Sports Medicine Specialists

Posted on June 2, 2017 by Mark

Sports activities can sometimes cause injuries or lead to joint or tissue damage over an extended period of time. Conditions caused due to sports activities should be treated by a specialist who is fully trained to address these problems in a safe and effective manner.

Some of the common sports related injuries include ACL, Shoulder Labrum, Rotator cuff, Clavicle, Total Knee Replacement, Meniscus Tears, Knee Arthritis, Baker’s Cyst, Cartilage Damage, Exertional Compartment Syndrome, Patella Dislocation, Knee Injury Prevention, Frozen Shoulder, AC Joint Seperation.

The Knee and Shoulder Institute

The Knee and Shoulder Institute, led by Dr. Steven Thomas and Dr. Gregory Bigler, who are board certified orthopedic surgeons with expertise in sports medicine, provides treatments for various sports related and other conditions to patients in Las Vegas, Nevada and surrounding communities across the landscape.

The practice of Dr. Thomas and Dr. Bigler is equipped to provide state of the art orthopedic care for sports injuries. The practice offers cutting edge integrated services, including clinical orthopedics, physical therapy, outpatient arthroscopy and surgery center, and radiology/lab to ensure that every patient has access to the latest and comprehensive diagnosis and treatment facilities.

Dr. Steven C. Thomas

Dr. Thomas completed medical school and research at Johns Hopkins in 1984. Following his residency, he pursued fellowship training in surgery of the shoulder and elbow and to complete his research in cruciate ligament reconstruction and sports injuries of the knee.

He then acquired a traveling fellowship in arthroscopic treatment of knee and shoulder injuries. He trained with Dr. Russell Warren, team physician for the New York Giants professional football team.

The emphasis of the practice of Dr. Thomas is on sports injuries and arthroscopic treatment of knees and shoulders, although he does address general orthopedic problems as well. In addition to his board certification in orthopedic surgery, he also holds a Subspecialty Certificate in Orthopedic Sports Medicine. He has performed over 30,000 surgeries until date, and he does all of his own surgeries.

Dr. Gregory T. Bigler

Dr. Bigler is a remarkable and percipient board certified orthopaedic surgeon, fellowship trained in sports medicine and arthroscopy. He has been practicing in Las Vegas for over 25 years. Following his orthopedic training, Dr. Bigler completed a sub-specialization in the area of sports medicine and arthroscopy. He accomplished his sports medicine and arthroscopy fellowship at Harvard Medical School at the Massachusetts General Hospital.

During his fellowship period, he helped to take care of the New England Patriots football team, the Boston Bruins hockey team, as well as the Harvard athletic teams. Dr. Bigler was among six physicians selected nationally to do a traveling fellowship where he traveled the world learning and teaching orthopedic techniques.

Dr. Bigler has been a team physician in the UNLV Athletic Department and with the CSN teams as well. He has served on the San Diego Padres physician staff, and also as the Nevada delegate for the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine. The dependable and terrific Dr. Steven and Dr. Bigler receive patients from Las Vegas, Nevada and nearby areas for the treatment of sports injuries and other knee and shoulder problems.

If you would like to schedule an appointment or learn more about the Knee and Shoulder Institute procedures & treatments performed by Las Vegas, Nevada board certified surgeons Steven C. Thomas, MD and Gregory T. Bigler, MD. call (702) 933-9393; Physical Therapy (702) 933-9393.

Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy for Orthopedic Issues

Posted on May 26, 2017 by Mark

Stem cell therapy is a new and upcoming form of medicine that makes use of healthy regenerative cells found in the body to support tissue regeneration. It can trigger the healing process to repair and replenish the cells that have been damaged and degenerated due to orthopedic problems such as joint injury and arthritis.

Stem cell therapy will support the body’s internal healing mechanism without involving any drugs and in some cases, will also mitigate or eliminate the need for surgery. Stem cells include many different types of cells, which have the ability to renew themselves, becoming virtually any cell in the body.

The new cells will restore damaged, degenerated or aging cells and successfully regenerate the body tissue. Most patients will notice improvement in about one to two months following completion of the stem cell treatment protocol. Patients experience less pain in the treated joints, and the ability to function will increase.

