Our body’s joints are among its most important features. Connecting the body’s bones to facilitate healthy locomotion, joints enable a high degree of mobility and allow us to complete everyday tasks and enjoy active recreation. Though highly capable, joints are delicate and require careful maintenance to stay in optimal condition. The wear and tear of regular motion as well as the toll of aging and the risks posed by injury can all restrict or reduce the function of the body’s joints. The orthopedic specialist team at Advanced Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute regularly performs procedures to restore joint function and address joint-related concerns. While these procedures are expertly carried out, prevention is the most straightforward way to keep joints in good health.

Weight is a prime cause of joint issues: keeping weight within a healthy range is one of the best things a patient can do for his or her joints. Exercise can help patients manage weight as well as address joint issues on its own: aerobic exercise can reduce joint swelling. Low-impact exercises, such as swimming or biking, can provide this benefit without stressing joints with unnecessary impact. Finally, building muscles with strength training exercises helps to support the joints those muscles surround. This alleviates the burden the body’s joints constantly bear.

Joint health is a major specialty of many doctors at AOSMI, including Dr. James F. Cozzarelli, MD, FAAOS. Dr. Cozzarelli is trusted by his patients to share his insight and explain his specialist knowledge clearly to everyone he can help. Visiting his site or getting in touch with AOSMI are great next steps for those who want to keep their joints in top condition throughout their lives.

AOSMI orthopedic surgeons have pioneered a new bloodless surgery protocol for joint replacement and other orthopedic procedures. Advanced Ortho Sports gives patients that they need in a number of areas, including sports medicine, joint replacement, spine care, fracture care, hand and wrist injuries, and urgent care. This new procedure is just another example of top quality care available from the orthopedic specialists.

With the use of tranexamic acid as well as advanced surgical coagulation techniques, blood loss and the need for transfusions have been significantly reduced. Since blood transfusions have many potential side effects and risks, patients are much more comfortable having surgery with the new technique which avoids the need for transfusions in the vast majority of patients.

In addition, patients feel better and more vigorous after surgery since they have more circulating oxygen in their blood and are less prone to anemia. This allows more surgeries to be performed without the need for hospitalization and intensive monitoring, resulting in significant cost savings.

For more information about orthopedic surgery at Advanced Ortho Sports, visit https://advancedorthosports.com/orthopedic-care.

Physicians at Advanced Orthopedics perform minimally invasive, arthroscopic surgery using small cameras equipped with fiber-optic light technology to view damaged joints on a monitor screen. Inserted through a tiny incision in the skin that is less than one centimeter in size, these cameras allow arthroscopic surgeons to trim torn knee meniscus, repair rotator cuff injuries, treat bursitis of the shoulder and restore functioning of damaged knee cartilage . During the procedure, special fluid is pumped into the joint area to enhance visibility while clearing away any unnecessary tissue debris.

Advantages to arthroscopic surgery include:

• Reduced recovery time (many of these procedures are performed as out-patient surgery)
• In some cases, patients may only need a local anesthetic instead of general anesthetic
• Thirty minutes is the average time it takes to complete most arthroscopic knee surgeries
• Pain is minimal following surgery, with most patients requiring only ibuprofen instead of prescription pain medication to alleviate any discomfort

Arthroscopic surgery dramatically reduces joint tissue trauma and is conducive to the restoration of optimal muscle functioning. It is also utilized as a diagnostic tool to determine the cause of joint stiffness and pain or the extent of damage to joint ligaments.

Any orthopedic specialist will confirm that the vast majority of the knee injuries they see on a daily basis could either have been prevented in the first place or treated earlier to prevent serious injury. Unless the idea of joint replacement surgery seems like a good time for you, read on to learn the three most common ways knees can deteriorate. Knowing what to avoid will help you limit your need for New Jersey orthopedic surgeons.

