Julien's Journal May 2016 (Volume 41, Number 5) | Page 35

Orthopaedics & Sports
Medicine for the Tri-States
by Dr. Stephen Pierotti, M.D.

M

ore and more of us realize
the advantages of exercise and its benefits for the
health of the whole body
– its joints, bones, and
muscles, as well as heart and blood pressure health. With the multiple methods
of training available today, injuries are
occurring more frequently. Acute injuries
or repetitive injuries can sideline you for a
long time, cause pain and loss of function at
home and/or at work. Quickly returning to
activities and work is essential and requires
knowledge of these injuries and the appropriate treatment plan. Treatment of these
injuries is best carried out by experts in the
area of joint and muscle injuries, i.e. orthopaedic surgeons. We all spend five years of
intense training of all the joints and carry
the knowledge to treat them effectively.
Although any joint can be involved in injuries, the most commonly involved joints
with athletes or weekend warriors are the
knee and the shoulder.
The knee joint is the largest joint in your
body and is one of the most easily injured
as well. These injuries include meniscal
tears, ligament injuries, and articular joint
cartilage damage. Many people wait to see
a doctor hoping the pain will go away on its
own. In most cases, rest, ice, and elevation
will heal a knee injury. If it does not go away
or experiences swelling after activity, it is
important to see your orthopedist or primary care doctor for a proper evaluation. A
good exam and imaging studies can be used
to determine the extent of the injury and
the best treatment option for that injury.
Often, physical therapy and rest can treat
these injuries effectively.
If pain is persistent and there are functional
limitations, arthroscopic knee surgery
can be an effective surgical treatment for
knee injuries. Arthroscopic knee surgery
is the most common surgery performed to
improve knee function and reduce pain. It is

most commonly used for repair or removal
of torn meniscus cartilage, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, or removal
of loose fragments of bone or cartilage.
Surgery is done in an outpatient setting
and often times takes less than one hour.
The surgery utilizes two small incisions to
allow a scope or camera into the knee joint
to get a clear vie