Patients in Las Vegas, Nevada and surrounding communities across the landscape have an opportunity to receive stem cell therapy for orthopedic issues from board certified orthopedic surgeons Dr. Steven Thomas and Dr. Gregory Bigler. Stem cells can treat patients in all age groups and activity levels without surgery.

Common Orthopedic Issues Treated with Stem Cells

Low back and neck pain due to disc degeneration
Knee, hip, and other joint osteoarthritis
Chronic partial Rotator Cuff tears
Tennis elbow
Plantar fasciitis
Partial quadriceps and patellar tendon tears
Partial muscle tears and joint instability
Cartilage (meniscal) tears in the knee
Muscle strains
Other chronic tendon and ligament problems

Benefits

Stem cell induced therapies to treat joints such as knees, shoulders and elbows have shown remarkable success in many patients. Some of the key benefits include:

Minimal Recovery Period

Rehabilitation period involved in stem cell therapy for orthopedic problems is minimal, and in many cases, non-existent. Many patients can simply return to their normal routine immediately after the procedure instead of dealing with painful and length rehabilitation process associated with an orthopedic surgery.

Tissue Restoration

Stem cell therapy does not provide only superficial pain relief. Stem cells actually restore degenerated tissue to create sustainable outcomes. Due to their regenerative capabilities, stem cells have the potential to reverse many diseases by replacing damaged tissue with new, healthy tissue.

Improving Mobility

Stem cell injections contain hyaluronic acid, which is a naturally occurring compound in the body. This compound will lubricate the joints and tendons, resulting in pain relief from the injury or degeneration, while helping to restore mobility at the same time.

Quick and Safe Treatment

Stem cell therapy is usually performed in a single day, which cuts down the treatment time compared to traditional solutions. Stem cell therapy also avoids the risks that are typically associated with an orthopedic surgery, such as infection and blood clotting.

Numerous research studies have shown the safety and efficacy of stem cell therapy for orthopedic problems. Stellar and board certified orthopedic surgeons at the Thomas & Bigler Knee & Shoulder Institute receive patients from Las Vegas, Nevada and nearby areas for stem cell therapy.

Most Commonly Treated Knee Conditions and Injuries with Stem Cell Therapy

Posted on May 20, 2017 by Mark

Stem cell therapy offers as an innovative non-surgical alternative to address a variety of knee conditions and injuries. Knee conditions occurring due to degenerative knee arthritis or injuries to the knee bone, ligament, or tendon occurring due to sports or other physical activities can be treated with stem cell therapy.

Patients suffering from debilitating knee damage due to injury or arthritis usually have limited treatment options to manage the pain and restore knee function. Knee surgeries are invasive, while basic physical therapy may not address the root cause of the problem. This is where stem cell therapy has emerged as a promising new treatment option with very encouraging results.

Board certified orthopedic surgeons Dr. Steven Thomas and Dr. Gregory Bigler provide a combination of stem cell and PRP growth factor injection therapy to treat serious knee conditions. Dr. Thomas and Dr. Bigler provide stem cell therapy to patients in Las Vegas, Nevada and other cities and suburbs in this part of The Silver State.

Common Knee Conditions and Injuries

Stem cell therapy is now successfully used to repair meniscus tears, tendon and ligament tears, and knee injuries arising due to overuse, aging, or sports activities. Some of the key conditions of the knee that may be treated with stem cell injections include:

ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) Non-Retracted sprain or tear
MCL (Medial Cruciate Ligament) sprain or tear
PCL (Posterior Cruciate Ligament) sprain or tear
Rheumatoid arthritis of the Knees
Knee Tendonitis or Tendinopathy
Patellar Tendinosis or Tendonitis
Knee Osteoarthritis
Runner’s Knee aka Chondromalacia
Pes Anserine Bursitis
Patelofemoral syndrome ( PFS )
Iliotibial band syndrome ( ITBS )
Osgood-Schlatter Disease ( OSD )
Synovial plica syndrome & Medial plica syndrome
Knee Meniscus Injury & Tears
Bursitis of the Knees
Baker’s cysts
Enthesopathy

Stem Cell Therapy for ACL Tears

Non-retracted full or partial ACL tears can be repaired with a combination therapy involving enhanced stem cells and PRP. This treatment can heal partially torn anterior cruciate ligaments and complete non-retracted tears. Stem cell therapy will enable many patients to avoid surgical intervention to treat this condition.

With stem cell therapy, the patient will not be required to go through a prolonged downtime or a painful rehabilitation process that typically follows an ACL surgery. To treat complex or severe injuries, the orthopedic surgeon and their team will precisely target the injured ACL tear using advanced image guidance. This helps ensure optimal delivery of stem cells for a successful minimally invasive treatment.

How do Stem Cells Work?

While a number of stem cell types are present in the body, only a few cell types are directly beneficial for musculoskeletal applications such as knee injuries. For articular cartilage regeneration, mesenchymal stem cell markers (MSCs) offer the highest potential.

MSC cells are separated from a select group of cell rich tissues, and then expanded in a stem cell lab to increase their differentiation potential. Fantastic, committed, and board certified orthopedic surgeons at the Thomas & Bigler Knee & Shoulder Institute receive patients from Las Vegas, Nevada and nearby areas for stem cell therapy.

Stem Cell Therapy for Arthritis

Posted on May 14, 2017 by Mark

Stem cell therapy has emerged as a highly innovative, non-surgical alternative to treat degenerated joints affected by arthritis. Stem cells are present within the patient’s own body, and perform the function of promoting the healing process of the degenerated tissue.

Stem cell therapy can avoid the need for surgery in some cases, and provide healing benefits in nearly every case of damaged tissue due to arthritis. Board certified orthopedic surgeons Dr. Steven Thomas and Dr. Gregory Bigler provide stem cell therapy to patients in Las Vegas, Nevada, and surrounding locations across the horizon.

Tissue Regeneration with Stem Cells

The human body is composed of billions of unique cells that build the organs such as the skin, muscles, joints, bone, tendons and ligaments. These cells go through a process of degeneration and regeneration each day. As the older cells disintegrate, new cells are born from stem cells. These stem cells have the unique ability to create various types of other cells.

In a situation where the tissue is damaged due to arthritis, the degenerative process will surpass the regenerative process, leading to weakness in the tissue structure, and making the joint painful and less functional. Although there are a variety of stem cells present in the body, the ones that are ideal for promoting musculoskeletal healing of the cartilage, bone, tendon and ligament are found in the bone marrow.

These mesenchymal stem cells, or MSCs, are vital to achieving successful outcomes for patients suffering from arthritis. Advanced stem cell protocols are now used to create higher concentrations of these critical cells, and utilize them to repair arthritic joints without invasive surgery.

Procedure

According to researchers, the marrow cavity in the body is the easiest place to harvest the stem cells, which are stored in the body for the purpose of repairing degenerated tissues. Therefore, the first step in the stem cell therapy will be to retrieve these stem cells from the back of the hip area or the iliac bone. The procedure of stem cell extraction is performed in-office, under the guided precision of ultrasound or x-ray.

The patient is made to lay face down as the surgeon numbs the skin and bone in the donor site. The surgeon will then insert a special needle into the bone to withdraw the marrow blood, which carries the stem cells. This harvesting procedure is usually well-tolerated by patients and is not painful like a bone marrow biopsy.

Once the bone marrow blood is collected, it is taken to a lab and centrifuged to separate concentrated and purified stem cells, while the other cells are removed. The surgeon will perform the entire process by hand to enable customized designing of the stem cell specimen for the particular arthritic condition.

At the same time, a preparation of the concentrated platelets is also draw for injecting into the injury site. This helps to release growth factors that will trigger the activity of the stem cells and support the healing process. Sagacious, wonderful, and board certified orthopedic surgeons at the Thomas & Bigler Knee & Shoulder Institute receive patients from Las Vegas, Nevada, and nearby areas for stem cell therapy.

Stem Cell Therapy for Knee Injuries

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Mark

Stem cell therapy has emerged as a promising treatment for knee injuries. People who are suffering from an injured knee joint or having a degenerative joint due to osteoarthritis may make fabulous candidates for stem cell therapy.

Board certified orthopedic surgeons Dr. Steven Thomas and Dr. Gregory Bigler provide stem cell therapy for knee injuries to patients in Las Vegas, Nevada, and other cities and neighborhoods around this magnificent city in America.

Advantages

Stem cell injection procedure is completely non-surgical and involves the use of the patient’s own stem cells to help the healing process of the injured or degenerated knee joints. The procedure can be completed in a single day and may serve as a viable alternative for patients who are facing the prospect of knee surgery or even knee joint replacement.

Unlike surgery, stem cell therapy involves minimal recovery, and patients are typically able to return to their normal routine quickly after the procedure. The painful and lengthy rehabilitation periods associated with knee surgery are avoided. The strength, mobility and range of motion of the knee joint is restored in a more natural manner.

Another benefit of stem cell therapy is that it minimizes the risks that are typically associated with a knee surgery, such as infection and blood clots. People who are not good candidates for surgery due to an underlying medical condition may still receive stem cell therapy with safe outcomes.

Advanced Techniques

Advanced techniques available in modern medicine enable the surgeon to withdraw the required amount of stem cells from the patient’s bone marrow, concentrate them through an efficient lab process, and then re-inject them precisely into the injured knee tissue employing advanced imaging guidance.

Imaging techniques such as Ultrasound and Fluoroscopy help the surgeon to ensure that the stem cells are delivered into the exact area of need. As the stem cells are introduced into the site, they help trigger the natural repair mechanism of degenerated and injured arthritic joints and injured tendons and ligaments. This reverses the natural breakdown process that may have occurred in the knee joint due to injury, overuse or aging.

Source of Stem Cells

The human body has a store of stem cells that are utilized for repairing injured and degenerated tissue when required. New medical techniques have made it simple to retrieve these cells for therapeutic purposes. The stem cells are present in reserve in the marrow cavity of the bones, which makes it convenient to harvest them from the back of the hip area or the iliac bone.

Procedure

Once the bone marrow blood is drawn, it will be sent through a centrifugal process in a lab to concentrate and purify the stem cells. The concentrated part will be employed to help heal the knee injury. The surgeon will usually complete the injection process by hand and customize it according to the specific nature of the knee injury or degeneration of tissue.

Concentrated platelets may also be injected into the injury site to release growth factors and activate the stem cells. Judicious and impressive board certified orthopedic surgeons at the Thomas & Bigler Knee & Shoulder Institute receive patients from Las Vegas, Nevada, and nearby areas for stem cell therapy.

Sports Medicine for Knee Injuries

Posted on April 27, 2017 by Mark

Sports Medicine

Common knee injuries occurring due to sports activities may include anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, cartilage damage, and meniscal tear. Surgical intervention may be necessary to address severe knee injuries, which can be performed using open surgical or minimally invasive techniques.

Board certified orthopedic surgeons Dr. Steven Thomas and Dr. Gregory Bigler provide sports medicine for knee injuries to patients in Las Vegas, Nevada, and surrounding communities that are in the southeast part of this state around this large American city in the desert.

ACL Tear

Non-surgical treatment may be recommended if the overall stability of the knee is still intact. This may include rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE protocol). To improve knee strength and motion, physical therapy may be used. Knee brace may be required to help immobilize the knee for a certain period.

Young athletes may require surgery to safely return to sports following a serious ACL tear. The surgeon may involve an ACL reconstruction to tighten the knee and restore its stability. Arthroscopy is commonly used to perform surgery in a less invasive way with small incisions. The torn ligament will be replaced with a tissue graft that could come from the knee or hamstring muscle.

PCL Tear

Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is located at the back of the knee, and connects the femur bone to the tibia. PCL injuries are more complex and rare, and often occur along with bone bruises, cartilage injuries and ligament injuries. Both non-surgical and surgical treatment options may be applied. Physical therapy, knee brace and crutches may be advised as part of the treatment.

If the knee is dislocated and several ligaments, including the PCL are torn, a surgery may be required. This will involve reconstruction of the torn ligament using a tissue graft taken from another body part or from another donor. An arthroscope can be used to perform the surgery using small incisions.

Meniscus Tear

This is one of the most common knee injuries for athletes involved in contact sports. A sudden twist or bend in the knee can cause a meniscus tear. The treatment will depend on the location, size and type of the tear as well as the patient’s age and activity level. Non-surgical treatment may be used if the tear is small and the meniscus damage is superficial.

