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The cause of persistent joint pain can range from an innocuous sporting injury to the more serious Rheumatoid Arthritis. At Phoenix, we are the experts in proper evaluation and diagnosis of this common malady. Treatment options include medicines, physiotherapy, injections and activity modifications. We believe that surgery should be the last resort when nothing else works. An early diagnosis and proper multimodal management is the key to avoid surgery.

What is joint preservation? Joint preservation refers to the use of nonsurgical or surgical means to preserve a deteriorating joint in order to delay or avoid joint replacement surgery. When cartilage deterioration due to osteoarthritis is causing persistent joint pain that interferes with your daily life, it is our goal to restore normal movement and alleviate pain to your joint – be it your shoulder, hip, or knee. Joint preservation refers to the use of nonsurgical or surgical means to preserve a deteriorating joint in order to delay or avoid joint replacement surgery. Every patient is different, so our specialists will customize your joint preservation strategy with you based on your individual situation, taking into account factors such as your age, expectations, level of joint dysfunction, and activity level. Many people delay seeking treatment for joint pain for fear they will be told they need joint replacement surgery. If you suffer from persistent joint pain, you have nonsurgical as well as surgical treatment options. The joint preservation specialists at The San Antonio Orthopaedic Group are dedicated to reducing your pain and restoring mobility to your joints. Nonsurgical joint preservation techniques include: Joint Injections (Steroid Injections and Viscosupplementation), Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy, Stem Cell Therapy Surgical joint preservation techniques include: Osteotomy, Cartilage Restoration Procedures (including Allografts, Microfracture, and Biologic Grafts)

The shoulder is a shallow ball and socket joint. This allows fantastic range of movement, but also makes it an inherently unstable joint. The socket is made deeper by a rim of fibrocartilage (labrum). Additional stability is provided by thickenings of the joint capsule (ligaments) and the rotator cuff muscles. Shoulder stability relies upon these ligaments remaining intact and the muscles being strong.A shoulder dislocation occurs when the ball (humerus) comes out of the socket (glenoid). This may be partial (subluxation) or full (dislocation). After the first episode, it is likely that the labrum and ligaments will be torn, putting the shoulder at high risk of recurrent episodes of instability. This is especially true for patients under the age of 30 years.Recurrent shoulder instability following a traumatic shoulder dislocation can be effectively treated by repairing the torn labrum and ligaments. This is most commonly done using keyhole (arthroscopic) surgery and, when using modern techniques, is associated with a high rate of success. The labrum is reattached to the edge of the socket and the ligaments are tightened. This is done using suture anchors inserted into the edge of the socket (glenoid).Recovery following surgery usually involves staying one night in hospital, and being in a sling for 6 weeks. Most people can drive a car after 6 to 8 weeks. Rehabilitation guidelines to share with your physiotherapist are provided following the surgery. Return sport is usually possible at 6 months.

The knee joint is a frequent source of problems requiring the attention of an orthopaedic surgeon. The joint is primarily formed by the two large bones of the lower limb, the femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (shin bone). The patella (kneecap) articulates with the femur at the front of the knee. The fibula joins with the tibia on the lateral (outside) side of the knee. Together, the femur, tibia and patella make three compartments (medial, lateral and patellofemoral). Each of the bones has a bearing surface of articular or hyaline cartilage. In addition there is a meniscus in each of the medial and lateral compartments. The menisci are like cushions or spacers and are made of fibrocartilage. They often simply referred to as the cartilages. The direction of movement of the bones is controlled by the ligaments and the muscles make the joint move. The major ligaments are the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments and the medial and lateral collateral ligaments. In addition, the collateral ligaments have important associated ligaments towards the back of the knee. The major muscle groups are the quadriceps at the front of the thigh and the hamstring muscles at the back. Muscles attach to bones via tendons. The main tendons around the knee are the quadriceps and patellar tendons which attach to the top and bottom of the patella respectively. The iliotibial band is like a tendon on the lateral side of the knee.