Joint pain is never easy to live with, and knee problems are among the most challenging. If you are experiencing pain, discomfort, or impaired mobility, it’s time to see a knee doctor like Dr. Mattlino at Angelo Mattalino, MD. He provides only the most groundbreaking techniques for patients in Phoenix, AZ, and beyond.
What Services Does a Knee Doctor Provide?
The joints aren’t an area of the body that you can neglect and expect them to improve on their own. Discomfort or pain in the knee requires professional help. Because there are many factors at play with knee health, you must find an orthopaedic professional or knee doctor that can deliver the treatment you need, fast.
Dr. Mattlino, the founder of Mattalino Orthopaedic, is a renowned orthopedic surgeon and knee doctor who puts patients first. He and his expert medical staff welcome patients from all over who are seeking the services of a knee doctor for any of the following conditions and more.
Knee Arthroscopy
Knee arthroscopy is a premier treatment for knee joint problems. It’s a surgery using highly advanced arthroscopic technology: a thin tube affixed with a tiny camera that projects images onto a monitor. We insert the arthroscope into your knee through a very small incision to have the most accurate view of the knee’s joint, cartilage, and surrounding tissues.
Knee arthroscopy is considered the most comfortable option for patients because it requires only tiny incisions with shorter recovery times. We perform most modern surgical knee procedures using an arthroscope because it is less invasive and requires less recovery time.
When Is a Knee Arthroscopy Recommended?
Knee arthroscopy is beneficial for a variety of knee problems, including:
- Removing or repairing torn cartilage (meniscus)
- Reconstructing tears in the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament)
- Removing inflamed articular tissue
- Removing bone or cartilage fragments
- Improving kneecap complications
- Treating knee infections
Meniscus Repair
Tears in the meniscus, also known as the cartilage that cushions your thigh bone and shinbone, are one of the more common knee problems people face.
You have two C-shaped menisci in each knee joint that may become damaged during physical activity that requires you to twist or rotate the knees. Kneeling, squatting, and heavy lifting can cause this cartilage to tear. Symptoms of a torn meniscus include:
- Difficulty straightening leg fully
- Knee feeling like it has given way
- Knee popping
- Locked knee
- Pain when twisting or rotating the knee
- Swelling or stiffness
Types of Meniscus Repair
If you have a tear in your meniscus, the size and location of the tear determine the treatment option for you. Meniscus repair includes:
- Surgical repair
- Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy
- Total meniscectomy
A surgical repair is an open knee surgery to remove or repair a meniscus tear, and a total meniscectomy removes the entire meniscus to relieve symptoms. We discuss the arthroscopic partial meniscectomy below.
Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy
An Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy is the surgical removal of part of a torn meniscus. Once we locate the tear in the cartilage with the arthroscope, we remove the damaged portion. This procedure is often useful for restoring the knee to its regular functioning.
Arthroscopic Chondroplasty
Arthroscopic chondroplasty is a surgical procedure to repair mild-to-moderate wear and tear in knee cartilage. This procedure is typically performed on an outpatient basis and uses the same innovative arthroscopic technology to achieve precision results.
Cartilage is a soft tissue prone to wearing down with the natural aging process. Many people experience knee pain or discomfort as a result. This degenerative disease osteoarthritis also impacts the joints and provokes cartilage to wear down with time.
Who Could Get an Arthroscopic Chondroplasty?
Dr. Mattalino may recommend this surgery to you if you have relatively minor cartilage damage or have osteoarthritis. Walking and other activities become more comfortable after undergoing this procedure.
Arthroscopic Microfracture Procedure
Arthroscopic Microfracture Procedure is a common surgical procedure to fix damaged knee cartilage. This procedure is ideal for patients with limited damage who experience pain or swelling. After the surgery, patients find that they can resume physical activity and even return to playing sports.
The primary goal of an arthroscopic microfracture procedure is to keep damaged knee cartilage from getting worse. By treating the damage early, you can prevent further damage in the future. Knee cartilage issues can cause arthritis or even require a knee replacement when left untreated.
What Happens During an Arthroscopic Microfracture Procedure?
During the procedure, Dr. Mattalino uses an arthroscope to identify any loose or damaged cartilage. Then he uses small surgical tools to create tiny microfracture holes in the bone. These microfractures stimulate the body to form a blood clot near the damaged cartilage. Increased blood flow heals the damaged cartilage and establishes new healthy cartilage.
The size of your joint dictates how many holes he will create. You can expect to have around five to 15 holes created in the bone if you have under two centimeters of cartilage damage. You receive anesthesia for the procedure to maximize your comfort.
Will I Need Rehab After the Procedure?
Often, some rehabilitation is required after this procedure. Patients who are unable or unwilling to participate in rehab may not be the best candidates for this treatment. If you have widespread or inflammatory arthritis, another treatment may be a better option for you. Dr. Mattalino will discuss your treatment options with you during your consultation.
