Answers to Your Pressing Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Questions

A torn ACL does not heal on its own. Think of the ACL being like a braided rope. The ACL “unravels” similar to what happens to a cut or torn piece of rope. Unfortunately, the torn ACL does not grow back together. In order to restore full knee function, surgery is needed to repair or replace the ACL. After ACL

Rotator cuff surgery has come a long way, allowing for faster recovery times and better outcomes.  At G2, we perform all rotator cuff repairs with arthroscopic surgery. Patients go home the same day and for most repairs, they can remove the arm from the sling the day after surgery. As the rotator cuff heals, physical therapy helps patients regain their

If the shoulder comes out of the socket (dislocates), the ligaments and labrum will stretch or tear. In patients <25 years old, there is a 70-90% risk that the shoulder will dislocate again. In those over 40 years of age, the risk of more dislocations is uncommon. Everyone else is somewhere in between.  A labral tear, particularly one called a

A meniscus tear itself usually doesn’t heal on its own, except in young patients (<10 years old). However, some patients with small tears may not experience pain or physical limitations if treated with rest for 6 weeks. In most cases, meniscus tears are larger and cause pain, swelling, catching or locking. These larger tears generally require surgery to repair or

A reverse total shoulder replacement is performed in patients with arthritis in the ball and socket as well as rotator cuff weakness or tearing. As the surgery has become more popular, many surgeons are doing more reverse shoulder replacements instead of a standard shoulder replacement in patients over age 50.  At G2 we perform shoulder replacements as an outpatient surgery.

Chondromalacia results from damage to the smooth, hard, white articular cartilage on the ends of bones. This cartilage damage can occur with wear and tear or overuse for many years or it can occur with an injury. Typical symptoms of chondromalacia include swelling, catching, grinding, giving way or locking. Initial treatment may include medications, injections and physical therapy. If the condition

Kneecap or patellar pain can occur for many reasons, including: • Instability — loose patella that jumps out of the groove • Chondromalacia — damage to the articular cartilage under the patella • Plica — strong band of tissue that catches under the patella • Mal-tracking — the patella does not glide straight as the knee bends • Mal-alignment —

The biceps tendon attaches from the inside of the shoulder down to the forearm. Patients can have problems at either end of the tendon, causing pain in the biceps.  In the shoulder, tendonitis or tearing of the biceps can occur. This can be treated with a cortisone injection and therapy or arthroscopic surgery to remove the damaged portion of the

Outpatient knee replacement surgery is now very common across the U.S. and right here in Richmond, VA. Many of the replacements are performed at Ambulatory Surgery Centers that don’t have overnight hospital beds. At G2 we perform these surgeries at St. Francis Medical Center, which gives us the option of keeping patients overnight if there is an issue. To be eligible

After knee replacement surgery, you will awaken in the recovery room. After 1-2 hours, you will get up with support from a physical therapist while wearing a knee brace. You should be very comfortable because of the nerve block that is given to you by an anesthesiologist before the surgery. The nurse will review care instructions with the family member