Proliance ProOrtho Orthopedics Sports, Joints & Spine

Hip

Hip injuries require treatment in a specialized setting where advanced techniques can be applied specifically for each patient’s needs. If you are seeking orthopedic hip services, schedule an appointment at ProOrtho today.

Our physicians are experts in addressing:

• Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)
• Hip Replacement

Common Hip Problems

Arthritis is the most common source of hip pain, and three types of arthritis are the main cause. Osteoarthritis is age-related wear of the cartilage between bones, and generally settles in after the age of 50. Post-traumatic arthritis follows a hip injury or fracture, and rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease resulting in inflammation of the cartilage. Hip injuries like femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) are also common causes of hip pain, and are becoming more and more prevalent among athletes.

Anatomy of the Hip
As one of the body’s largest joints, the hip is a ball and socket joint comprised of two bones – the upper thigh bone (femoral head), and the socket of the pelvis bone (acetabulum labrum). A connective tissue, articular cartilage, works with another thin tissue called the synovial membrane to keep the hip joint lubricated and moving easily. The hip joint and tissues are also held in place by a collection of ligaments called the hip capsule that helps the socket (acetabulum) grip the ball (femoral head).

What Does a Healthy Hip Look Like?

A healthy hip should have a full range of motion that allows you to properly walk, exercise, sit, and stretch without experiencing pain. If you’re trying to determine whether or not you have a hip problem, it’s important to watch for pain in your pelvis or lower back, because these parts of the musculoskeletal system are so closely intertwined. Look out for any redness, swelling, warmth, loss of motion, or tenderness in the area.

Treatment Options

When diagnosing hip problems doctors frequently observe the area, use X-Rays and other imaging services, and gauge your ability to perform certain movements. Aside from surgery, it’s common for doctors to prescribe hip conditioning programs and hip rehabilitation exercises to increase the strength and flexibility of the hips and surrounding muscles.

Minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques can also be used to treat hip injuries. Hip replacement surgery is one of the most effective, and commonly used means of relieving hip pain, treating arthritis, increasing range of motion, and ultimately restoring a healthy hip. Improved surgical techniques and the development of new materials have made hip replacement one of the most successful and reliable of all orthopedic procedures.

As a focal point of the musculoskeletal system, the hips are an extremely flexible joint. However, they are also constantly responsible for our bodyweight. We rely on our hips whether we are standing, sitting, walking, or running, so maintaining the hip joint is essential to our overall quality of life. It can be difficult to diagnose the cause of hip pain and treat it, so please seek out the help of experienced hip specialists at ProOrtho. Contact our hip doctors in Seattle today to learn more!

Knee

The knees are one of the strongest joints in the human body. They’re also the most commonly injured. Knee arthritis is a big reason why, and it’s increasing at epidemic rates. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Injuries from sports, like ACL tears, meniscus tears, and cartilage injuries are often to blame for knee problems as well. Injured knees need specialized treatment, and may require surgery to return to an active lifestyle.

Our physicians are experts in addressing:

• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears
• Cartilage Injuries
• Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) and Posterolateral Corner (PCL) Tears
• Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Tears
• MAKOplasty® Robotic-Assisted Surgery
• Meniscus Tears
• Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Tears
• Partial Knee Replacement
• Total Knee Replacement

Anatomy of the Knee

As the largest joint in your body, the knee is a connection point of three bones and four major ligaments (ACL, LCL, MCL, PCL). The thighbone (femur), shinbone (tibia), and kneecap (patella) are held together by cartilage where they meet, and two menisci act as a cushion to absorb impact between the femur and tibia. A synovial membrane surrounds the knee joint to keep cartilage lubricated and reduce friction. These crucial moving parts are a big reason why the knee is so vulnerable to injury.

What Does a Healthy Knee Look Like?

A healthy knee should be free of pain, support your weight, and fully flex and extend. When you squat, your knees should stay aligned and point forward rather than turn inward. Check your knees to make sure you don’t have any swelling, redness, stiffness, weakness, or popping noises.

Treatment Options

Surgical knee treatment leverages minimally invasive techniques, computer navigation, robotic assistance, and instruments tailored to the patient. Most knee injuries are treated with minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques. Approximately 700,000 knee replacement procedures are performed annually in the US, and for good reason – it’s one of the most effective operations in all of orthopedics. Sports medicine helps to treat acute knee injuries – from physical therapy to assistive devices, nonsurgical treatment is available.

Knee injuries need to be managed in a setting with specialized treatment where the most advanced techniques are available. By learning more about knee problems and consulting with one of the Seattle orthopedic physicians at our orthopedic clinic, you can intervene before issues progress and return to a pain-free life.

