Robert F. LaPrade, MD, PhD - Knee Surgeon & Sports Medicine Specialist

11/04/2025

Common symptoms and signs of knee arthritis include:
• Knee pain or soreness
• Dull ache and stiffness
• Swelling with or without activity
• Constant discomfort in the joint

Knee osteoarthritis is the most common form which often develops slowly after a traumatic injury such as a fracture, ligament tear, or meniscus removal.

It’s a misconception that arthritis only appears before knee replacement. Many cases are post-traumatic arthritis, localized to specific areas of the knee, which can make targeted treatments more effective.

Arthritis in the knee is a debilitating condition that affects thousands of people every day and involves damage to the cartilage.

11/03/2025

Motivational Monday!

Dr LaPrade wanted to give a shout out to all the faculty for a fantastic ELITE complex knee Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA) course at the Orthopedic Learning Center on Saturday, October 25, 2025.

It was a high-level, hands-on learning experience and a special appreciation is due to the faculty for taking time away from their practices and families to assist surgeons from all around the world in learning how to perform these surgeries.

10/31/2025

From Class A to World Series hero, Trey Yesavage’s journey has been anything but ordinary. His unorthodox delivery baffled hitters, and his fearless approach to hecklers showed his coach he was ready for the big stage.

The Blue Jays’ Game 5 hero started this season in Class A ball. But his reaction to heckling fans informed his pitching coach he was ready to beat the Dodgers.

10/31/2025

1️⃣ What causes ACL reconstruction failure?
It’s not always a surgical technique...often, it’s timing.

2️⃣ Returning too early—before regaining full endurance, proprioception, and strength which can re-injure the graft.
That’s why sports-specific testing, like the Vail Sports Test, is essential.

3️⃣ Allograft vs. autograft:
Allografts (donor tissue) can take up to 50% longer to heal, and fail in up to 45–50% of patients under 25 if used too soon.

4️⃣ Other causes include:
⚙️ Tunnel misplacement
🩹 Meniscus or ligament injuries (MCL, PLC)
📈 Increased posterior tibial slope

Rehab right. Test readiness. Protect your graft.

Traumatic reinjuries also can occur, but in general are not felt to be the most common cause of ACL graft failure, which can lead to ACL revision surgery.

10/30/2025

Cartilage damage can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in the knee.

One effective solution: Osteochondral Autograft Transfer (OATS).
✅ Transfers bone + cartilage from a low-weight-bearing area to the damaged site
✅ Usually arthroscopic
✅ Ideal for defects ~1 cm

One specific cartilage restoration procedure that has proven to bring patients relief, is an osteochondral autograft transfers (OATS).

10/28/2025

There are two main groups who suffer meniscal root tears:
1️⃣ Athletes in their 20s — usually from trauma, often with ACL/PCL injuries.
👉 Repairing the root tear is key to prevent arthritis or ligament graft failure.

2️⃣ Adults in their 50s — tears can occur from minor movements, leading to rapid osteoarthritis and even bone damage.

Meniscal root tears demonstrated on biomechanical testing that it is equivalent to having the whole meniscus removed.

10/23/2025

Does Your Knee Feel Like It’s “Shifting” Side to Side?

That sense of your knee giving way when you pivot or plant could be side-to-side knee instability which is often caused by injury to the inner (MCL) or outer (LCL) stabilizing ligaments.

In chronic arthritis, this same feeling can happen due to pseudolaxity which is when the joint space narrows and the knee collapses from degeneration, not looseness.

If you notice instability even during daily activities, it’s time for a professional knee evaluation.

Ligaments are made up of strong, dense connective tissue and are crucial to maintaining knee stability. Multi-ligament knee injuries hinder knee stability.

10/22/2025

Inside the NBA’s ongoing focus: player-ref dynamics.

The challenge? Distinguishing spirited debate from tech-worthy behavior and keeping the game fair.

What’s the line between spirited debate and tech-worthy behavior? The league says addressing issues between the two sides is a priority.

10/21/2025

10/17/2025

In Case You Missed It!

A new study shared by Dr. LaPrade and his colleagues compares Snowman vs. Single-Plug Osteochondral Allografts in cartilage repair.
➡️ What are the outcomes?
➡️ Which technique showed better graft integration?
➡️ What does it mean for clinical decision-making?

Catch the key takeaways from this cutting-edge research and join the conversation.

Dr. LaPrade discusses outcomes of snowman vs. single-plug osteochondral allografts, stressing caution in rehab to reduce graft failure risk.

10/16/2025

- Imagine flying to Germany at 14 for surgery developed by the same doctor who trained your surgeon. That's Neil's story.

After multiple failed surgeries, he received:
✔️ ACL reconstruction
✔️ Microfracture
✔️ Meniscus implant

It was just the beginning.

Knowing when to throw the towel in can be a hard reality for any sports enthusiast. But for the athlete who lives and breathes their sport of choice, it can be even more excruciating. It wasn’t until he was being wheeled in to the Vail Health for his 13th surgery on his right knee that [...]

10/14/2025

In this video, Dr. LaPrade explains a common point of confusion:
➡️ Fibular Collateral Ligament (FCL) injuries vs. complete Posterolateral Corner Injury (PLC) injuries

Why does it matter? Because accurate diagnosis = proper treatment.
Let’s break it down 👇
https://drrobertlaprademd.com/how-to-read-an-mri-of-an-fcl-lcl-tear/

Complex knee specialist Robert LaPrade, MD, PhD addresses how to read an MRI of an FCL (LCL) tear. Dr. LaPrade specializes in the treatment of FCL tears.