At some point in your life, it’s likely that you or a loved one will need orthopedic care. The human musculoskeletal system is fragile and complex. When its structure and function are impaired, you need a doctor who specializes in physical restoration, and a board-certified orthopedist.
At Mid Atlantic, our doctors treat a range of musculoskeletal disorders. Caring for people of all ages, they also offer preventive advice. Here’s an overview of our practice and the services we provide.
Kids are especially prone to injury during casual play, organized sports, and just exploring their world. Our orthopedic doctors set and cast fractured bones. They wrap and stabilize sprained ankles.
The knee joint contains two types of cushioning tissue. Articular cartilage covers the ends of the kneecap, shin bone, and thigh bone, minimizing friction between them. When articular cartilage suffers mild or moderate damage, our surgeons perform “chondroplasty” to repair it.
Guided by a tiny video camera or “arthroscope,” a doctor gains access to cartilage through small knee incisions. While monitoring his actions on a TV screen, the surgeon removes loose cartilage and smooths rough joint surfaces.
The knee joint also has two pads of tissue that absorb impact, called “menisci.” These C-shaped discs, situated on top of the shin bone, can also tear. Sometimes a cleft can heal without surgery, depending on its pattern and the zone in which it originates. When too severe for self-healing, surgery is performed.
There are three types of operations. During a repair, a surgeon sews the ripped edges together. With a partial meniscectomy, the doctor trims away damaged tissue. A total meniscectomy removes the entire pad.
The anterior cruciate ligament or “ACL” is a central band of knee tissue that connects the shin bone to the thigh bone. This ligament controls forward and rotational knee movement. When torn, our surgeons reconstruct the ACL by replacing it with a section of a tendon from the knee, thigh, or ankle regions.
When a child dislocates the kneecap or “patella,” our doctors move it back into place, a procedure termed “reduction.” If the dislocation is a single incident, a child will likely need to wear a brace for up to a month and receive physical therapy. By strengthening the knee muscles supporting the patella, subsequent dislocation is often prevented. However, if dislocations recur, our doctors reconstruct the ligaments that keep the patella in place.
The rotator cuff of the shoulder consists of four muscle tendons that connect your arm bone to your shoulder blade. When the muscles contract, they raise and rotate your arm.
Any of the tendons can tear. Causes of injury include over-straining the shoulder in lifting, reaching, or throwing a ball, repetitive motions, and age-related degeneration. Mild tears can heal with the aid of physical therapy, but severe injuries require surgery. A doctor can repair a tendon via a large incision (open repair) or small cuts (arthroscopy).
A partial tear may only require trimming and smoothing, called “debridement.” For a complete tear, the surgeon sews the tendon back onto the arm bone.
Often, back pain results from the rupture or degeneration of the cushioning discs between spinal bones (vertebrae). Our doctors can resolve disc-related pain by replacing or removing the involved disc (discectomy).
In cases where discs or bone spurs press on nerves, our surgeons may perform a “laminectomy.” This procedure removes the posterior wall of a vertebra, thereby relieving nerve pressure.
Extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) is a technique that fuses vertebrae together. With this type of surgery, a doctor approaches the spine from a patient’s side, rather than the front or back of their torso. The XLIF method reduces the disruption of ligaments and muscles.
Some people opt to treat back pain with the implantation of a spinal cord stimulator (SCS). The surgeon places this electrical device beneath the skin, where it delivers mild current to the spinal cord. The current then interrupts pain signals that would otherwise travel to the brain. The SCS may either block pain or replace it with a tingling sensation. The extent of pain relief varies by patient.
Falls in older adults often result in hip fractures. The joint can be predisposed to breaking from weakening conditions, such as cancer and osteoporosis. Hip fractures typically involve the upper section of the thigh bone.
If the ball or socket of the hip joint is broken and the blood supply is intact, the surgeon may repair the fracture with screws, a nail, or screws and a plate. If the blood supply to the ball is impaired, the doctor may decide that hip replacement is a better option. Replacement of just the ball is termed hemiarthroplasty. If both the ball and socket must be exchanged for synthetic components, the procedure is called a total hip replacement.
As we age, our shoulder, hip, and knee joints are vulnerable to degeneration, termed “osteoarthritis.” In mild to moderate cases, our doctors will recommend lifestyle changes, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and weight loss, if applicable.
In cases of unmanageable pain, swelling, and stiffness, they may advise a partial or total joint replacement. This surgery involves exchanging damaged bone and cartilage for components made of plastic, metal, or ceramic. These substitute structures aptly perform the motions of a healthy joint.
Osteoporosis is a disease that progressively weakens bones, making them fragile, brittle, and prone to fracture. The National Osteoporosis Foundation advises bone density testing in postmenopausal women, beginning at age 65. However, in both men and women with one or more risk factors, testing should start at age 50.
Our doctors order bone density tests and lab work. Then, they interpret the test results, calculate fracture risk, and advise whether treatment is necessary.
This spinal procedure restores the height of collapsed vertebrae, typically the result of osteoporosis. During kyphoplasty, a surgeon inflates orthopedic balloons within the compressed vertebra, to elevate it. Then, the doctor injects the vertebra with cement to maintain its height.
As board-certified physicians, each of our surgeons provides the highest quality of orthopedic treatment available. The above procedures are those most commonly done by our doctors. Here are all the operations they perform. As you can see from this comprehensive list, our doctors have extensive orthopedic skills and experience.
However, what makes a skilled surgeon outstanding is their bedside manner. Upon meeting our doctors, you’ll feel confident in their genuine concern for your health and safety. As evidence, here’s a sampling of patient testimonies.
We accept payment from most insurance providers, including commercial, motor vehicle, workers’ compensation, and government payers. We strive to claim the maximum coverage possible and make out-of-pocket expenses affordable. When calling for an appointment, please provide us with the name of your insurance plan.
Our office address is 557 Cranbury Road, Suite 10, East Brunswick, NJ 08816. This central location enables us to serve patients in the counties of Middlesex, Somerset, and Monmouth.
In Middlesex County, patients come to us from Edison, East Brunswick, New Brunswick, Old Bridge, Piscataway, Middlesex, Monroe Township, Sayreville, and Woodbridge. Here are the additional cities we serve.
To schedule an appointment, please call us Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 5 pm, at (732) 238-8800. You can also message us here. We look forward to meeting you!
We proudly provide orthopedic surgical care in East Brunswick, North Brunswick, South Brunswick, Old Bridge, Princeton, Somerset, Marlboro, Hillsboro, Montgomery and Manalapan.
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