Osteoarthritis Knee Treatment

Osteoarthritis Knee Surgeon

Are you experiencing pain in your knee due to osteoarthritis? If you are trying to delay a knee replacement, there are a number of joint preservation surgeries to help alleviate knee pain and delay a knee replacement. Knee joint preservation specialist, Dr. Matthew Provencher provides diagnosis and both surgical and nonsurgical treatment options for patients in Vail who have developed knee osteoarthritis. Contact Dr. Povencher’s team today!

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What is Knee Articular Cartilage Damage?

Articular cartilage is considered a critical structure within the knee joint that allows the bones to glide over each other in a fluid, pain-free motion. The smooth, white substance lining the ends of each bone can break down over time, leaving the bone exposed, from an injury or the natural aging process. When this occurs, patients begin to feel the painful effects of osteoarthritis. Since cartilage cannot heal on its own, certain patients may need to undergo a surgical osteoarthritis knee treatment aimed at joint preservation. Vail, Aspen, Colorado Springs and Denver, Colorado area orthopedic knee surgeon, Dr. Matthew Provencher specializes in a variety of knee replacement alternatives to help prevent further damage to articular cartilage within the joint.

What are Knee Replacement Alternatives?

Orthopedic surgeons and researchers have greatly advanced the area of knee replacement alternatives over time. These advancements have consistently been proven to be effective in prolonging or eliminating the need for total knee replacement surgery. Since replacement procedures are not recommended in younger, active patients, surgical osteoarthritis knee treatments are gaining popularity and allowing patients to have the active lifestyles they had prior to injury.

What are Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment Options?

A common osteoarthritis knee treatment performed by Dr. Provencher is an arthroscopic approach aimed at removing all damaged areas within the joint. Once the injured cartilage and/or bone spurs are removed, and scar tissue is released, the majority of patients will experience significant alleviation of their knee stiffness and pain.

Microfracture is an effective knee replacement alternative used to treat focal cartilage defects, small, well-defined areas where the cartilage has been worn down to bare bone. Microfracture is an arthroscopic procedure that requires Dr. Provencher to create holes in the damaged area. The creation of these “microfractures” allows bone marrow and stem cells to flow out, form a clot and stimulate new growth of fibrocartilage. The fibrocartilage covers the exposed bone and results in decreased knee pain and stiffness.

An OATs procedure, either an osteochondral autograft transfer or osteochondral allograft transplantation, involves small plugs of healthy cartilage and bones to be transferred to the damaged area of the patient’s knee. The plugs can be harvested from either the patient (autograft) or from a donor (allograft).

In certain patients, Dr. Provencher may recommend a knee osteotomy. A knee osteotomy is used to change the shape (alignment) of the joint and transfer weight from a damaged area to a more anatomically normal area of the joint. This procedure leads to reduced pain and stiffness while still allowing for high levels of activity.

Are you a candidate for osteoarthritis knee treatment?

There are two ways to initiate a consultation with Dr. Provencher:

You can provide current X-rays and/or MRIs for a clinical case review with Dr. Provencher.

You can schedule an office consultation with Dr. Provencher.

Request Case Review or Office Consultation

What is Recovery Following a Surgical Osteoarthritis Knee Treatment?

A surgical osteoarthritis knee treatment designed to correct cartilage damage and preserve the joint is highly effective if performed in the ideal candidate and if the patient follows rehabilitation protocols. Based on the procedure performed, patients may be required to wear a brace and/or utilize crutches for several weeks to protect the repaired cartilage. All patients will be prescribed a physical therapy program to increase range of motion, reactivate the quadriceps muscle and improve overall joint function. It is strongly suggested that patients work with the in-house physical therapists at Howard Head Sports Medicine to optimize their rehabilitation.

For additional resources on knee replacement alternatives, such as a surgical osteoarthritis knee treatment for joint preservation, please contact Dr. Matthew Provencher, orthopedic knee surgeon, serving patients in the Vail, Aspen, Colorado Springs and Denver, Colorado area.

Matthew Provencher, MD

Average rating:

66 reviews

James Wilson

Oct 11, 2024

by James Wilson on Matthew Provencher, MD

Senior Electronics development engineer

Wow the Steadman clinic and Doctor Matthew Provencher now that;s a super combination of expertise, experience, empathy, skill and a cherry picked staff with truly outstanding nurses and professional support staff. I was scared of shoulder surgery until I read Dr. Provencher BIO and talked to him. If your considering shoulder replacement surgery this is the place. In three weeks out now and people are amazed at my ability of movement and flexibility I have now. I love the Steadman Clinic and Dr. Matthew Provencher, He's Superman

Anne Miller

Jun 18, 2024

by Anne Miller on Matthew Provencher, MD

Grateful to Dr Provencher and his team

I am a 75-year old, active, athletic woman. Over the last few years, both of my shoulders reached a point where severe arthritis was affecting even day to day tasks. It started with one shoulder in 2021 and recently the second reverse shoulder replacement – both with Dr Provencher. Before my first one, I had received various recommendations including adjusting my lifestyle. Dr Provencher looked at my MRI and x-ray and asked what I enjoy doing and was quick to let me know I could be back to my active lifestyle soon – and he was right. He reads images faster and more accurately than any doctor I have consulted. He has many options available and if you need surgery he is the one to do it. Surgery is quick and the recovery is much easier than I anticipated. I am 10 days out from my second reverse shoulder and have no pain and gaining mobility already! My case for both shoulders was a bit more complicated due to bone integrity, severe arthritis and bicep tears. Dr Provencher has dealt innovatively with both complications and makes it seem straightforward although I know it was not. He is not only one an extraordinary surgeon, but also, a caring human being who takes the time with his patients and makes himself available if questions arise. His team is second to none – Maddy, Madison, Sam, Scott, Jasmin and in pre-op, Layla and Kevin – in terms of commitment, competence, compassion and responsiveness. Both times I have felt cared for and that resolving my situation mattered to him. Wherever you live, Dr Provencher and his team are the ones to trust. There is no need to live a compromised life!

Gene reiling

Jul 21, 2023

by Gene reiling on Matthew Provencher, MD

Success

If you are planning to see Dr Provencher ,do not hesitate ,do it. In 2018 Dr Provencher replaced my LCL. I had no complications and very little pain. I did my physical therapy as prescribed. I was able to ski 30 plus days the winter of 2019-2020. Before seeing dr Provencher I had spent a years time trying to solve my problem locally. I saw a pain specialist, orthopedic urgent care and a orthopedic surgeon. All had access to an mri done locally. It was also read by local radiologist. Pain dr gave injections as did orthopedic urgent care. No relief from pain. Orthopedic surgeon told me about arthritis, meniscus needing cleaning up and general deterioration from age. Told me to take ibuprofen for pain. At that time I reached out to Steadman Clinic. By luck of the draw I was assigned Dr Provencher. I took with me the mri that had been done locally and viewed by 3 local Drs and 1 PA. It took Dr Provencher less than a minute to tell me my problem was my LCL after viewing my mri. He told me my options . I selected surgery as I wanted to continue an active life style. It was a complete success!!

Knee | Shoulder | Joint Preservation | Arthroplasty