Three Ways to Destroy Your Knees: 

1. Ignore Consistent Pain: When it comes to preventing serious and lifelong knee injuries, there simply isn’t anything more important than getting any and all knee pain checked out. As a general rule, if the pain in your knee is limiting your ability to do what you normally do, get it looked at. This can prevent a litany of further damage.
2. Being Overweight: By now, no one is unaware of the dangers of carrying around significantly extra body weight. You knee health is directly related to how much extra weight they are being asked to support.
3. Poor Follow Through: Should a sports injury result in knee damage, not following through with rehab and rest is an express path towards lifelong knee problems. It is up to you to take your doctor’s orders to heart and complete the physical therapy and rest time that is prescribed. Doing so now will save you decades of trouble later!

Can You Benefit from Cartilage Replacement Surgery?

Chances are you probably won’t give much thought to the protective cartilage that cushions your bones until it wears down to the point that it becomes raw and painful. Each year, thousands of people must undergo surgery to repair torn cartilage because the pain interferes with their daily lives. Repair usually means shaving damaged cartilage, but many younger, more active patients are excellent candidates for cartilage replacement surgery.  This exciting therapy aims to eliminate pain, restore function and reduce or delay the need for total joint arthroplasty.  So, what exactly is cartilage, and how can it be damaged and repaired?

What is cartilage?

Cartilage is a rubbery, smooth substance found in every joint in your body. It serves to help bones glide smoothly within a joint and as shock absorption.

How can cartilage be damaged?

Your cartilage can be damaged through trauma such as twisting or direct impact; ligament injuries that make your joint unstable or loose resulting in damage to the joint surface cartilage; and poorly aligned joints placing excess pressure on cartilage. The damage can be painful, as well as limit everyday activities like walking.

What are your options for treatment?

While cartilage can be damaged in the hip, ankle, shoulder and elbow, the most common area of injury is the knee.  Cartilage replacement in knee injuries is an excellent alternative to total knee replacement and especially promising for more active patients.  Some of the treatment options involved in cartilage replacement surgery include:

• Arthroscopic and open cartilage replacement procedures
• Performed through small incisions, these are used to stimulate cartilage restoration, replace areas of damaged cartilage with healthy cartilage from elsewhere in the knee, replace damaged cartilage with donor cartilage and bone, or encourage knee cartilage regeneration using your own cartilage cells.

• Limited (partial) replacement of joint surfaces
  Used instead of total joint replacement for older active patients

• Realignment procedures

Called osteotomies, this can be done to take pressure off of damaged and repaired areas of the joint.

Who can be treated?

Anyone from teens to middle-aged adults can be treated with the techniques that orthopedic surgeons use to repair or regenerate cartilage.  The surgery can be performed at an outpatient surgery center or a hospital, depending on the procedure.

What happens after you’ve had treatment?

After you have cartilage replacement surgery in a joint, you must return to activity gradually. It will take time and patience, so don’t expect to return to the activities you enjoyed before your injury occurred. The treatment after surgery often requires specialized physical therapy, under the direct supervision of physicians.

If you’ve been suffering joint pain and are interested in treatment options beyond total replacement surgery, cartilage replacement surgery may be for you.  An orthopedic surgery practice dedicated to the repair and restoration of cartilage, like the Cartilage Restoration Center in New Jersey, a division of Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute, can help.  With Board-certified surgeons utilizing the latest techniques, you’ll be well on your way to returning to that active lifestyle you’ve been missing.

The Advantages of Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement Surgery

Minimally invasive surgery has gained popularity in recent years due to advances in surgical methods and cutting-edge medical technology. When it comes to knee surgery options, physicians and patients alike find that minimally invasive knee replacement surgery is one of the best alternatives to knee replacement procedures of the past.  Making smaller incisions, a knee replacement doctor is able to reduce the damage to the underlying structure of the knee, which in turn, causes you less pain and prevents further injury. You couldn’t ask for a better solution to the pain and long recovery time of traditional surgeries.

Why Might You Need Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement Surgery?

Since they’re such a fragile part of our bodies, our knees are extremely vulnerable to wear and tear – especially the joints.  In light of this, there are more knee replacements performed by orthopedic surgeons than any other type of joint replacement. But, why is that exactly?

