The treatment of cartilage injuries remains one of the most difficult challenges in medicine. The Cartilage Repair & Restoration Program brings together world-renowned scientists and physicians to meet this challenge. Our team is dedicated to providing patients with the most advanced and effective treatments for knee meniscus and articular cartilage injuries of the knee and elbow. Our research helps shape the future of cartilage repair and regeneration, with the hope that our patients will benefit from it. We offer the best possible current technology and expertise to enable patients to have a successful return to normal activities. To find out more about this program, please fill out a brief survey . There are two types of cartilage in the body—the meniscus cartilage (the most common example is the shock absorbers of the knee) and articular cartilage, which covers the bones in joints like the knee and elbow to allow smooth joint motion. In cases of extreme or extensive articular cartilage wear, patients develop osteoarthritis and may require a joint replacement. In young and active patients, cartilage injuries or defects can do more than just limit activities due to pain and swelling. If left untreated, these injuries can lead to more serious disability and, in severe cases, arthritis and possible joint replacement. Currently, procedures to repair articular cartilage are not designed to treat the extensive cartilage loss seen in osteoarthritis. However, there are procedures that are highly effective in the treatment of cartilage defects in a particular location, such as those associated with acute injury. In the case of extensive meniscus tissue loss in the knee, however, there are options for treatment such as meniscus allograft transplantation or osteotomy or even non-operative treatments such as the use of unloader braces. Not every patient is a suitable candidate for cartilage restoration or meniscus transplant surgery. These procedures are ideal for active people under age 50. Our experienced providers will assess each patient’s condition and help them make an informed decision. Our Sports Medicine Surgeons are fellowship trained and have expertise in meniscus transplant, osteochondral autograft and allograft procedures, and 2nd and 3rd generation cartilage restoration procedures. The Cartilage Repair & Restoration Program utilizes the highest quality advanced imaging, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for patient evaluation, in collaboration with Yale University’s Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging to determine the size and extent of cartilage injury to optimize patient treatment and surgical planning. When surgery becomes necessary for patients with cartilage and meniscus injury, our program offers extensive expertise. Not all surgeons are able to offer “cutting-edge” technology in cartilage restoration, as it entails development of new and sometimes more challenging surgical skills that can re

Shoulder injuries are common in an active population, as well as in middle-aged and older adults. Structural injuries can range from labral tears, which can cause shoulder instability, to muscle and tendon injuries, such as a rotator cuff tear, resulting in pain and weakness. Traditional, or open, surgery entails repair of the injuries through large skin incisions. Unfortunately, this causes structural damage to the skin and underlying musculature. Advancements in video technology and surgical instrumentation has allowed the surgical procedures to be undertaken through minimally invasive techniques (non-muscle damaging) through “keyhole,” or arthroscopic surgery. While the repaired structures still need time to allow for biological healing, this minimally invasive technique allows for decreased post-surgical pain, which results in a faster recovery and return back to activities of daily living. To find out more about this program, please fill out a brief survey . The Sports Medicine and shoulder surgeons at Yale Medicine are proficient in shoulder arthroscopy and typically utilize arthroscopic techniques for the majority of shoulder surgeries. Open surgery is reserved for specialized indications, such as shoulder replacements and other unique situations. Prior to surgery, our board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeons collaborate with our highly experienced musculoskeletal radiologists, who utilize high-resolution MRI imaging in order to ensure the most accurate structural diagnosis. This allows for a highly individualized and tailored surgical plan. If surgery is necessary, most cases are performed on an outpatient basis at the McGivney Advanced Surgery Center or Greenwich Hospital. At these facilities, patients receive concierge-style care, which allows for as stress-free a surgical experience as possible. Patients are cared for by board-certified and fellowship-trained surgeons and anesthesiologists, physician assistants, as well as highly trained nurses. The facilities at the McGivney Advanced Surgery Center in New Haven and Greenwich Hospital allow our surgeons to provide state-of-the-art, cutting-edge surgical treatments in order to give patients the best potential for maximal recovery. After surgery, our team also works closely with affiliated physical therapists who are well-versed in managing patients in their recovery phase of healing. This collaboration ensures individualized treatment plans, aimed to optimize recovery and return to function.

Hip injuries are common in the young athletic population, and conditions such as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), labral tears, and microinstability are underdiagnosed. Traditional surgical techniques for treatment involved open surgery, but recent advances have allowed for minimally invasive, arthroscopic treatment for many of these conditions. Patients undergoing these arthroscopic hip procedures are able to recover faster and can be managed on an outpatient basis. To find out more about this program, please fill out a brief survey . The Sports Medicine and Hip Preservation Surgeons at Yale are experts in hip arthroscopy for the treatment of common nonarthritic hip conditions, such as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and labral tears. Our surgeons are specifically trained in hip preservation and are using cutting-edge arthroscopic techniques, including treatment of cam/pincer impingement, labral repair, labral augmentation, and labral reconstruction surgery. In addition, they are actively involved in advancing the field of hip preservation by conducting nationally and internationally presented research. All hip preservation patients will be evaluated with the latest diagnostic modalities, including high resolution MRI and 3D CT scans to ensure accurate diagnoses and optimized treatment plans. In addition, the latest nonoperative biologic treatments are available, including ultrasound-guided bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) and platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections. If surgery is necessary, the new state-of-the-art facilities at the McGivney Advanced Surgery Center in New Haven allow our surgeons to provide the highest level of surgical care to our patients. Our surgeons are able to view intraoperative 3D models to execute precise and patient-specific care to provide the best outcomes. Postoperatively, our hip preservation team surgical team works closely with physical therapists on validated and tailored regiments. This collaboration allows for individualized treatment plans to optimize recovery and return to function. The main purpose of the dynamic and multidisciplinary hip preservation team is to help our patients achieve their goals.