Expert Orthopedic Surgeon in Houston, TX
Dr. Cristin Mathew, DO
Sports Medicine & Joint Preservation
Meniscus surgery focuses on treating tears or damage to the meniscus, a C-shaped cartilage in the knee that acts as a cushion between the thigh bone and shin bone. The procedure can involve either repairing the damaged meniscus or, in more severe cases, transplanting healthy donor tissue when the damage is beyond repair.
Who Needs It? Meniscus surgery is recommended for patients who:
- Have experienced a meniscus tear due to injury or trauma, often from sports like football, basketball, or soccer.
- Suffer from knee pain, swelling, or instability that affects their ability to walk, bend, or carry out daily activities.
- Have persistent meniscus damage that has not responded to conservative treatments like rest, physical therapy, or injections.
- Are younger or active and wish to preserve their knee function long-term.
In the case of transplants, typically individuals whose meniscus has been removed or irreparably damaged, leading to ongoing pain or joint deterioration.
Why Is It Important? The meniscus is essential for knee stability, shock absorption, and smooth joint movement. When it’s torn or damaged, patients often experience pain, swelling, and limited mobility. Meniscus repair helps restore the natural structure of the knee, promoting healing and long-term joint health. For more severe cases, a meniscus transplant can provide relief by replacing the damaged tissue with healthy cartilage, reducing pain, restoring function, and preventing further joint degeneration.
Repairing or transplanting the meniscus is key to preventing future complications, like early-onset arthritis, and allows patients to return to their normal activities or sports with confidence.
Meniscal Procedures
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Muscle and tendon repairs or reconstructions are procedures aimed at fixing damaged or torn muscles and tendons that may occur from injury, overuse, or degenerative conditions. These procedures are crucial for restoring strength, flexibility, and movement in the affected areas.
Who Needs Muscle/Tendon Repairs & Reconstructions and Why?
Athletes and Active Individuals: Those with sports-related injuries, such as torn tendons (like the Achilles or rotator cuff), often require these repairs to regain full function and get back to their activities.
People with Acute Injuries: Sudden injuries, like falls or accidents, can result in severe muscle or tendon tears. Repair or reconstruction ensures proper healing and restores normal movement.
Individuals with Degenerative Conditions: Over time, tendons and muscles can weaken due to conditions like tendinitis or overuse. Surgical intervention can help strengthen and restore proper function.
Seniors with Mobility Issues: Age-related wear and tear on muscles and tendons can make everyday movements painful. Repairs or reconstructions can improve mobility and reduce discomfort, making it easier to stay active.
These procedures aim to reduce pain, improve function, and restore the strength and mobility of the muscles or tendons, allowing patients to return to their normal activities or sports.
Muscle/Tendon Repairs & Reconstruction
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Subchondroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that targets and repairs bone defects, known as bone marrow lesions, which can cause joint pain. This treatment involves injecting a special bone substitute material into areas of damaged bone, promoting natural healing and strengthening the bone beneath the joint. It's often used as a way to delay or prevent the need for more invasive surgeries, like joint replacements.
Who Needs Subchondroplasty and Why?
Patients with Early-Stage Osteoarthritis: It’s ideal for people with joint pain due to early arthritis, particularly in the knee, as it helps preserve the joint by addressing underlying bone issues.
Individuals with Bone Marrow Lesions: These are small defects in the bone that can cause pain and inflammation. Subchondroplasty helps repair these areas, reducing discomfort and improving mobility.
Active Adults and Athletes: Those experiencing pain or weakness in their joints due to bone damage can benefit from this procedure, which helps strengthen the joint without the need for full joint replacement.
Seniors with Chronic Joint Pain: For older adults dealing with joint pain caused by underlying bone damage, Subchondroplasty offers a minimally invasive option to reduce pain and enhance movement, potentially delaying the need for more extensive surgeries.
This procedure is a great option for people seeking to relieve joint pain by addressing bone issues directly, helping them maintain an active lifestyle.