Your knee joint consists of three bones that are covered with cartilage and slide over one another: the end of the femur, the top of the tibia and the underside of the patella. Normally the cartilage is a smooth, glistening, white surface, allowing bones to move in an almost frictionless fashion. If you injure your knee or develop a disease like arthritis, your knee cartilage becomes worn and degenerates. It attains a roughened, uneven appearance, and patches of cartilage flake off revealing the bony surface underneath. Early symptoms of knee arthritis include swelling, pressure, and pain after activities such as walking or playing sports. But eventually the disease becomes more severe and any movement brings on pain. Typically, when less invasive therapies failed, total knee replacement was always the recommended treatment.  Well, times have changed.

A Better Alternative to Traditional Knee Replacement Surgery

Traditional knee replacement surgery involves a long incision (eight to twelve inches), significant operative pain, extended hospitalization and knee replacement surgery recovery, and lengthy rehabilitation. While people tend to do well with the surgery, the pain and limited activity you experience for the first three months after surgery can be unbearable. Luckily, over the past decade, better alternatives to knee replacement have been developed to successfully implant the very same clinically proven joints. In fact, you may even find that minimally invasive knee replacement surgery is a pleasant experience!

Check out the Lucky Seven Advantages of Mini-incision Knee Replacement:

1. Smaller incision approximately 5” versus 10”, more cosmetic

2. No violation of the quadriceps muscle with the quad-sparing approach

3. Shorter hospital stays (two to four days vs. one week)

4. Shorter recovery, and return to usual activities in four to six weeks

5. Less blood loss and need for transfusions

6. Lower rates of complications such as blood clots, pneumonia, infection and stiffness

7. Less pain and less need for pain medications

What exactly is involved with the surgery?

Joint replacement surgeons, like the ones at Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute (AOSMI) in Freehold, NJ, are primarily concerned with restoring you to your previous activity level, minimizing pain and facilitating rapid recovery.  Surgeons like these utilize the most advanced knee replacement implants available today.  Some of the most renowned technologies include:

• The Depuy PFC Sigma Rotating Platform, High Flexion knee system, which combines proven performance in a mobile-bearing design giving you unprecedented knee motion.
• The Smith and Nephew Genesis II Oxinium and Journey knee systems, which have a special ceramic coating for maximum longevity.
• The Zimmer Gender Solutions Knee System, which uses a high flexion design with modification of the femoral component to more precisely match female anatomy. The gender specific sizing often provides for a better fit with less overhang of the implant.

Your surgeon will consider your age, sex, bone quality, and activity level in selecting the optimal treatment for your needs.  If it’s been recommended that you get a total knee replacement, you should consider getting more information about this alternative solution.  Contact AOSMI at 732.720.2555 or call your local orthopedic surgeon today.

Are you experiencing knee pain? Swelling or weakness? Sports Injury? Previous ligament damage? Dr. Greg Berkowitz hosts a webinar about cartilage repair. WATCH WEBINAR .

Dr. Nasar performs a Zimmer knee replacement using Patient Specific Instrumentation (PSI) custom cutting guides. The surgical video is narrated and demonstrates the technique. PSI guides are fabricated based on pre-operative MRI’s of the patient’s knee. They are custom made for each patient. Bone resections for the arthroplasty are planned in advance and built into the custom guides.
Read More

Summer is a time for fun. The sun is shining and there are countless outdoor activities for you to enjoy. Whether your activity of choice is swimming, running, or cycling, it is important to know how to enjoy yourself safely, as increased exercise often leads to increased chance of injury. The following tips will help you get the most out of your summer workout. READ MORE.

This may be the age of global warming, but winter still means cold, snow, and ice. These three factors alone are responsible for an increased incidence of injuries reported from December to March. Slipping, falling, and throwing your back out while shoveling snow are very common complaints in my practice during the winter months. The good news is, with a little bit of preparation, many of these injuries are preventable. READ MORE.