Orthopedic Specialists for Sports-Related Injuries

Treatment Options for ACL, AC Joint & Rotator Cuff Injuries

While many people assume sports medicine is the care of just high level athletes, it really is the treatment of any patient with injuries involving a major joint, namely the shoulder, elbow, knee, and ankle.

At Jefferson Orthopedic Clinic, we treat the following common shoulder injuries in athletes:

• Rotator Cuff Injuries: The rotator cuff is a series of muscles around your shoulder. These can be injured from falls or throwing a ball but can also happen spontaneously without injury. These are some of the most common sports related shoulder injuries.
• Labral Tears: This a tear in the “bumper” cartilage that keeps the shoulder in its socket. Tears most often occur from a throwing injury but can also occur from a fall
• Biceps Injuries: Biceps tendon can be torn or partially torn — often as a result of lifting weights. These can require reattachment surgeries – called Biceps tenodesis — especially in younger patients.
• AC Joint Injuries: Also known as a separated shoulder, this often occurs from falls onto the shoulder, causing a separation of the collar bone (clavicle) from the shoulder. This can be treated with or without surgery depending on the age of the patient and severity of injury.
• Collarbone Fractures: This break in the bone may or may not require surgery depending on the severity of the injury. Most fractures occur from falls or hits to the shoulder.

We also treat the following common knee injuries in athletes:

• Torn Meniscus: The meniscus is the thin cartilage in-between the femur and the tibia. This cushioning can often get twisted and torn during soccer or football games. Burning pain will frequently occur on the inside or outside of the joint. This will usually require surgery to repair the torn portion.
• ACL/PCL Injury: Tears and sprains of the Anterior Cruciate or Posterior Cruciate are common knee injuries. These ligament injuries often happen during sports that involve sudden stops or changes in direction. This injury is one of the most common sports-related knee injuries, and usually requires surgery to stabilize the knee.
• Knee Cap Injuries: A dislocation or fracture can occur from falling on the knee causing severe pain around the knee cap. This requires immediate medical attention – and, frequently, surgery.

Additionally, we treat several common elbow injuries in athletes, including:

• Tennis Elbow: Inflammation or, in some cases, micro-tearing of the tendons that join the forearm muscles on the outside of the elbow. This pain is caused from overuse — repeating the same motions again and again (like a backhand swing in tennis). It usually requires physical therapy or Cortisone injections, and, in rare cases, surgery.
• Rupture of the Bicep Tendon: This is a sharp pain in the front of the elbow usually caused from lifting heavy objects. Frequently requires surgical repair of the torn tendon.
• Torn Elbow Ligament: Pain on the inside of the elbow from throwing. This condition is frequently seen in baseball pitchers due to their repeated throwing motion. “Tommy John Surgery” is often used to repair or reconstruct the ligament in serious cases.

Finally, we provide treatment for many common sports injuries of the ankle:

• Achilles Injuries: This pain in the back of the ankle usually occurs from running and jumping activities. Surgery is often required for a torn Achilles tendon, whereas Achilles tendonitis is treated non- operatively.
• Sprained Ankle: This usually requires rest and immobilization with braces or splints. Rarely requires surgery.
• Fractured Ankle: This broken bone requires immediate medical attention. Depending on severity, could require surgery or bracing.