Jeremy Burnham, MD

Jeremy Burnham, MD Dr. Burnham is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in complex knee surgery, sports medicine surgery, and shoulder surgery.

Board certified, fellowship trained sports medicine orthopedic surgeon specializing in ACL surgery, meniscus surgery, cartilage restoration, meniscus transplant, knee surgery, and all sports-related injuries. His main clinical and research focus centers around knee ligament injuries such as ACL tears.

You've probably heard that creatine is bad for your kidneys. Or that it's just for bodybuilders. Or that it causes hair ...
04/02/2026

You've probably heard that creatine is bad for your kidneys. Or that it's just for bodybuilders. Or that it causes hair loss.

Let me give you the actual evidence.

Creatine monohydrate is the most studied ergogenic supplement in sports science history. 70+ years of research and over 500 published peer-reviewed studies. The ISSN Position Stand concluded it is the most effective nutritional supplement available for high-intensity exercise performance and lean body mass.

The kidney concern stems from a misunderstanding: creatine metabolizes to creatinine in the blood, a standard marker used to assess kidney function. When you supplement, your creatinine rises. That is normal metabolism, not kidney damage. Multiple controlled trials in healthy individuals show no adverse renal effects.

The "just for bodybuilders" assumption? Contradicted by the data. 47,000 people search "is creatine for women?" every month. Women have lower baseline creatine stores than men, and multiple studies show they respond equally well or better. Older adults fighting muscle loss and patients recovering from orthopedic surgery are among the strongest candidates.

For orthopedic recovery specifically: after surgery, disuse atrophy starts quickly. Creatine supplementation alongside physical therapy helps preserve lean muscle mass and support neuromuscular function during rehabilitation.

One angle worth knowing: the brain runs on the same phosphocreatine energy system as muscle. A 2021 review in Nutrients (Roschel et al.) found evidence for creatine's role in brain energy metabolism and cognitive function, including reduced mental fatigue and improved processing speed. This is particularly relevant for athletes managing high training loads, older adults focused on brain health, and anyone dealing with the cognitive demands of competition and recovery.

The dose is straightforward: 3-5 grams of creatine monohydrate per day. No loading phase. No complicated timing. Just consistency.

Swipe through the carousel for the full breakdown, including the myth-busting on the side effect concerns.

If you've been taking collagen and not seeing results, timing might be the issue.The beauty industry markets collagen fo...
03/31/2026

If you've been taking collagen and not seeing results, timing might be the issue.

The beauty industry markets collagen for skin. As an orthopedic surgeon, the evidence I pay attention to is about tendons, ligaments, and joints. It's not settled science, but it's more compelling than most people realize.

Here's what the research shows:

Shaw et al. (Am J Clin Nutr 2017, PMID 27852613) found that taking vitamin C-enriched gelatin 60 minutes before exercise produced a 2-fold increase in serum markers of collagen synthesis. Tendons have poor blood flow at rest, but exercise increases tendon perfusion. That timing window is when supplemental amino acids actually reach the tissue.

Praet et al. (Nutrients 2019) showed specific collagen peptides combined with exercise significantly improved Achilles tendon pain and function scores vs. placebo.

The protocol that matches the evidence: 15g of hydrolyzed collagen with vitamin C (50-200mg), 60 minutes before training or physical therapy, daily for at least 8-12 weeks.

Supporting studies are small and mostly measure biomarkers rather than clinical outcomes. For athletes managing tendinopathy and patients recovering from ACL surgery or other ligament procedures, the mechanism is the most biologically sound in the supplement literature. The protocol is safe and the evidence warrants the conversation.

Swipe through for the full breakdown.

Proud of the research coming out of our team at Ochsner-Andrews Sports Medicine Institute.Luke Bunch PT, DPT presented h...
03/30/2026

Proud of the research coming out of our team at Ochsner-Andrews Sports Medicine Institute.

Luke Bunch PT, DPT presented his research poster at the LOA 2026 Annual Meeting in New Orleans: "Patellofemoral Pain and Subsequent ACL Injury: A 10-Year Population-Based Study."