Surgery may be required if the symptoms do not resolve with the non-surgical approaches. Knee arthroscopy is generally used to repair meniscal tears. The options will include meniscus removal, repair and replacement. Meniscus removal will involve surgical scissors or shavers to remove the torn meniscus. In case of arthroscopic repair, the torn meniscus will be pinned or sutured depending on the extent of tear.

Cartilage Damage

Non-surgical treatment for knee cartilage damage may include pain medications, brace or splint, and physical therapy. However, a severe case of cartilage damage will require surgery. Some of the commonly performed surgeries for this condition include arthroscopic lavage and debridement, marrow stimulation, mosaicplasty, allograft osteochondral transplantation and autologous chondrocyte implantation.

Board certified orthopedic surgeons at the Thomas & Bigler Knee & Shoulder Institute receive patients from Las Vegas, Nevada, and nearby areas for knee injury treatments and other procedures.

Sports Medicine for Shoulder Injuries

Posted on April 13, 2017 by Mark

Sports Medicine

Shoulder is the most movable joint in the body, making it vulnerable to sports injuries. These injuries may include sprains, strains, dislocations, separations, tendonitis, bursitis, torn rotator cuffs, frozen shoulder, fractures, and arthritis.

Board certified orthopedic surgeons Dr. Steven Thomas and Dr. Gregory Bigler provide sports medicine for shoulder injuries to patients in Las Vegas, Nevada, and surrounding communities.

Shoulder Joint Separation

The acromioclavicular (AC) joint is where the collarbone converges with the highest point of the shoulder blade. It can separate due to a fall directly onto the shoulder. The injury may vary from a minor configuration change to a severe, deforming injury. RICE protocol may be used as a non-surgical treatment. But in severe cases of shoulder separation, surgery may be required.

Bankart Tear Repair

The bankart tear is an injury specific to the labrum part of the shoulder joint. If the labrum is torn, the stability of the shoulder joint will be compromised. When a person sustains a shoulder dislocation, a bankart lesion may occur. Treatments may include rest, physical therapy, use of a sling, or surgical repair.

Biceps Tendonitis

Biceps tendonitis involves inflammation in the main tendon that attaches the top of the biceps muscle to the shoulder. It typically occurs due to overuse. Treatment may include medication, cortisone injections, or physical therapy. Surgery may be performed if the condition is severe, such as biceps tenodesis.

Shoulder Joint Tear

Injuries of the shoulder joint tear are known as a glenoid labrum tear. Symptoms may include a popping of the shoulder, instability, weakness, or a reduced range of motion. Treatments include rest, medication, and physical therapy. Arthroscopic surgery may be an option if the tear is major.

HAG Ligament (HAGL)

HAGL is a surgical approach to repair shoulder instability. This condition can be caused when traumatic forces are applied to shoulder during sports activities. An open incision surgery or an arthroscopy may be preformed to repair this condition.

Proximal Biceps Tendon Rupture

Rupture in proximal biceps tendon may occur due to wear and tear or an unexpected for or injury. Treatment may include ice therapy, NSAIDs, rest and strengthening exercises. If the tear is major or completed, tenodesis surgery may be performed to reattach the tendon.

Rotator Cuff Tear

Rotator cuff tear in the shoulder may reveal symptoms including pain when lifting or lowering the arm, weakness, thinning muscles about the shoulder, or a crackling sensation. Treatments include rest, sling, NSAIDs, steroid injections, physical therapy, arthroscopic repair, or an open surgical repair.

Shoulder Dislocation

Shoulder may get partially or fully dislocated due to a fall or injury. Symptoms include swelling, weakness, numbness and bruising. Closed reduction procedure may be performed to place the ball of the upper arm bone back into the joint socket.

Shoulder Instability

A shoulder may become unstable due to a dislocation, repetitive strain or multidirectional instability. Non-surgical treatments may include activity modification, NSAIDs, and physical therapy. Arthroscopic or open surgery may be performed in severe case of torn ligament.

Board certified orthopedic surgeons at the Thomas & Bigler Knee & Shoulder Institute receive patients from Las Vegas, Nevada, and other communities and cities around this major American gambling mecca.

