Knee Surgery
Dr. Pamela Mehta, MD
The Best Knee Surgeon in San Jose
Table of Contents
Knee Surgery We Offer in San Jose
Dr. Mehta is an expert in treating all knee conditions. She specializes in arthroscopic knee surgery. This leaves a smaller scar and has a quicker recovery time compared to open knee surgery.
When you first visit Dr. Mehta, she will examine your knee joint, and explain the cause of your knee problem. She will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan to ease your knee pain and help you move better.
Conservative treatments for knee pain include knee exercises, physical therapy, and knee braces. If your pain is serious or continues despite treatment, she may offer a cortisone injection or knee surgery.
At Resilience Orthopedics, Dr. Mehta performs minimally invasive surgical techniques. This helps to repair your knee condition with less scarring.
Book a Consultation with Dr. Pamela Mehta, MD
The Best Knee Surgeon in San Jose
Dr. Mehta is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who can help you recover from your knee condition.
We can help if you:
- Are Suffering From Pain and Mobility Issues
- Need Orthopedic Assessment and Advice
- Want Treatment From a Top Knee Surgeon
Call On 408-559-3888
or Send a Message.
Surgery for Sports Injuries
ACL reconstruction
Primary ACL reconstruction is a treatment for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. The ACL cannot repair itself, so a new ligament is made from a tissue graft, and replaces the damaged ACL.
It is typically performed using arthroscopic techniques. This means that the surgeon makes small incisions in the knee and inserts a camera. They then use surgical instruments inside the knee.
ACL repair is not always necessary. You may be able to manage your symptoms with other treatments, such as physical therapy and a knee brace. However, surgery is usually recommended for patients who are active. This is especially true if you want to return to sports that involve pivoting or sudden stops.
We will follow you up after your procedure with ACL aftercare advice and physical therapy, to make sure your recovery goes smoothly.
Partial and Total Meniscectomy
Partial and total meniscectomy are both treatments for meniscus tear. Due to poor blood supply, your knee menisci are often unable to heal themselves in the event of a meniscus tear. Depending on the severity of your tear, your knee surgeon will remove either part or all of your damaged meniscus.
Partial meniscectomy is the most common type of meniscectomy. It is usually performed using an arthroscope. Your surgeon makes a small incision in your knee and inserts a camera and tools through it. This allows your surgeon to see inside the joint and remove the torn meniscus, without leaving a large scar.
Total meniscectomy is rarely performed. It is only done if the torn meniscus cannot be repaired or if you patient have severe arthritis in the knee.
Knee Meniscus Repair
Meniscus repair is a treatment for meniscus tear. Depending on the severity of your meniscus tear, an expert knee surgeon may be able to stitch your meniscus back together rather than opt for meniscectomy.
If you have a combined injury (such as with ACL or MCL) this can be repaired at the same time. Meniscus repair is not always possible. Some tears are too large or too old to be repaired. In these cases, your surgeon may recommend a meniscectomy.
The success rate of meniscus repair is high. Most patients are able to return to their pre-injury activities within 4-6 months after surgery. However, there is always a risk of complications, such as infection, blood clots, and stiffness.
Knee Arthritis Surgery
Articular Cartilage Restoration
Articular cartilage restoration is a treatment for knee arthritis. It helps to repair damaged cartilage inside your knee.
Articular cartilage is the smooth, white tissue covering the ends of a joint’s bones. It acts as a cushion and allows the bones to move against each other. Articular cartilage gets damaged through injury, overuse, or age. When this happens, there is no longer a smooth surface for the bones to move against. This can lead to pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joint.
Articular cartilage restoration is a procedure to repair or replace damaged articular cartilage. There are several different techniques that can be used, including:
Microfracture. This procedure involves making small holes in the subchondral bone. This is the bone that lies under the cartilage. This allows blood to flow into the area and promotes the growth of new cartilage.
Osteochondral autograft transplantation (OAT). This procedure involves taking a small piece of cartilage and bone from a healthy part of the knee. We then transplant it to the damaged area.
Osteochondral allograft transplantation (OATS). This procedure is like OAT, but the cartilage and bone are from a donor.
Matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI). This procedure involves taking chondrocytes from your knee. These are then multiplied in a laboratory. Chondrocytes are the cells that make up cartilage. The chondrocytes are then implanted back into the knee in a collagen matrix.
Knee Replacement
Knee replacement, also known as knee arthroplasty, is a procedure to replace part of your knee. In this procedure, artificial implants replace the weight-bearing surfaces of the knee joint. The artificial joint is called a prosthesis.
Knee replacement surgery is often recommended for severe arthritis in the knee. This depends on the level of symptoms such as pain, stiffness, and difficulty walking. Knee replacement can relieve pain and allow you to return to your normal activities.
Recovery from knee replacement surgery is very important and can much improve the joint replacement.
There are two types: total knee replacement and partial knee replacement.
Total knee replacement: This is the most common type of knee replacement. It involves replacing all the weight-bearing surfaces of the knee joint. This includes the thighbone, shinbone, and kneecap.
Unicompartmental (partial) knee replacement: This type only replaces one compartment of the knee. Usually, this is the medial compartment. It is less invasive than total knee replacement and may be advised if you only have arthritis in one part of the knee.