From 1,232 patients followed over 10 years:

Patients with PFP had a 3.6x higher ACL injury rate than the general population. 83% of those injuries were on the same side as the original PFP diagnosis. Most happened within 10 months of diagnosis.

Patellofemoral pain has historically been treated as a nuisance. This data suggests it may be an early warning signal for ACL susceptibility — and that year one is the window to act.

Congratulations to Luke and co-authors Anthony Drazick MD, Ghislain Aminake MD, Chloe Roy, Erin Biggs PhD, Isabella Beltran, and Jeremy Burnham MD.

Rotatory instability. It's the part of ACL injury that doesn't get enough attention, and it matters more than most peopl...
03/24/2026

Rotatory instability. It's the part of ACL injury that doesn't get enough attention, and it matters more than most people realize.

When the ACL tears, it's easy to focus on the straightforward back-and-forth looseness of the knee. But the rotational component, the feeling that the knee is going to "give way" during cutting or pivoting, is often what limits an athlete's confidence and ability to return to sport.

Our research has shown that rotatory knee laxity exists on a continuum. In a multicenter study of 354 patients published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, we found progressive increases in lateral knee compartment translation: 1.4 mm with partial ACL tears, 2.5 mm with complete tears, and 3.3 mm in patients who had already undergone a failed ACL reconstruction (Lian, Burnham, PIVOT Study Group et al., JBJS 2020).

The anterolateral complex of the knee, structures on the outside of the joint, plays a critical role in controlling this rotation. Our anatomic work showed that the superficial iliotibial band alone provides over 50 percent of the restraint to internal rotation, and when you add the deeper layers including the Kaplan fibers, those structures together contribute more than 70 percent of rotational restraint at the flexion angles where cutting and pivoting happen, 60 to 90 degrees (Herbst, Burnham et al., OJSM 2017).

Think of it like a steering wheel. The ACL is a hand near the center trying to control the turn. The anterolateral complex is a hand on the outside rim. The hand on the outside has far more leverage to control rotation, and when it's damaged, the hand in the middle can't do it alone.

For select patients with significant rotatory instability, I add a lateral extra-articular tenodesis to the ACL reconstruction. A 2025 survey of 49 international sports surgeons found 91 percent ranked a high-grade pivot shift as a top indication for this combined approach.

Not every patient needs it, but understanding rotatory instability is a fundamental part of comprehensive ACL care.

Tommy Drazick, MD presented our latest research at the 2026 Louisiana Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting in New Orle...
03/23/2026

Tommy Drazick, MD presented our latest research at the 2026 Louisiana Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

The study showed that performance on the timed single-leg step-down (SLSD) test is significantly correlated with hip and knee biomechanics measured by 3D markerless motion capture. In 20 athletes, those who performed more reps demonstrated less dynamic knee valgus and less excessive hip internal rotation, two key risk factors for ACL injury.

The SLSD takes 60 seconds, costs nothing, and requires no equipment. This research validates it as a meaningful clinical screening tool that can identify athletes who may benefit from targeted training before injury occurs.

This work utilized the Theia3D markerless motion capture platform at Ochsner-Andrews Sports Medicine Institute in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Ochsner Health | Ochsner Ortho

Read more: https://www.jeremyburnhammd.com/slsd-test-correlates-with-hip-and-knee-biomechanics-on-3d-motion-capture-loa-2026/

Proud to share that our research group at Ochsner-Andrews Sports Medicine Institute has been awarded the Louisiana Ortho...
03/22/2026

Proud to share that our research group at Ochsner-Andrews Sports Medicine Institute has been awarded the Louisiana Orthopaedic Association Research Grant for the second consecutive year.

This year's grant, written by our research fellow Tommy Drazick, MD, will fund a study on quadriceps muscle oxygenation during ACL rehabilitation using wearable near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) sensors. The goal is to track how the vastus medialis recovers at a physiologic level across a 9-month rehab protocol after quad tendon autograft ACL reconstruction.

Persistent quad weakness is the single biggest barrier to safe return to sport after ACLR. Standard strength tests can look normal while deeper deficits persist. This project aims to close that gap with objective, real-time oxygenation data.