Ankle Injuries: Causes and Treatments

Posted on April 4, 2017 by Mark

Ankle Injuries

Ankle injuries can occur at any age. Anyone in their everyday life can twist their ankle and sustain an injury. Even basic activities such as walking on an uneven surface can cause a debilitating, painful sprain. People who are actively involved in sports are at a higher risk of ankle injuries.

Board certified orthopedic surgeons Dr. Steven Thomas and Dr. Gregory Bigler provide state of the art treatments for ankle injuries. Patients in Las Vegas, Nevada and other cities and neighborhoods in this part of The Silver State have an opportunity to receive treatments from them.

Causes of Ankle Injuries

An ankle injury may occur if the ankle joint gets twisted too far out of its natural position. Some of the most common causes of ankle injuries are walking or running on an uneven surface or performing a sports activity. These activities can force the ankle and foot into an unnatural position.

An unnatural ankle position can also occur if a person wears high heeled shoes. Loose fitting sands or clogs may also add to the risk of injuring the ankle. Apart from these reasons, ankle injuries may occur due to:

Falling or tripping
Walking or running on uneven ground
Landing in a wrong position upon jumping
Rolling the ankle
Rotating or twisting the ankle
Sustaining a forceful impact such as a car crash

Treatment

Ankle Fractures

Both surgical and non-surgical treatments may be used to treat ankle fractures, depending on the severity of the injury. If the bones are still in their place, the ankle is still stable, and only one ankle bone is broken, the surgeon may choose to treat the fracture without surgery by making the ankle immobile. A cast or a brace may be applied to work as a splint.

Surgery may become necessary if the ankle has become unstable. A metal place and screws may have to be surgically placed to restore ankle stability. Following the surgery, the ankle will be protected with a splint to allow for full recovery. Thereafter, a cast may be applied.

It will take about six weeks for the fractured ankle bones to heal. The patient may be required to keep the body weight off the ankle during the healing phase to ensure correct alignment of the bones.

Ankle Sprains

Treatment of ankle sprains may be decided according to the nature of injury. In exceptional cases, where the damage involves more than the ligaments and non-surgical options have not worked, surgery may be recommended. However, mild sprains can be treated with the RICE approach. A cast or splint will not be necessary.

Moderate or severe sprains may also require RICE protocol, but the patient will need more time to heal. A boot or a splint may sometimes be used to immobilize the ankle. The surgeon may recommend physical therapy to support the recovery.

Board certified orthopedic surgeons Dr. Bigler and Dr. Thomas receive patients from Las Vegas, Nevada and other areas for state of the art treatments such as ankle injuries and various other procedures related to the ankles, knees, and shoulder joints.

Cartilage Repair

Posted on April 1, 2017 by Mark

Nearly half of the knee related problems involve damage to cartilage, which is called the articular cartilage. When this cartilage gets damaged, it restricts normal movement of the knee and causes pain. Board certified orthopedic surgeons at the Thomas & Bigler Knee & Shoulder Institute provide cartilage repair procedures to patients in Las Vegas, Nevada, and surrounding communities.

Candidacy

Cartilage repair procedures are ideal for candidates with an otherwise healthy knee, but not for knees affected osteoarthritis. People with cartilage injury occurring due to one or more of the following problems may make outstanding candidates for cartilage repair. Some of these issues are:

Sports injuries or trauma
Repetitive joint use
Birth defects affecting the normal joint structure
Hormonal disorders hindering bone and joint development

Procedures

Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation (ACI)

This is a two-step procedure, which will require several weeks to complete. In the first step, the surgeon will arthroscopically remove healthy cartilage cells from a non-weight bearing site in the knee. The cells are then growth in a lab for about two months.

An open surgery is then performed to implant the newly produced cells. ACI procedure is usually recommended for younger patients with single defects bigger than 2 cm in diameter. Tissue rejection risks are eliminated in this technique because the patient’s own cells are used.

Microfracture

Microfracture procedure can be performed using the arthroscopic technique. The surgeon will create small holes in the knee bone. The subchondral bone, which is the surface layer of the bone, is hard and does not have a good blood flow. When holes are created, the bone allows for bleeding. The marrow cells in the blood then stimulate cartilage growth and promote formation of fibro-cartilage, which covers the injured site.