Knee replacement surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon makes an incision in the front of the knee and removes the damaged cartilage and bone. The artificial implants are then inserted and the surgeon makes sure that they are aligned. The incision is then closed with stitches or staples.
Loose Body Removal
Loose body removal is a surgery to remove small loose fragments of knee cartilage which can occur after injuries or due to arthritis. These loose bodies can cause pain, swelling, and locking or catching of the knee.
Loose bodies in the knee can be caused by a number of things, including:
- Injury to the knee joint
- Arthritis
- Avascular necrosis (death of bone tissue due to lack of blood supply)
- Tumors
Loose bodies are most commonly found in the knee joint, but they can also occur in other joints, such as the shoulder, hip, and ankle. Knee loose body removal is usually performed arthroscopically.
Patella & Patellar Tendon Surgery
Primary Patellar Tendon Repair
Those with partial or complete patellar tendon tear likely require patellar tendon surgery. A primary patellar tendon repair is the preferred option. This depends on how quickly treatment was sought and how much damage there is to the patellar tendon.
Depending on the location of the tendon rupture, there are a few ways this procedure can be performed:
Transosseous
For tears near the kneecap, a transosseous tendon repair can be performed. Your surgeon sutures one end of the ruptured tendon. She then drills holes through the kneecap and threads the sutures through these holes. This secures the tendon in place for healing.
Suture Anchor
End-to-End Repair
For tears between this, an end-to-end patellar tendon repair can be performed.
Complete Patellar Tendon Reconstruction
Knee surgeons can use tissue grafts to reconstruct the patellar tendon. This is useful for:
- Chronic patellar tendon tear
- Significant chronic degeneration of the tendon
- When the tendon is too damaged to attempt a primary repair
This is a more complex procedure than a primary tendon repair.
Tendon tissue is harvested from another tendon or muscle in the body and used to reconstruct the patellar tendon. Options for tendon harvest include:
- Semitendinosus – a muscle in the back of your thigh.
- Gracilis – a muscle of your inner thigh.
- Central quadriceps tendon – one of the tendons which connect the patella (kneecap) to yourquadriceps muscle above the knee.
- Achilles tendon – the tendon which connects your calf to your heel.
Patellar Discloation Surgery
Patellar dislocation surgery is a procedure to repair a dislocated kneecap. The kneecap, also known as the patella, is a small, triangular bone that sits in front of the knee joint. It helps to extend the knee and protect the knee joint from injury.
There are two main types of patellar dislocation surgery:
Medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction – This procedure is used to repair the MPFL. This is a ligament that helps to keep the kneecap in place. The MPFL is usually torn when the kneecap dislocates.
Lateral release – This procedure is used to loosen the lateral ligaments, which are the ligaments on the outside of the knee. The lateral ligaments are often tight in people who have patellar dislocations. This can cause the kneecap to track out of place.
Knee Arthroscopy
Knee arthroscopy is a form of knee surgery that allows knee surgeons to see inside your knee joint without having to make a big incision. Small incisions are made over your knee joint to allow the use of a camera and small surgical tools.
A knee arthroscopy results in less pain, smaller scars, and a quicker recovery time than an open knee surgery.
Depending on the type of surgery that’s required, a knee arthroscopy can be performed in as little as an hour. To keep you comfortable, your knee surgeon may arrange for a nerve block to be performed during the surgery. This numbs the area for a short time after the procedure.
What to Expect After Arthroscopic Knee Surgery
For most procedures involving knee arthroscopy, you will be able to return home after a few hours of monitoring post-procedure. Your kne surgeon will arrange for appropriate pain relief and care instructions for your knee dressing.
You will have a few small scars over your knee following this procedure. Dr. Mehta will provide you with instructions on how to keep your knee scar clean and dry.
Arthroscopic knee surgery recovery time will depend on the type of surgery that has been performed. For simple procedures, you might be back to normal after 2-4 weeks. For ligament repairs and meniscus surgery it may take longer than this.
Your knee surgeon will give you exercises that you should do for several weeks after your surgery. She will also arrange for physical therapy if appropriate.
Dr. Mehta provides concierge orthopedic care as a knee surgeon in San Jose. She will arrange for follow-up visits with her at Resilience Orthopedics. She will call you to check up on you during your recovery.
What Knee Services Do We Offer?
Knee Pain Assessment
Knee pain can make moving around incredibly frustrating, interrupting your daily activities and making your life difficult. Dr. Mehta is a knee surgeon and can offer various knee pain treatments.
Knee Surgery
If your knee condition is severe, or nothing you have tried has helped, Dr. Mehta can advise you on the options for surgery. She is a knee surgeon in San Jose and can offer expert opinion and care.
Treatment of Knee Conditions
ACL Tear
ACL tears are usually the result of sports injuries and may require surgery.
Patellar Tendon Tear
The patellar tendon connects your patella to your shinbone, and tears of this make movement difficult.
Meniscus Tear
A meniscus tear is a rupture of the cartilage in your knee joint causes difficulty moving.
Knee Arthritis
Knee arthritis is a common and painful condition that often requires a knee replacement.
And Many More!
Dr. Mehta offers diagnosis and treatment of all knee conditions and can offer her specialist opinion as an expert knee surgeon in San Jose.
Call Us On 408-559-3888
or Send a Message.
