Illinois Sportsmedicine and Orthopaedic Center

General

Q: How often is surgery needed for the treatment of my orthopaedic problem?

A: Most orthopaedic problems are treated without surgery. Physical therapy, injections or simple home instructions are often all that is necessary. Surgery is only used when non-surgical solutions by themselves are unable to resolve the problem.

Q: Will x-rays be necessary to diagnose my condition?

A: In most cases x-rays, which may be taken in our office, are necessary to diagnose your condition and rule out other problems.

Q: How long will I have to wait for an appointment?

A: Although there is a waiting period for new appointments, we will make special accommodations to see patients immediately who have suffered acute trauma.

Q: Will an MRI be necessary to diagnose my problem?

A: In some cases yes, but by no means always. In fact we have special equipment in our clinic, such as the KT-1000 arthrometer, which is actually more accurate than MRI for ACL tears. We also use ultrasound for shoulder diagnoses in many cases instead of MRIs.

Q: Where else can I find more information on Dr. Prodromos and his procedures?

A: Check out the following links:
Knee1.com Hero Interview
Knee Guru "Big Names In Knee Surgery" entry

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear

Q: Should my torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) be repaired?

A: In most cases, yes. A torn ACL renders the knee unstable in pivoting and jumping. This can lead to cartilage damage and arthritis. ACL reconstruction helps prevent these problems and restore an active lifestyle. If you are older or content with a more sedentary lifestyle, non-surgical treatment may be suitable.

Q: How invasive is ACL surgery?

A: Dr. Prodromos has developed a mini-incision, primarily arthroscopic technique that produces excellent results. The procedure takes roughly 90 minutes and patients go home on the day of surgery.

Q: How reliable is ACL reconstruction surgery?

A: Dr. Prodromos recently completed a long-term follow-up study of over 200 of his ACL reconstruction patients. There were no instances of graft failure in this study.

Q: What technique do you use to reconstruct the ACL?

A: At our clinic we have 17 years experience using the hamstring graft. It is the only technique we use. Both the hamstring graft and the patellar tendon graft can produce excellent results; however, we favor the hamstring graft because it is a thicker, stronger graft with an excellent safety record.

Damaged Knee

Q: I have an arthritic knee. Will I need a total knee replacement, or are there alternatives?

A: If your knee is “bone on bone”, you will probably need a total knee replacement. However, most patients with arthritic knees do not need knee replacements. We specialize in a variety of effective alternatives to help preserve damaged knees. These include orthotics, braces and injections. If surgery is needed, we perform outpatient arthroscopic procedures that can regenerate cartilage. We also perform cartilage transplants, “realignment” osteotomy procedures, and partial knee replacements.

Q: My knee “crunches” and hurts when I go up and down stairs. Do I need surgery?

A: Possibly, but probably not. “Chondromalacia” of the kneecap commonly produces “crunching” and pain with kneeling and stair climbing. Some simple instructions and a brief period of physical therapy greatly diminish these symptoms in most patients without surgery. We may need to check that there is not another problem contributing to these symptoms.

Shoulder Problem

Q: I have a torn rotator cuff. Should it be repaired?

A: Most torn rotator cuffs should be repaired. Repair results are best when the tears are small. If left as is, the tears often grow, and if they become too big, may become irreparable.

Q: How invasive is rotator cuff repair surgery?

A: At our clinic almost all rotator cuff repairs are performed arthroscopically through quarter-inch portals without any further incision. Patients return home on the day of surgery.

Q: I have pain when I elevate my arm. What is wrong?

A: Often the problem is rotator cuff tendonitis. This can usually be treated with physical therapy alone and allows continuation of an active lifestyle. If the problem is more serious, injection or arthroscopic surgery may be needed.

Q: My shoulder comes out of the socket. Can this be treated with exercises?

A: If the shoulder comes out partially, therapy may be all that is needed. If it comes out completely, exercises alone are usually not sufficient. Outpatient surgical repair is more than 95% effective in restoring a stable shoulder for a full range of athletic or other activities.

Physical Therapy

Q: Is physical therapy important in treating orthopaedic problems?

A: It depends on the condition. We only utilize physical therapy when it is medically necessary. When it is required, it is a very important part of the treatment regimen.

Q: What physical therapy clinic do you recommend?

A: There are many highly skilled physical therapists in our area. We are affiliated with the Advanced Physical Therapy Institute a few doors down from our clinic. Because of their detailed knowledge of Dr. Prodromos's protocols, their skill, and their proximity, most of our patients choose to receive physical therapy at that location.