Orthobiologics

Orthobiologics is a continuously evolving field that has become intertwined in contemporary orthopedic surgery practices and sports medicine. These substances allow physicians to provide alternative options to help repair musculoskeletal injuries that may not be treated conventionally.

When considering non-surgical treatment for orthopedic injuries, this regenerative medicine may be the most effective solution. Contact the orthobiologics doctors at ProOrtho today to learn more.

What is Orthobiologics?

Orthobiologics are substances that are already found within the body that can be used to help heal itself. When an injury occurs, blood flushes to the area that was injured. This is the first step of the body’s natural healing response – the blood brings healing factors to the affected location. Orthobiologics experts intentionally bring those healing factors to the injury site in a similar way.

The treatment works as an alternative to surgical treatment or artificial replacement, by strategically injecting concentrations of the substances into the injured area to stimulate the recovery process or even replenish dying cells, helping bones and tissue heal.

Common types of orthobiologics include:

• Stem cell therapy – stem cells are undeveloped cells within the body that can develop into the cells surrounding them, potentially providing the kind of cell an injured body part needs to recover.
• PRP (platelet rich plasma) – a patented process where a portion of blood with a high platelet concentration is drawn and reinjected to the injury.

Overall, by utilizing alternative biological technologies when appropriate, surgeons can address cartilage defects, nonunion of bones, inflammation, fractures, previously irreparable injuries like tendon tears, and more. Opting for less-conventional techniques like orthobiologics can aid patients suffering from bone, cartilage and soft tissue loss and injury.

Ask ProOrtho’s doctors about what treatment may be right for you.

Pain Management

Our top orthopedic doctors in Seattle are here to answer any questions you may have regarding chronic pain management, post-surgery pain management, pain medications, orthobiologics, and more. Contact ProOrtho today.

Chronic pain impacts just over 20% of the adult population in America – that’s more than 50 million Americans. Compared to injury, chronic pain can be very difficult to understand and finding pain relief can be extremely challenging. It appears in the form of leg pain, knee pain, back pain, arthritis, post-trauma or post-surgery pain, and a wide variety of other ailments.

At ProOrtho, our pain management doctors and orthopedic surgeons can diagnose and treat pain-related problems. We strive to help you manage your pain to reach your health goals and return to an active, meaningful life. Our orthopedic clinic in Seattle provides safe, clinically proven, nonsurgical pain treatment options including:

• Interventional pain management: uses techniques like injections and blocking when a patient’s pain is interfering with day-to-day activities and other treatments have not been effective.
• Spine and joint injections: can be used both to diagnose the source of neck or back pain, and also as pain relief treatment by helping to reduce inflammation while improving mobility and stability.
• Nerve blocks: a strategic injection to interrupt pain signals from the affected area to the brain.
• Cortisone injections: a combination of corticosteroid medication and a local anesthetic, these injections are commonly used to relieve joint pain and inflammation in the ankles, elbows, shoulders, knees, hips, and more.
• Viscosupplementation: involves an injection of lubricant into osteoarthritic knee joints to allow the bones to move smoothly against one another and absorb shock without pain.

Using an evidence-based approach to chronic pain, we find comprehensive solutions that integrate physical therapy treatment and psychological counseling, if needed. We draw on a variety of procedures while taking each patient’s individual situation into account, considering personal factors that may need to be addressed, such as weight, depression, anxiety, or sleep disturbances.

We are dedicated to helping patients manage pain with the latest techniques and research, to help them discover a better quality of life. You don’t have to live in pain. Contact ProOrtho today.

Shoulder

If you’re looking for the best shoulder doctors in Seattle to receive a specialized shoulder assessment, or simply learn more about shoulder conditions, schedule an appointment with our top Seattle orthopedic doctors. Shoulder injuries are best managed in a dedicated setting where advanced techniques can be chosen according to each patient’s specific needs.

Our physicians are experts in addressing:

• AC Joint Arthritis
• Bicep Tendon Tears at Shoulder and Elbow
• Frozen Shoulder
• Labral Tears and SLAP Tears
• Rotator Cuff Tears
• Rotator Cuff Tendinitis, Bursitis, and Impingement
• Shoulder Instability
• Shoulder Replacement

Common Shoulder Problems

Most shoulder injuries involve inflammation to the rotator cuff tendons, including tears and tendinitis. Rotator cuff tears are so prevalent that a significant portion of people who don’t even experience shoulder pain have them, and this becomes more likely with age. Another primary culprit of shoulder pain is arthritis. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The shoulder joint is also the most frequently dislocated joint in the body due its wide range of movement, and it’s common for shoulder dislocation to repeatedly occur. Other typical shoulder problems include impingement, labral tears, biceps tendon injuries, instability, or fracture.