Subchondroplasty
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Core decompression is a surgical procedure used to treat avascular necrosis (AVN), a condition where blood flow to a bone is reduced, leading to bone death and joint pain. In this procedure, small channels are drilled into the affected bone to relieve pressure, improve blood flow, and encourage new bone growth, which helps to prevent further bone collapse.
Who Needs Core Decompression and Why?
Patients with Early-Stage Avascular Necrosis (AVN): People diagnosed with AVN, particularly in the hip, knee, or shoulder, benefit from core decompression as it helps restore blood flow to the bone and prevent further damage.
Active Adults with Joint Pain: For those experiencing early signs of bone damage and joint pain but not yet severe enough for joint replacement, core decompression can reduce pain and slow disease progression.
Individuals Looking to Avoid Joint Replacement: This procedure is a less invasive option that helps delay or prevent the need for full joint replacement surgery by addressing the issue early.
Seniors with Bone Damage: Older adults with limited blood flow to the bones may opt for core decompression to relieve pain and restore joint function, allowing them to maintain mobility and comfort.
Core decompression is a valuable option for those with early bone damage looking to relieve pain and preserve joint health, avoiding more invasive surgeries down the line.
Core Decompression
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Realignment procedures are surgical or non-surgical treatments designed to correct the position of bones or joints that are misaligned due to injury, arthritis, or wear and tear over time. By restoring proper alignment, these procedures help reduce pain, improve movement, and prevent further joint damage.
Who Needs Realignment Procedures and Why?
People with Arthritis: Misalignment caused by arthritis can lead to uneven wear in joints, increasing pain. Realignment can relieve pressure and improve joint function.
Individuals with Joint or Bone Injuries: After fractures or dislocations, bones may heal in the wrong position. Realignment ensures proper healing and prevents long-term complications.
Active Adults with Knee, Hip, or Ankle Pain: Over time, joints may become misaligned due to overuse, poor posture, or injuries. Realignment helps restore comfort and function.
Seniors with Mobility Issues: As we age, misalignment can limit mobility. Realignment procedures can improve walking, standing, and overall movement without as much discomfort.
These procedures help restore balance and function, making it easier to move, exercise, and reduce long-term joint damage.
Joint Realignment Procedures
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Ligament Surgery – Reconstruction, Repair, BEAR (Bridge-Enhanced ACL Repair)
Ligament surgery focuses on repairing or reconstructing torn or damaged ligaments, which are tough, fibrous tissues that connect bones and provide stability to joints. This type of surgery can involve standard repair techniques, full ligament reconstruction, or an innovative approach like BEAR, which specifically helps repair the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) through biological enhancements.
Who Needs It? Ligament surgery is often recommended for:
- Individuals with ligament tears, especially ACL, MCL, or PCL injuries, common in athletes who participate in high-impact sports like soccer, basketball, skiing, or football.
- Patients experiencing knee instability, buckling, or pain after a ligament injury.
- Those who have not responded well to non-surgical treatments like bracing or physical therapy.
- Individuals looking to return to a highly active lifestyle or sports after a ligament injury.
- Patients with chronic ligament damage that affects their ability to walk or engage in daily activities.
Why Is It Important? Ligaments play a critical role in stabilizing joints, particularly in the knee. When a ligament is torn, the joint can become unstable, leading to pain, difficulty with movement, and a higher risk of further injury. Standard ligament repair or reconstruction restores the ligament’s function by either reattaching the torn tissue or replacing it with a graft, typically taken from the patient or a donor.
BEAR (Bridge-Enhanced ACL Repair) is an innovative procedure used for ACL injuries, offering a more natural healing approach. Unlike traditional ACL reconstruction, which uses grafts, BEAR uses a bio-engineered sponge that helps the torn ACL heal itself by bridging the gap between the torn ends of the ligament. This method is typically recommended for younger, active individuals who want to preserve more of their native tissue while still achieving full knee stability.
In all cases, ligament surgery is crucial for restoring joint stability, reducing pain, and preventing long-term complications such as arthritis or further joint damage. It allows patients to regain mobility and return to their regular activities, whether that involves sports or everyday movements.
Ligament Reconstruction, Repair, BEAR
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