Explore Our Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Surgery Services

What Is Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Surgery?

Surgery for sports injuries combines sports medicine and orthopaedics, which is care for musculoskeletal conditions and injuries that affect bones, joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons. Our skilled team of orthopaedic surgeons has extensive expertise in the latest minimally invasive and open surgery techniques.

We begin with a thorough evaluation to understand the injury or condition. From there, we discuss your treatment options – which may include surgery when conservative treatment options are no longer effective.

Why Choose Memorial for Sports Medicine Surgery?

Sports Medicine Surgery: Our Diagnostic Process

Whether or not you’ve already seen your primary care provider for your symptoms or injury, we begin with a thorough evaluation, where we:

• Conduct a physical exam
• Review your medical history
• Discuss your symptoms
• Discuss the history of any injuries and your athletic history

For all of our patients, we typically take X-rays, which we can do in our offices. You may also need further testing to confirm a diagnosis or rule out other conditions. You may also need further testing to confirm a diagnosis or rule out other conditions. We offer the following imaging technologies:

• MRI uses radio waves, a powerful magnetic field and a computer to produce detailed images of soft tissue such as cartilage, tendons (tissue that connects bone to muscle) or ligaments (tissue that connects bone to bone).
• CT scans take cross-sectional images that a computer compiles into 3D images, providing a detailed view of bone anatomy so we can check for bone loss and fracture healing. We also use CTs to help us create 3D models for surgery planning.
• MRI arthrogram is a specialized scan where you first receive an injection of a contrast material in a joint, and then we take MRI scans. The contrast provides a detailed image, showing tears in cartilage, tendons or ligaments.
• Fluoroscopy produces live X-rays, like a video, to help with diagnosis and also to guide injections for joint pain relief. We offer this imaging in our offices.
• Ultrasound uses sound waves to generate detailed images of soft tissue to check for tears, bleeding or other problems.
• Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure we use to view inside joints so we can evaluate and treat injuries such as meniscal tears, ligament injuries and cartilage defects. The surgeon makes a few small incisions to access the hip, knee or shoulder joint and performs various procedures based on the findings.

Sports Medicine Surgery and Minimally Invasive Procedures

Our goals for sports injury surgery are to successfully repair injuries and treat conditions so you can get back to the activities you love as soon as possible.

Based on the diagnosis, our orthopedic surgeons determine whether you would benefit from an injection, physical therapy or surgery. Whenever possible, we begin your treatment with nonsurgical management.

Sometimes, however, conservative methods are not sufficient. Or you may have a condition such as a complex fracture or unstable soft tissue injury that requires surgery to repair. In these cases, we discuss surgical options with you, which may include:

Minimally Invasive Surgery

We often use minimally invasive procedures, which typically minimize pain and other complications and shorten your recovery time. These procedures require only small incisions, rather than one large incision. We offer:

• Arthroscopy: Surgeons use a scope (a thin instrument with a tiny camera) to examine and treat joints using miniature instruments.
• Percutaneous fracture fixation: After making small incisions, surgeons use fluoroscopy to guide them as they align fractures and apply hardware to stabilize bones in the proper position. This technique avoids open surgery and a large incision, resulting in faster recovery and lower risk of complications.
• Anterior hip replacement: Surgeons make a small incision in the front (anterior) of the hip to replace the hip joint. Unlike traditional approaches, the anterior approach avoids cutting muscles, helping minimize pain and speed recovery.

Open Surgery

Minimally invasive procedures are not appropriate to treat certain types of injuries or conditions, such as complex fractures and certain shoulder, knee and elbow tendon or ligament injuries. Nor are they used for revision surgery, which is surgery to correct problems that developed after a previous surgery. For those situations, an open (traditional) surgery provides a more effective and successful treatment.

The main difference between open surgery and a minimally invasive procedure is the type of incision. In open surgery, the surgeon usually makes one long incision. In minimally invasive surgery, there are multiple small ones.

Doctors throughout South Florida refer their patients to us for revision surgery to address complications from previous surgeries they had elsewhere. Read more about our sports medicine surgery for:

• Hip, knee, ankle and foot
• Shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand