Sports Orthopaedic Expert Discusses fast, Minimally Invasive Microfracture Technique to Restore Knee Function
New York, New York and Greenwich, CT (PRWEB) November 26, 2007 -- In discussing treatment options for a knee that's been worn out from the rigors of an active lifestyle, the suggestion of placing small holes into the joint to help it heal might seem like adding insult to injury. Yet, just such a procedure - called "Microfracture" - is gaining in popularity as a safe, effective and less painful alternative to arthroscopic knee replacement surgery.
"Microfracture has become more prevalent over the past several years, because it offers patients a speedy, minimally invasive surgical experience, a faster and more comfortable recovery than that of knee replacement surgery, and a substantial success rate of about 85%," explains Dr. Kevin Plancher, MD, a leading sports orthopaedist in the New York metropolitan area and an official orthopaedic surgeon for the U.S. Ski & Snowboard teams.
The Microfracture procedure involves using a pointed awl to poke small holes in the bones of the joint where the cartilage has been worn away. Blood and bone marrow, rich with stem-cells, seep out of the fractures and create blood clots that release cartilage-building cells. The body's normal immune response to what it perceives as an injury completes the task of rebuilding the cartilage in the treated area. The procedure takes about 30 minutes, and the entire healing and rehabilitative process takes approximately four to six months.
Microfracture was developed nearly 20 years ago by Dr. Richard Steadman, MD, of the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colorado. After an 11-year followup study published in the June, 2003 issue of the journal Arthroscopy, Dr. Steadman and his colleagues proved that Microfracture was as safe and effective as other treatments, even over the long term.
"This procedure is ideal for younger patients who are very active, and wish to return to their sport or activity as quickly as possible," Dr. Plancher notes. He adds, "The best candidates for Microfracture are those patients whose cartilage degeneration is limited to small areas in the knee, and who are willing to commit to a fairly rigorous physical therapy regimen afterward in order to restore full functioning in the joint."
For these reasons, many of the patients who choose Microfracture as an alternative to knee replacement surgery are professional athletes. Dr. Plancher points out, "Players in the National Football League, the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League have undergone high-profile Microfracture procedures over the past several years, and many of them - such as Jason Kidd of the New Jersey Nets and Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings - have returned to play at or near their peak performance levels." As recently as last year, Amare Stoudemeyer - a star player with the Phoenix Suns who underwent Microfracture in 2005 - was able to return to the court and perform to his stellar standard of play in all 87 regular season games, as well as in the NBA All-Star Game.
The rehabilitation process for Microfracture usually takes one half to one third of the time that a surgical knee-replacement procedure does, but it begins as soon as the procedure is completed. "Depending upon the location and the size of the area being treated, passive range-of-motion exercises might be initiated the same day as the treatment or a day later," Dr. Plancher notes, "Because gentle motion will actually stimulate the development of the cartilage." The motion exercises might be done by the patient, a physical therapist, or with the use of a passive motion machine. In fact, some patients use the CPM machine nightly during sleep to speed the cartilage-building process. Weight-bearing, however, is usually limited for 6 weeks after the procedure, as pressure on the joint could harm the regenerating cartilage.
"In all, Microfracture is an excellent choice for relatively young, active patients with specific areas of cartilage degeneration in the knee, because it allows them to return to play - at whatever level - confidently and more quickly than the alternatives," Dr. Plancher concludes. Microfracture is currently being considered for its applicability to other joints as well, including the shoulder, hip and the ankle, at and the OFALS clinical studies are underway.
Bio:
Kevin D. Plancher, M.D., M.S., F.A.C.S., F.A.A.O.S, is a leading orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine expert with extensive practice in knee, shoulder, elbow and hand injuries. Dr. Plancher is an Associate Clinical Professor in Orthopaedics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in NY. He is on the Editorial Review Board of the Journal of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Journal of Medicine and Sports.
A graduate of Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Plancher received an M.S. in Physiology and an M.D. from their school of medicine (cum laude). He did his residency at Harvard's combined Orthopaedic program and a Fellowship at the Steadman-Hawkins clinic in Vail, Colorado where he studied shoulder and knee reconstruction. Dr. Plancher continued his relationship with the Clinic for the next six years as a Consultant. Dr. Plancher has been a team physician for over 15 athletic teams, including high school, college and national championship teams. Dr. Plancher is an attending physician at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City and The Stamford Hospital in Stamford, CT and has offices in Manhattan and Greenwich, Connecticut. www.plancherortho.com
Dr. Plancher lectures extensively domestically and internationally on issues related to Orthopaedic procedures and injury management. During 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 Dr. Plancher was named among the Top Doctors in the New York Metro area and was the New York State Representative for the Council of Delegates to the American Academy of Orthopaedic surgeons. For the past six years Dr. Plancher has received the Order of Merit (Magnum Cum Laude) for distinguished Philanthropy in the Advancement of Orthopaedic Surgery by the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation. In 2001, he founded "The Orthopaedic Foundation for Active Lifestyles", a non-profit foundation focused on maintaining and enhancing the physical well-being of active individuals through the development and promotion of research and supporting technologies. www.ofals.org.