Arthroscopic ACL Reconstruction
An arthroscopic ACL reconstruction is an operation that repairs a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). Bending, twisting, over-straightening the knee, or sudden stops and changes in direction can tear the ACL resulting in pain, swelling, or a feeling of weakness that may range from mild to severe. Athletes are frequent sufferers of ACL tears.
Ligaments are bands of tissue that connect bones. The ACL is located in the middle of the knee and connects the thighbone to the shinbone. It is one of two knee ligaments and has a stabilizing effect on the joint. A torn ACL can lead to compromised mobility and functioning in day-to-day physical activities.
What Happens in the Procedure?
During the arthroscopic ACL reconstruction procedure, Dr. Mattalino locates and views the damaged ligament with an arthroscope. Once found, he replaces it with a portion of the tendon tissue, also called a graft.
He creates tunnels into your thighbone and shinbone to secure the graft in place with surgical fixations. This replacement tissue acts as a platform for new ligament tissue to form. This procedure happens under anesthesia, and you will not feel the procedure.
Who Could Benefit From Arthroscopic ACL Reconstruction?
The goal for arthroscopic ACL reconstruction is to help you return to regular movement and wellness after your knee injury. It also prevents further damage from happening to the joint.
Athletes benefit from this procedure considerably, especially when their sport involves jumping or pivoting. However, non-athletes are also candidates for treatment. If your knee buckles during daily activities, this procedure could dramatically improve your quality of life. This operation is particularly suited for younger or more active patients who have knee instability.
Will I Need Rehab After an Arthroscopic ACL Reconstruction?
Post-operative rehabilitation is the best way to regain stability and function in your knee. Many patients work toward restoring a full range of motion in their knee within the first few weeks after surgery.
Knee Arthroscopic Loose Body Removal
Loose body removal is a minimally invasive outpatient knee surgery and performed under local anesthesia. This procedure removes fragments of bone, cartilage, or other tissue that have broken away from the knee joint.
Loose bodies in the knee can move around in the knee’s joint fluid or become lodged and can obstruct the joint from moving freely. Loose bodies can damage the cartilage and cause osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease.
What Causes Loose Bodies in the Knee?
Loose body debris can result from knee trauma, tentative disease like osteoarthritis, or from normal wear and tear. They are more commonly found in athletes or those who have physically demanding jobs.
What Do Loose Bodies in the Knee Feel Like?
Many people have loose bodies in the knee and don’t realize it. Often loose bodies do not cause any symptoms but are found through x-ray. Because these fragments can lead to further knee problems, it’s crucial to recognize the signs, if you have them, as early as possible. Symptoms of loose bodies in the knee include:
- Knee pain
- Limited knee joint motion
- Locking knee joint
What Happens During a Knee Arthroscopic Loose Body Removal Procedure?
Dr. Mattalino inserts an arthroscope into your knee to view the area up close. Once the debris is located, he uses a small suction cup to collect and remove it. The arthroscopic loose body removal procedure is the first-line surgical approach for removing obstructive tissue or bone from the knee joint.
Visco-Supplementation for Arthritis of the Knee
Visco-supplementation is a non-surgical treatment option to ease arthritis symptoms. Visco is a gel-like hyaluronic acid solution. During treatment, the solution is injected into the knee’s synovial fluid to reduce pain or swelling in the knee joint.
Visco-supplementation is a relatively new arthritis treatment with unique benefits. The knee joint cartilage naturally contains a coating of hyaluronic acid. The hyaluronic acid coating cushions bones and prevents them from rubbing together to create discomfort. Time, disease, and damage can cause the coating to erode, which may lead to arthritis symptoms.
Supplementing Hyaluronic Acid
Visco-supplementation replenishes your joints with the hyaluronic acid they need to create that shock-absorbing effect they once had. If you have tried other treatments for arthritis without luck, Visco-supplementation could be for you.
Patients with mild-to-moderate arthritis symptoms experience significant symptom relief after a full course of treatment. Some patients use this treatment to reduce symptoms during the time they wait before undergoing knee surgery.
PRP Injections
Platelet-rich plasma or PRP injections are a non-surgical treatment option for relieving joint pain. We spin a small sample of your blood in a centrifuge to separate the naturally regenerative PRP.
Once the plasma is injected, your immune system gets to work. White blood cells rush to damaged regions of your knee and prep the area for restoration. Injected PRP can repair injured joints, reduce symptoms, and speed up your healing process. This natural therapy is quicker than many other treatment options and doesn’t require any downtime.
Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) Machine
CPM or continuous passive motion therapy is a rehabilitation machine that helps you regain full mobility in your knee after surgery. The machine moves the joints to restore movement without requiring you to move your muscles.
The primary goals of using a CPM Machine is to protect your sensitive tissue, promote joint movement, and reduce pain and inflammation after a knee operation. Patients find that CPM therapy improves their post-op quality of life.
Schedule a Consultation with a Knee Doctor
If you are living with knee pain or discomfort, it’s time to contact a knee doctor you can trust. Contact us at Mattalino Orthopaedic in Phoenix, AZ today. We only use the most advanced techniques and technology to bring you back to a state of mobility and wellness.