Tommy put together an outstanding proposal. Special thanks to Dr. Jacob Calcei for first introducing us to the concept of using NIRS sensors in ACL rehab.

Two consecutive years of LOA funding validates the translational research program we're building at OASMI in Baton Rouge. Grateful to the Louisiana Orthopaedic Association for continuing to support orthopedic research in our state.

Ochsner Health | Ochsner Ortho

PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) injections are one of the most discussed treatments in orthopedics. Patients ask me about PRP...
03/19/2026

PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) injections are one of the most discussed treatments in orthopedics. Patients ask me about PRP every week, and I think an honest, evidence-based conversation is important, especially because the research has changed significantly.

As someone who teaches orthobiologics courses and uses PRP in the office, here is what the research actually shows.

For knee osteoarthritis, the data has shifted. A 2023 meta-analysis of 30 articles and 2,733 patients found PRP outperformed hyaluronic acid injections in both pain and functional scores. Leukocyte-poor PRP (LP-PRP) showed better results than leukocyte-rich PRP. This is a meaningful change from just a few years ago when PRP and HA were considered comparable. PRP also works well for chronic patellar tendon pain, where multiple randomized trials support its use.

Not all PRP is the same. There are leukocyte-poor formulations (better for joints, less inflammation) and leukocyte-rich formulations (may be better for tendon repair). One example of an LP-PRP system is Arthrex ACP (Autologous Conditioned Plasma), which concentrates platelets 2 to 3 times above baseline. A recent study showed clinical benefits at 6 months.

Combining PRP with hyaluronic acid may be synergistic. Brian Cole's group found that HA-PRP conjugates provide a combined benefit, and a 2025 analysis ranked PRP+HA as the top treatment for long-term knee OA pain relief and function.

For the hip, early data suggests LP-PRP may reduce pain more than LR-PRP. For the shoulder, PRP shows promise for rotator cuff tendinopathy, but limited studies make it difficult to say definitively.

Where the evidence falls short: 16 randomized trials involving over 1,000 patients found no clinical improvement when PRP was added to ACL reconstruction surgery.

An emerging area to watch is platelet-poor plasma (PPP), which retains beneficial cytokines with lower inflammation risk. It is still investigational with no large-scale trials completed.

If your doctor recommends PRP, ask two questions: What type of PRP are you using? And what does the evidence say for your specific condition? Swipe through the full breakdown above.

If you or someone you know is training through an injury, rebuilding strength after surgery, or just trying to get stron...
03/18/2026

If you or someone you know is training through an injury, rebuilding strength after surgery, or just trying to get stronger the smart way, this is worth reading.

The American College of Sports Medicine just updated their resistance training guidelines for the first time in 17 years, and the biggest change affects how we measure intensity.

For years, coaches and trainers relied on percentages of your one-rep max. Now ACSM recommends focusing on Reps in Reserve (RIR): how many more quality reps could you do before you hit failure? That simple question replaces a lab test.

Why does this matter? Lower-weight training done with high effort (close to failure) builds strength and muscle just as well as the heavy stuff. That opens up options for everyone, regardless of age, pain level, or starting point.

For my patients recovering from ACL reconstruction, shoulder surgery, or managing knee pain, this validates what we've been doing clinically. You don't need to chase heavy weight to get strong. You need to chase effort.

The fundamentals haven't changed. The measurement just caught up.

Had the opportunity to present on surgical repair of partial thickness patellar tendon injuries at the SOA at the SEC co...
03/17/2026

Had the opportunity to present on surgical repair of partial thickness patellar tendon injuries at the SOA at the SEC conference in Nashville last week.

This is a condition that gets missed more than it should. Up to 55% of elite basketball players deal with patellar tendon pathology, and many of these athletes end up retiring from sport because the problem is treated as tendinitis when there is actually a structural tear.

We use MRI measurement with the Popkin-Golman grading system to classify these injuries. When the tear involves more than 50% of the tendon thickness and the athlete has failed a structured rehabilitation program, surgical repair gives them the best path forward.

Our approach combines arthroscopy with osteoplasty of the prominent inferior patella and a mini-open repair technique. We augment the repair with amniotic membrane to support the biologic healing environment, with research showing 3.5x increased tenocyte proliferation and 2.27x increased migration at the repair site.

The goal is always the same: identify the problem accurately, apply the right treatment, and give the athlete their best chance to return to sport and stay there.

Grateful to share this work with team physicians and sports medicine specialists from across the SEC.

Jacob Hardy, ATC presented an important case at the ATPPS 2026 Annual Conference that reminds us: patellar instability i...
03/16/2026

Jacob Hardy, ATC presented an important case at the ATPPS 2026 Annual Conference that reminds us: patellar instability is a 3D problem.

This patient presented to us after a failed MPFL repair with recurrent dislocation just 4 months after surgery. After thorough workup, the real issue became clear: significant bony risk factors.

TT-TG distance 27mm, 7.5 degrees of valgus, and patella alta (CDI 1.4). These are not minor findings.

The surgical plan included tibial tubercle anteromedialization combined with MPFL reconstruction. Address both the geometry and the soft tissue.

The teaching point Jacob Hardy, ATC's presentation underscored: you must address bony morphologic risk factors in addition to the soft tissue pathology. When both are addressed comprehensively, patients do well.

Thank you to Jacob Hardy, ATC, Tommy Drazick, Joshua Pratt, and everyone at Ochsner-Andrews Sports Medicine for outstanding collaborative care.

Published in Clinical Practice in Athletic Training.

Our technique for applying Arthrex Amnion™ Matrix to the quad tendon harvest site during ACL reconstruction was featured...
03/16/2026

Our technique for applying Arthrex Amnion™ Matrix to the quad tendon harvest site during ACL reconstruction was featured on the Orthopaedic Video Theater at this year's AAOS Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

Quadriceps tendon autograft is increasingly favored for ACL reconstruction because of its robust mechanical properties and reduced donor site morbidity. However, harvest site complications remain a real consideration: re**us femoris retraction, persistent quadriceps atrophy, and delayed neuromuscular recovery can all affect the timeline for getting back to sport.

Our approach uses Arthrex Amnion™ Matrix applied directly to the quad tendon harvest site as a biologic adjunct. Amniotic tissue provides anti-inflammatory properties, serves as a scaffold for tissue regeneration, and contains growth factors that promote tendon healing and reduce adhesion. The goal is to optimize donor site healing so the patient can focus on their ACL recovery, not the harvest site.

The OVT video illustrates the case of a 23-year-old male athlete undergoing ACL reconstruction with quad tendon autograft and amnion augmentation, walking through graft harvest, membrane application, and post-operative rehabilitation.

🔗 Watch the full video:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0wp24k6c1M
Arthrex: https://www.arthrex.com/resources/VID1-005775-en-US/use-of-arthrex-amnion-matrix-in-quad-tendon-acl-reconstruction

Co-authors: Tommy Drazick, MD, Savannah Knighton, MAL, ATC, OTC, Luke Bunch, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS

Deontae Camel is a running back at St. Michael the Archangel High School in Baton Rouge, LA. Last year, he sustained a d...
03/16/2026

Deontae Camel is a running back at St. Michael the Archangel High School in Baton Rouge, LA. Last year, he sustained a devastating knee injury that turned out to be a torn ACL.

After his ACL reconstruction, Deontae worked extremely hard in rehab with our team at Ochsner-Andrews Sports Medicine Institute to get back to peak form. It wasn't always easy, and there were days he didn't want to come in. But he remained dedicated and consistent, and his hard work paid off.

His first game back against Folsom, Deontae scored three touchdowns, rushed for 124 yards on 14 carries, and helped lead the Warriors to an 8-4 season and LHSAA Division II Select playoff appearance.

In his own words: "Stay positive, stay committed to your recovery. You're going to be better than you were before."

Proud of this young man. Full video and story on the blog.

St. Michael the Archangel High School Football | Ochsner Health | Ochsner Ortho

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