New surgical techniques and technologies are offering hope for those who wish to repair but also fully preserve their problem joint. Joint reconstruction is a surgical procedure that fully restores the hip, knee, shoulder, and ankle joints to full function without the need to replace them completely!
Contact our orthopaedic surgeons in Illinois to see if joint reconstruction is right for you.
Arthroscopic Surgery For Joint Reconstruction
While surgery once required an invasive open procedure that left patients with long hospital stays and recovery times, many of those procedures can now be performed with the simpler, less invasive arthroscopy.
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure used to diagnose and treat injuries and abnormalities within the joints. This procedure is commonly used to confirm a diagnosis made by physical examination and imaging techniques. It can also be used to treat conditions within the joints, if they are not too complicated such as reconstruction.
Although most commonly performed in the knee and hip, arthroscopy can also be beneficial in diagnosing and treating conditions in joints all over the body.
Common Joint Reconstructions We Perform
We perform many different types of reconstruction surgeries on joints all over the body including the knee, wrist, shoulder, hip and more. Below are some common injuries that we treat in athletes of all ages.
ACL Reconstruction
A tear in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most common knee injuries. An injury to this ligament causes the knee to become unstable and the joint to slide forward too much. ACL tears occur most often in athletes.
ACL reconstruction is usually not performed until several weeks after the injury, when swelling and inflammation have been reduced. The torn ligament is completely removed and replaced with a new ACL. Simply reconnecting the torn ends will not repair the ACL. Part of another ligament, usually from the knee or hamstring, is used to create a graft for the new ACL. Choosing the proper type of graft depends on each patient’s individual condition.
ACL surgery requires a few months for full recovery and physical rehabilitation will be needed as well. Surgery is not required for all ACL injuries.
Ankle Reconstruction
An ankle sprain is a common injury that occurs when the ankle is twisted or turned, which results in torn ligaments within the joint. This injury often causes pain, swelling and bruising, and may lead to ankle instability because the condition is prone to recur. Surgery for chronic ankle instability involves repairing or reconstructing the damaged ligaments that are responsible for your symptoms.
Ankle ligament reconstruction is commonly performed on patients that have suffered many ankle sprains. It is used to correct chronic ankle instability that has not responded to treatment such as physical therapy. It is effective in tightening loosened ligaments and improving the overall stability of the joint. A simple repair, known as the Bröstrom-Gould technique, is ideal for athletes who need to retain full range of motion.
The lateral ankle ligament reconstruction procedure is performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. Most procedures take two to three hours to perform. During the procedure, the two ligaments may be simply reattached, or part of a lateral tendon around the ankle may be used to repair the torn ligament.
Contact Our Orthopaedic Surgeons | The Orthopaedic Institute of Southern Illinois
Get in touch with our orthopaedic surgeons in Illinois to learn more about these joint reconstruction procedures or call any of our locations below: