Arthroscopic ACL Surgery — Autograft or Allograft Tissue?To repair the ACL, we perform arthroscopic surgery, which is less invasive and allows patients to recover more quickly. In an ACL reconstruction, the damaged ligament is replaced with a tissue graft from a donor (allograft) or your own body (autograft). The graft is passed through holes in the bone and placed in the same location as the damaged ACL. Once in place, the graft will be "anchored" to the bone using a screw or another type of implant.An allograft tissue replacement has less pain right after surgery and provides a faster return to daily activities, but it may not be best for highly-active, competitive athletes who put more demands on their body. We use allografts from tissue banks with the highest quality tissue processing standards to ensure the best outcomes.An autograft tissue is a more natural approach to ACL surgery because it uses your own living tissue. An autograft is a part of a tendon taken from your own hamstring or kneecap that is inserted into the knee joint to replace a torn ligament. It is less likely to re-tear (especially in athletes under 30), but requires longer recovery.We will help you determine which type of tissue is right for you. In some cases, if you're an older adult who's not athletically competitive, we may recommend an allograft. If you're a young athlete who wants to return to competitive play, chances are high you may have an autograft.

The knee is one of the most complex and largest joint in the body and is more susceptible to injury. Meniscal tears are one among the common injuries to the knee joint. It can occur at any age but are more common in athletes playing contact sports.The meniscus is a small, "c" shaped piece of cartilage in the knee. Each knee consists of two menisci, medial meniscus on the inner aspect of the knee and the lateral meniscus on the outer aspect of the knee. The medial and lateral meniscus act as a cushion between the thighbone (femur) and shinbone (tibia). The meniscus has no direct blood supply and for that reason, when there is an injury to the meniscus, healing cannot take place. The meniscus acts like a “shock absorber” in the knee joint.Causes of Meniscal InjuriesMeniscal tears often occur during sports. These tears are usually caused by twisting motion or over flexing of the knee joint. Athletes who play sports such as football, tennis and basketball are at a higher risk of developing meniscal tears. They often occur along with injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament, a ligament that crosses from the femur (thighbone) to the tibia (shinbone).Symptoms of Meniscal InjuriesVarious types of meniscal tears that can occur are longitudinal, bucket handle, flap, parrot -beak and mixed or complex.The symptoms of a meniscal tear include:Knee pain when walkingA “popping “or “clicking” may be felt at the time of injuryTenderness when pressing on the meniscusSwelling of the kneeLimited motion of the knee jointJoint locking can occur if the torn cartilage gets caught between the femur and tibia preventing straightening of the knee.

Tears of the rotator cuff of the shoulder are potentially painful and disabling conditions. Treatments for rotator cuff tears vary widely depending upon the severity of symptoms and signs. The person with a rotator cuff tear can have a sudden (acute/traumatic) or gradual (chronic) onset of shoulder pain with or without weakness. Although tears can occur as a result of a traumatic injury, many tears occur gradually and no specific injury can be recalled.The pain associated with rotator cuff tears is usually located at the front and side of the shoulder or upper arm, and is frequently described as having an aching, burning or toothachy quality. The pain usually occurs with overhead motions, but can progress to the point that it is present with normal activities or wake the patient during sleep.