Precision Orthopaedic Specialties helps athletes regain function

By Patricia Nugent

As an orthopaedic surgeon with fellowship training in sports medicine from the world-renowned Orthopaedic Foundation in Connecticut and New York City, Dr. Albert S.M. Dunn has spent his career at the forefront of breakthrough advancements in his field.

Cartilage rejuvenation of the knee is a perfect example.

At Precision Orthopaedic Specialties, for the past five years Dr. Dunn has helped patients regain function and reduce pain due to an isolated injury to the knee.

“Many of my patients who undergo this procedure are injured football players, soccer players, or people who were born with a misaligned kneecap,” he says.

“When smooth Hyaline cartilage is broken down at the endings of bones, where sensitive nerve endings lie, a bone-on-bone situation results, which can be painful and debilitating. Unfortunately, cartilage has a limited ability to repair itself. Our goal is to pinpoint and replace where it has broken down, much like filling a pothole.”

The rejuvenation procedure includes two surgeries. The first is an arthroscopy to harvest healthy cartilage cells from the patient’s knee, which are sent to a lab in Massachusetts to culture for four to six weeks. The viable, living cartilage cells are then sent back to Precision Orthopaedic Specialties, and Dr. Dunn performs another surgery to place the cells where they need to be to properly cushion the knee.

“Since the cells are the patient’s own, once implanted, the new cartilage continues to live and function,” he says.

Both procedures take place in the hospital and can usually be performed on an outpatient basis.

Dr. Dunn reports that often during the first surgery, he gains valuable information on what else he might need to accomplish during the second surgery, such as realigning the bones for appropriate tracking.

“It takes the cartilage up to a year to mature, so depending on the extent of the damage to the knee, full recovery can take time,” he says. “Patients are mobile right away following surgery, and non-weight-bearing for six to eight weeks. The rejuvenated knee should last 20-plus years.”

Dr. Albert S.M. Dunn is an orthopaedic surgeon with fellowship training in sports medicine and is board certified in both orthopaedic surgery and orthopaedic sports medicine. Precision Orthopaedic Specialties has locations in Auburn, Beachwood, Middlefield and the main office is in Chardon at 150 Seventh Avenue, Suite 200. Call 440-285-4999 or visit PrecisionOrthopaedic.com.