Anatomy of the Shoulder

As the complex intersection of muscles, bones, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments, the shoulder is actually a collection of numerous joints. Three bones are held together by connective soft tissue at the shoulder – the collarbone (clavicle), upper arm (humerus), and shoulder blade (scapula). The head of the humerus upper arm bone meets at the rounded shoulder socket (glenoid labrum) in your scapula shoulder blade to form the glenohumeral joint (shoulder joint). This joint allows the shoulder its back and forth range of motion. At the highest point of the shoulder, a piece of bone called the acromion connects with the collarbone to form the AC joint. The bones in the shoulder are connected to four tendons (subscapularis, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor) at the rotator cuff, which allows the shoulder to rotate and rise.

What Does a Healthy Shoulder Look Like?

A healthy shoulder should be able to move back and forth, in circles, and rotate up and down without pain. One way to assess your range of motion is to stand with your back against a wall and try lifting your arms overhead. You should be able to move your shoulder without using your lower back, free of pain and stiffness. Check your shoulders for any muscle weakness, swelling, bruising, or movement limitations.

Treatment Options

To diagnose and treat shoulder injuries, it’s common for doctors to utilize X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and arthroscopy. Treatments vary depending on the type of injury – physical therapy and behavior changes are often the solutions to shoulder pain; however certain injections can be used to address pain as well. Surgery may be required for issues like rotator cuff tears and repeated dislocations – minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques can be used to treat most problems. Shoulder replacement is very effective for relieving arthritis pain and improving function. Sports injuries to the shoulder generally require sports medicine specialty care.

The shoulder plays the pivotal role of connecting your arms to your torso, which is by no means an easy task. While multiple moving parts make the shoulder one of the most mobile joints in the human body, they also make it relatively unstable and highly prone to injury. Disease and injury to specific parts of the shoulder are frequently to blame, but it takes a seasoned professional, like the specialists at ProOrtho, to accurately diagnose the cause of shoulder pain and treat it. Contact us today to learn more.

Spine

Spine conditions can lead to a variety of complications throughout the rest of the body and may greatly limit day-to-day functions. Many neck and spine injuries can be treated without surgery if they are evaluated and diagnosed by a medical professional as soon as possible. At our Seattle spine clinic, ProOrtho’s dedicated team of spine doctors works with each individual to provide specialized treatment plans.

Our ProOrtho and Seattle Minimally Invasive Spine Center physicians are experts in addressing:

• Spine Surgical Procedures
• Spine and Neck Post Op Instructions
• Back, Buttock, & Leg Pain
• Neck & Arm Pain
• Body Mechanics
• Spine Injections

Anatomy of the Spine

The spine is comprised of bones, muscles, spinal nerves, and other tissue from the neck to the pelvis. It has four main sections starting with the top portion by the neck (cervical), then moving down to the upper back (thoracic), lower back (lumbar spine), and the base of the spine and tailbone (sacrum and coccyx).

The spinal column is a stack of over 30 bones (vertebrae) held together by intervertebral discs between them. Intervertebral discs themselves act as shock absorbers within the column and are composed of two types of cartilage – the hardened outer part of the disc (annulus fibrosus) and the soft gel inside (nucleus pulposus). The spinal column holds our upper bodyweight and protects the spinal cord, which is what allows us to control different parts of the body and feel every physical sensation that we do.

What does a healthy spine look like?

Neck and spine conditions are becoming more and more common, especially with issues like tech neck on the rise. There are some simple guidelines to follow when checking your own spine health. Looking at the spine from behind, it should be completely straight without any curves to the left or right. However, when viewing the spine from the side, there should be curves inward at the neck and lower back, with some outward curve at the upper back. This curvature allows for flexibility, weight-bearing, and keeps the head aligned over the pelvis when sitting or standing.

Treatment Options

Spine treatment varies, depending on the cause and severity of injury and any other injuries, plus treatment plans for those. Most spine problems have non-surgical remedies; however, surgery is recommended if there are specific anatomical issues that can be corrected and your quality of life is disrupted. For example, slipped discs or herniated disks are commonly treated with minimally invasive techniques like microdiscectomy.

Our Seattle spine surgeons will likely conduct full physical exams, evaluating the head, chest, abdomen, pelvis, limbs, and anything else influenced by the spine. Imaging tests including X-ray, MRI, and CT scans are common, and since the spinal cord is integral to our ability to move or feel, doctors will also likely conduct neurological testing.

Our team of doctors are the best spine surgeons in Washington state because they are invested in helping each patient achieve a successful recovery, whether that’s through properly preparing you for spine surgery or post-op rehabilitation. Contact ProOrtho spine doctors today to learn more about spine care and live your life pain-free.