arthroscopy can be used to diagnose and evaluate problems with a joint and to perform procedures to repair or replace a joint.

WHY IS KNEE ARTHROSCOPY PERFORMED?

Arthroscopic knee surgery can be used for lots of conditions, but some of the most common include:

• Repair or removal of damaged cartilage
• Repair or a torn ligament
• Removal of bone or cartilage fragments
• Removal of inflamed tissue
• Knee replacement surgery

HOW IS ARTHROSCOPIC KNEE SURGERY PERFORMED?

The specific steps depend on the type of procedure you're having performed, but generally speaking, arthroscopic knee surgery begins with a few small incisions around your knee joint to enable the arthroscope and specially-designed surgical instruments to access the knee. A sterile solution will be injected into the joint to remove debris and help gently expand the area for better viewing by the camera. Your provider at Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates will be able to diagnose and assess your joint and perform necessary repairs through the small incisions.

The length of time it takes to complete a procedure varies, but many procedures can be performed in about an hour to 90 minutes. In most cases, you'll be able to return home the same day.

HOW DOES THE TEAM AT ADVOCARE SOUTH JERSEY ORTHOPEDIC ASSOCIATES KNOW IF YOU NEED KNEE SURGERY?

Arthroscopic knee surgery is usually performed when noninvasive approaches like the use of oral pain medications, joint injections, physical therapy, and losing weight don't provide relief from symptoms, and when symptoms interfere with activities of everyday living.

The arthroscopic approach isn't for everyone; some conditions are better treated with traditional open techniques. The team at Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates can determine if arthroscopic knee surgery would be right for you.

To learn more about arthroscopic knee surgery, call either office or request an appointment online today.

Meniscus tears are the second most common knee injury in adults. They also need prompt medical care to prevent further damage inside the knee joint. The board-certified team at Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates excels at diagnosing and treating meniscus tears, helping each person rehabilitate and regain optimal function. If you have knee pain or questions about a knee injury, call one of the offices in Voorhees or Turnersville, New Jersey, or request an appointment online today.

WHAT IS THE MENISCUS?

The meniscus is a pad of cartilage located between the thigh and shin bones in your knee joint. Each knee has two C-shaped menisci that cover the shin bone. Their job is to reduce friction between the bones, absorb shock, and help equalize the pressure in your knee.

WHAT CAUSES A MENISCUS TEAR?

Most meniscus tears occur when you twist your knee while pivoting or quickly changing directions while running. You’re also susceptible to meniscus tears as you get older and the cartilage starts to degenerate. As the meniscus weakens, you can easily suffer a tear without much force. Then you can damage the cartilage during a simple, everyday movement like twisting while getting up from a chair.

WHAT SYMPTOMS DEVELOP IF I HAVE A MENISCUS TEAR?

You may have immediate symptoms or develop swelling over the first few days after tearing the meniscus. The most common symptoms include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Joint stiffness
• Feeling like your knee is giving out
• Catching or locking in the joint
• Limited range of motion

It’s common to suffer other injuries, such as tearing one or more ligaments, at the same time you injure the meniscus.

HOW ARE MENISCUS TEARS TREATED?

Your treatment depends on where the tear is located and the extent of the damage to the meniscus. You will need an MRI or minimally invasive arthroscopic procedure to determine the location of the tear.

During arthroscopy, your provider makes a small incision and inserts a slim scope into your knee joint. A camera in the scope sends images to a monitor, allowing your provider to examine the meniscus.

Red zone treatment

The outer third of the meniscus has a healthy blood supply and is referred to as the red zone. If you have a small tear in the red zone, resting your knee and modifying your activities allow the cartilage to heal. Your provider can also perform arthroscopic surgery to repair a severe tear in the red zone.

White zone treatment

The inner two-thirds of the cartilage is called the white zone because it doesn’t have blood vessels. When your tear is in the white zone, the meniscus won’t heal.

Your provider may recommend anti-inflammatory medications, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, or arthroscopic surgery to trim away the damaged meniscus.

To get skilled care for a meniscus tear, call Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates or request an appointment online today.

Osteoarthritis is the top reason men and women end up needing a total knee replacement. When you have a minimally invasive procedure, you sustain less trauma and have a faster recovery. The board-certified orthopedic surgeons at Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates have extensive experience performing minimally invasive total knee replacements. Beyond their surgical skills, they offer comprehensive care before, during, and after surgery. To learn if you’re a good candidate for this procedure, call one of the offices in Voorhees or Turnersville, New Jersey, or request an appointment online today.

WHAT IS A MINIMALLY INVASIVE TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT?

A total knee replacement, called knee arthroplasty, is a procedure to replace the damaged surfaces in your knee joint with prosthetic implants.

A minimally invasive procedure is defined by the size of the incision compared to open surgery. During open surgery, surgeons make one long incision, then they pull the incision open to expose the knee joint.

When you have a minimally invasive procedure, your provider at Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates makes a shorter incision and uses specialized instruments to perform the knee replacement.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MINIMALLY INVASIVE TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT?

A minimally invasive knee replacement causes less damage to your skin, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. In most cases, your provider doesn’t need to cut the quadriceps muscle or tendon.

As a result, minimally invasive surgery offers advantages that include:

• Less bleeding during surgery
• Lower risk of complications
• Less pain after surgery
• Faster recovery and return to activities
• Smaller scar

Most people have outpatient surgery, so they go home the same day.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING MINIMALLY INVASIVE TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT?

Your provider at Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates removes all the damaged tissues from your femur (thighbone) and tibia (shinbone) and reshapes the bones to fit their metal prosthetic implants.

The femoral implant wraps around the front and back of the bone and recreates the bone’s natural shape at the end. The tibial implant consists of a flat tray with a stem. The flat part covers the surface of the tibia, while your provider inserts the stem into the center of your shinbone.