###
Related Articles:
A Deeper Understanding of Sports Betting
If you are new to the idea of sports betting, you may feel a little confused by some of the terms that are used There is no need to be overwhelmed by sports betting
Baden Sports Inc. Launches Retail Web Site
New online store to sell selection of Baden Sports products.
Longflyball.com, The Official Website of Sports Movies, lists the Top 5 Sports Movie Romances for Valentine's Day
Longflyball.com, The Official Website of Sports Movies, lists the Top 5 Sports Movie Romances for Valentine's Day. The number one sports movie romance goes to Rocky Balboa and his wife Adrian. The number two sports movie romance goes to Jerry Maguire and his single-mom assistant who becomes his girlfriend and then wife. Number three goes to Bull Durham, four to Fever Pitch and five to Cinderella Man.
Sports Massage – Pre-Event
Massage before an event can be an integral component of the pre-event preparation for many athletes. Pre-event massage can create a state of readiness in the muscles and tissues so that the athlete's performance can be optimized.
How to do Internet Sports Betting Successfully
Apart from strong luck, Internet sports betting also involves presence of mind, intensive research and analytical capabilities. To be a winning online sports bettor, it is essential to know the fundamentals of sports betting and its pros and cons. To win, you need to be a little strategic and think from practical view point. You must learn the tactics and skills of wagering to achieve success in sports betting. Here are a few pointers that will help you in successful online sports betting.
Online Sportsbook Review and Sports Betting Site Announces New Review
CasinoReview.org (http://wwww.casinoreview.org), a well-known online sportsbook review and sports betting site, announces review of BetUS.com.
YouCastr Launches Personal, Interactive Online Sports Network; Partners with CSB School of Broadcasting
YouCastr, the live Internet sports broadcasting network, today launches its interactive live sports broadcasting service. YouCastr allows anyone, anywhere to broadcast live sports commentary, creating more entertaining, interactive, and personal experiences for fans.
Betfair and Viagogo Team Up to Give Sports Fans More For their Money
viagogo, Europe's leading secondary ticketing exchange www.viagogo.co.uk, today announced a partnership with Betfair, the world's biggest online betting company, bringing great benefits to customers of both companies.
Just The Best Online Gambling, Casinos, Poker, Sports Book
BlackJack, Slots, Roulette, Video Poker, Bonus Slots, Stud Poker, Texas Hold em Free Money and Freerolls, All types of sports betting. Does this interest you? Read on!Is lady luck with you? Vegas, Atlantic City Etc.
New York Marriott Marquis Offers Spanish and Sports Television to Hotel Guests in Times Square
The New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square, New York now offers hotel guests premium Spanish and sports TV channels: Setanta Sports, UNIVISION and Galavision as part of their hotel modernization.
A Sports Collectible Could Be Basketball Jersey
Those searching for the perfect sports collectible have a variety of different sports collectible options to choose from. Baseball, football, soccer −− all of those sports have a range of memorabilia that are sure to satisfy a devoted fan. However, basketball, with its famous players and amazing history, has the ultimate sports collectible to offer: basketball jerseys.
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED GROUP DEBUTS SI VAULT: Digital Archives Featuring More Than 50 Years of SI Articles,
Photos and Covers Supported by Video Sea
Today, the SPORTS ILLUSTRATED GROUP will debut SI VAULT (WWW.SI.COM/VAULT), a free and comprehensive digitized history of the modern sports era since the birth of SI in 1954. The VAULT combines the power of SI's voice and editorial integrity with state-of-the-art technologies and will immediately become a daily destination for sports fans.
European Extreme Sports Phenomena Hitting The US Now, Air-Trekkers Are Here
Alpine Innovations, LLC, the exclusive U.S. distributor of Air-Trekkers, has launched one of the hottest new extreme sport and fitness products to hit this country in years. Originally known as jumping stilts, a patented invention by Alexander Boeck of Germany, Air-Trekkers are already raging across Europe.
Hi-Tec Sports USA Partners With Bordan Shoe Company to Enter the US Athletic Footwear Market
Hi-Tec Sports USA and Bordan Shoe Company today announced they have entered into a licensing agreement to sell Hi-Tec Athletic footwear within the United States and Canada. Hi-Tec Athletic is well-established in Europe, and the company is looking to Bordan Shoe Company to carry that success over into North America.
Hi-Tec Athletic is being launched for SS08, and features product for running, trail running, walking and cross training. Target distribution points include sporting goods, big box/family footwear, and specialty athletic retailers, with orders slated to ship March 2008.
Plancher Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in Greenwich CT Now Performs New Technology and Technique Make ACL Repair Faster, Less Painful
According to Dr. Michael A. Schwartz, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon at Plancher Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in Greenwich CT, "A new ACL repair procedure makes it possible for young, active patients to return to play faster and with less pain than ever before."