Osteochondral Allograft

This procedure may be used if the cartilage damage is major and cannot be treated by an autograft. The surgery will be performed using an open incision. The graft may have to be taken from a cadaver donor. The graft will be completely sterilized and prepared prior to the implantation procedure. The graft must be match with the patient’s anatomy. Thereafter, it will be shaped to fit the precise contour of the patient’s defect.

Osteochondral Autograft Transplantation

In many cases, this procedure will be performed as an open surgery, but sometimes it may also be performed with an arthroscope. The surgery involves transfer of the healthy cartilage tissue, called a graft, from one part of the knee to the damaged site.

The graft is removed as a plug of cartilage and the underlying bone. Single or multiple plugs of cartilage may be transferred in this procedure. Each plug will be a few millimeters in diameter.

Follow-up Care

The patient will have to be crutches for about six to eight weeks following cartilage repair surgery. Full recovery will take a few months. The surgeon will closely monitor how the new cartilage is developing and integrating with the existing cartilage. Board certified orthopedic surgeons Dr. Steven Thomas and Dr. Gregory Bigler receive patients from Las Vegas, Nevada, and nearby areas for cartilage repair.

Knee Surgery: Removal of Damaged Cartilage

Posted on March 19, 2017 by Mark

Knee Surgery

Knee cartilage may suffer damage due to injury, overuse or a degenerative condition such as knee arthritis. Once all the non-surgical treatment options are exhausted, the patient may have to choose knee surgery to remove the damaged cartilage, and restore healthy function of the knee.

Board certified orthopedic surgeons at the Thomas & Bigler Knee & Shoulder Institute provide knee surgery for the removal of damaged cartilage to patients in Las Vegas, Nevada, and other communities and suburbs of the largest city in Nevada.

Arthroscopy to Remove Articular Cartilage in the Knee

Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery to remove articular cartilage in the knee. Articular cartilage is a rubbery, firm tissue that covers the bone extremities. It facilitates a smooth gliding surface for the joints and provides a cushioning effect between bones. This cartilage in the knee may get damaged due to injury or overuse, which can result in pain, swelling and other problems with the knee joint.

Arthroscopic procedure to remove the damaged cartilage may be chosen by the surgeon, depending on the extent of damage involved. If removal is necessary, the surgeon may also decide to scrape or bur the exposed bone in order support healing in the injured area.

In some cases, articular cartilage microfracture procedure may be performed to mitigate knee pain and promote healing. This is a minimally invasive process involving drilling of tiny holes into the bone under the articular cartilage to support healing.

Cartilage transplantation autograft procedure may be performed in some cases where the specific cartilage damage has occurred due to an injury. However, if the cartilage loss is extensive, this procedure will not be applied.

Damaged Patellar Cartilage Removal

The patella, commonly known as the kneecap, is a flat bone in a triangular shape that provides protection to the knee joint and allows the muscles to move the leg more efficiently. A healthy patella glides up and down a groove at the femur bone’s end. Pain may occur when the patella moves due to a variety of conditions.

If the patellar cartilage has been significantly damaged, the surgeon may decide to remove it from the knee. In this procedure, the surgeon will insert a tiny scope through a small incision in the knee, and then use special instruments to remove the damaged cartilage. Board certified orthopedic surgeons Dr. Steven Thomas and Dr. Gregory Bigler receive patients from Las Vegas, Nevada, and nearby areas for knee cartilage removal procedures.

Current Research

According to researchers, articular cartilage knee injuries are quite common, and difficult to treat. Cartilage lesions can worsen over time, and their surgical removal may be necessary. However, new research suggests that a natural tissue graft can trigger regeneration of the damaged cartilage and improve symptoms in patients suffering from knee cartilage damage.
The new procedure called “De Novo NT” has shown encouraging results and compares favorably to the existing techniques because it is easier to perform and involves just a one-step procedure. While this technique clearly regenerates tissue, further follow-up is required before the treatment’s benefits are clearly established at a universal level.

Contact Us

702.933.9393

9499 West Charleston, Suite 200
Las Vegas, NV 89117