Once the tibia implant is in place, your provider places a plastic liner on top of the metal. This component replaces your original cartilage and promotes smooth movement in the joint.

In some cases, your provider may need to resurface the underside of the kneecap. Then they cover it with a plastic liner.

WHAT TYPE OF TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT CAN I EXPECT?

The team at Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates uses the Vanguard® Complete Knee System. The Vanguard offers a customized fit with significantly more size options than other prosthetic systems. Additionally, the Vanguard is designed to allow for increased motion and better flexion.

To learn more about minimally invasive total knee replacement surgery, call Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates or request an appointment online.

Between daily repetitive movements, the stress of athletic activities, and supporting your body weight, your knee is vulnerable to painful injuries and degenerative diseases. When you develop knee pain, early treatment from the experienced team at Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates can help you overcome the pain, rehabilitate, and get back to action as quickly as possible. Don’t wait to get help for knee pain. Call one of the offices in Voorhees or Turnersville, New Jersey, or request an appointment online today.

WHAT CAUSES KNEE PAIN?

Knee pain often begins when you take a hit to the knee or damage tissues in the joint during athletic activities. Any activity that involves pivoting, sidestepping, or sudden stops and direction changes can tear the ligaments and cartilage in the knee joint.

Overuse injuries also cause knee pain. This type of problem develops gradually as you repeatedly make the same movements, causing soft tissue tears and inflammation.

The experts at Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates often treat knee pain caused by conditions that include:

• Osteoarthritis
• Tendonitis
• Bursitis
• Fracture of dislocation
• Torn meniscus
• Runner’s knee
• Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries
• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries

Another common problem called Osgood-Schlatter disease causes knee pain in adolescents when they go through growth spurts.

WHAT SYMPTOMS OCCUR ALONG WITH KNEE PAIN?

When you have a problem that causes knee pain, chances are you will also experience other symptoms, including:

• Swelling
• Bruising
• Stiffness and limited movement
• Clicking or popping
• Locked knee joint
• Inability to straighten your knee
• Inability to put weight on your knee

When you suffer a ligament injury, you may also have joint instability.

HOW IS KNEE PAIN TREATED?

Your provider at Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates reviews your medical history and symptoms, performs a complete physical exam, and takes digital X-rays to get a good view of the damage to your knee.

Your treatment normally begins with one or more nonsurgical therapies. But, some injuries require surgery as the first line of treatment. For example, a ruptured ligament needs surgical reconstruction and a complex fracture calls for surgery to realign the bones.

In most cases, your treatment plan includes one or more of the following:

• Temporary immobilization
• Bracing and splinting
• Activity modification
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Hyaluronic acid injections
• Steroid injections
• PRP injections
• Physical therapy

When you have chronic knee pain due to arthritis, you may need to consider knee replacement surgery. If your pain doesn’t go away or gets worse, or you need surgery, your provider recommends arthroscopy.

Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that’s done using small incisions and slim instruments. Your provider uses a specially designed camera to examine the tissues inside the joint and perform surgery if needed.

If you need help with knee pain, call Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates or request an appointment online today.

If you face knee surgery, whether for an injury, infection, or arthritis, you want to be sure your surgeon is skilled in minimally invasive techniques. The board-certified orthopedic surgeons at Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates have the experience you can depend on for your knee surgery. They care for you from your initial diagnosis through your minimally invasive knee surgery and rehabilitation, precisely customizing your treatment to achieve optimal results. If you have questions about knee surgery, call one of the offices in Voorhees or Turnersville, New Jersey, or request an appointment online.

WHEN WOULD I NEED KNEE SURGERY?

Knee surgery is the last resort for most knee problems. You may need knee surgery when your pain doesn’t get better with treatments like activity modification, injections, and physical therapy.

Some knee injuries are more likely to need surgery at the start of your treatment. A few examples include:

• Ligament tears
• Meniscus tears
• Fractures
• Patella or quad tendon ruptures
• Osteochondritis dissecans
• Kneecap dislocation

Candidates often need surgery if they have an infection or extensively damaged tissues.

WHAT TYPE OF KNEE SURGERY MIGHT I NEED?

The team at Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates performs arthroscopy, which is a minimally invasive procedure. They can use arthroscopy to conduct virtually any type of knee repair you may need, including:

• Ligament reconstruction
• Tendon repair
• Meniscus repair or removal
• Cartilage transplant
• Bone removal
• Loose body removal
• Partial or total knee replacement
• Debridement (to clean away inflamed or infected tissues)

During arthroscopy, your provider uses a camera to examine your knee joint, verify your diagnosis, and determine if you need surgery.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MINIMALLY INVASIVE KNEE SURGERY?

During a minimally invasive procedure, your provider makes one to a few small incisions. In most cases, they don’t need to cut through muscles because the surgical instruments are so narrow.

Small incisions mean you have less bleeding, a lower risk of complications, and you experience less post-op pain and a faster recovery. With minimally invasive knee surgery, there’s a good chance you can have an outpatient procedure and go home the same day.

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT DURING MY RECOVERY FROM KNEE SURGERY?

You should be walking and able to go home within a few hours after your knee surgery. Before you go, your provider at Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates gives you detailed instructions about how to care for your knee and prescribes medications to relieve the pain.

Most people need crutches, a cane, or walker for a time after their knee surgery. However, it’s important to start exercising your knee, so your provider teaches you exercises you can do right away. These exercises reduce inflammation and ease the pain while restoring movement and strength.

Depending on the type of knee surgery you have, you may also need physical therapy to rebuild your strength. If your goal is to get back into sports, your rehabilitation includes sports-specific exercises and training.

If you need knee surgery, call Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates or request an appointment online today.