Grant H. Garcia, MD

03/09/2026

🎥 New Surgical Video: Treating a Condylar Cartilage Defect with Arthroscopic MACI 🦵🔬

Cartilage injuries of the knee can be devastating for active patients. When the femoral condyle cartilage is damaged, pain, swelling, and loss of performance can follow.

In this new surgical video, I demonstrate arthroscopic MACI (Matrix-Induced Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation) to treat a condylar cartilage defect and restore the joint surface.

⚡ Why MACI Arthro is a game changer for patients:

My MACI Arthro Site:
https://www.grantgarciamd.com/maci-arthro-shoulder-knee-sports-surgeon-seattle-bellevue-everett-kirk…

🔬 Restores cartilage with your own cells

Healthy cartilage cells are grown in a lab and placed back into the defect to regenerate durable hyaline-like cartilage.

🦵 Minimally invasive arthroscopic technique

Smaller incisions → less tissue disruption → faster recovery compared with open cartilage procedures.

🏃 Designed for active patients

Ideal for athletes and active individuals with focal cartilage defects who want to return to high-level activity.

📈 Durable long-term outcomes

Clinical studies show improved pain, function, and return to sport compared with older cartilage repair techniques.

🎯 Precision treatment of condylar lesions

Allows us to restore the natural contour of the femoral condyle and protect the joint from early arthritis.

For patients with the right cartilage injury pattern, MACI can be a powerful tool to restore knee function and get people back to the activities they love.

📹 Watch the surgical video to see the technique and cartilage restoration in action. https://youtu.be/xH5ClqSrhIo

03/09/2026

Non-Surgical Treatments for Rotator Cuff Tears.

When the symptoms of a rotator cuff tear are acute, meaning there is a sudden flare-up of symptoms, it may be helpful to rest the shoulder to allow the inflammation of the injury to settle down.

03/04/2026

🎥 HOW I TALK TO PATIENTS | Addressing Complex Pathology

This is a question I get a lot from younger surgeons. The attached video reflects how I approach conversations with patients in the office, especially when dealing with complex pathology.

I believe information is key.

My job isn’t just to diagnose or operate-it’s to educate.

That means:

* Taking the time to explain what’s going on anatomically

* Walking through all reasonable treatment options

* Discussing risks, benefits, and trade-offs

* Making sure patients understand why a recommendation is being made

When pathology is complex, the solution often is too. Patients deserve more than a soundbite or a rushed explanation-they deserve to be fully informed partners in their care.

The goal is simple:

🧠 Understanding leads to confidence

🤝 Confidence leads to better decisions

📈 Better decisions lead to better outcomes

Whether the answer is surgery, rehab, technology, or time—patients should feel informed, empowered, and supported every step of the way.

📹 Video clip is below

https://youtu.be/C0iIO15ma7Y

03/02/2026

Exercising With Knee Pain: Do`s and Don`ts.

Exercise can often be the last thing on the mind of someone suffering from a chronic knee pain condition. And as research indicates, many people who have degenerative diseases of the knee, such as osteoarthritis, don't get anywhere close to the recommended amount of daily exercise activity that....

03/02/2026

UPDATED SURGICAL VIDEO | Biceps Transfer + Autograft Augmentation for Difficult Rotator Cuff Tears

Just released an updated surgical technique video highlighting my approach to biceps transfer with autograft augmentation for the most difficult rotator cuff tears-chronic, retracted, poor-quality tissue where standard repair alone is likely to fail.

These are the cases that challenge even experienced surgeons:

* Long-standing retraction
* Thinned, compromised tendon
* Loss of mobility and tension mismatch
* High risk of re-tear without augmentation
This is where thoughtful reconstruction-not just repair-becomes essential.

Why biceps transfer + autograft in difficult tears?

In select chronic and high-risk cuff tears, the long head of the biceps can be leveraged as a local, biologically favorable tissue source, and when combined with autograft augmentation, it allows:

* Improved load sharing in repairs under tension
* Reinforcement of poor-quality native tendon
* Restoration of shoulder force couples
* A more durable construct without over-tensioning fragile tissue
The updated video walks through:

* Indications for difficult and revision-risk tears
* Technical pearls for biceps transfer
* When autograft augmentation adds value
* Strategies to reduce failure in chronic pathology
These are not routine cuff repairs.

They are problem-solving reconstructions designed to give patients with difficult tears a real chance at lasting function.

Website link: https://www.grantgarciamd.com/biceps-tendon-transfer-shoulder-knee-sports-surgeon-seattle-bellevue-everett-kirkland-wa.html

Updated surgical video is attached

More on managing difficult and chronic cuff tears coming soon.

Visit https://www.grantgarciamd.com/🔥 UPDATED SURGICAL VIDEO | Biceps Transfer + Autograft Augmentation for Difficult Rotator Cuff TearsJust released an upd...

02/26/2026

🔥ELBOW BLOG #24 — THANK YOU & SERIES RECAP 🔥

Elbow Blog #24 is a thank-you.

After 6 months of elbow education, case discussions, surgical pearls, and short videos, this final entry is about *gratitude*—and what’s next.

📽In my thank-you video, I want to sincerely thank everyone who tuned in, followed along, shared the content, and used these posts to better understand elbow injuries—from youth athletes to high-level competitors.

Missed an episode or want a full recap?

You can find the entire 6-month Elbow Blog series here:
👉https://www.grantgarciamd.com/blog-shoulder-knee-sports-surgeon-seattle-bellevue-everett-kirkland-wa.html

This series was built to be:
• Practical
• High-yield
• Clinically relevant
• Directly applicable to real patients

🚀What’s next? More education. More cases. More advanced topics.
☁I’d love your input:

👉What elbow, shoulder, or sports medicine topics would you like to see covered next?

Thanks again for following along—and for being part of the conversation.

02/23/2026

Back to reality… but WOW what a week 🇨🇷🔥🌴

Costa Rica absolutely delivered on every single bucket-list moment for our family ❤️✈️

* We soaked in natural hot springs surrounded by jungle 🌋♨️

* Spotted sloths hanging overhead 🦥🌿

* Watched monkeys right outside our window 🙉🐒

* Fed giraffes and zebras on safari 🦒🦓🥕

* Horseback rode along the beach 🐎🌊

* Learned to surf (with plenty of wipeouts 😅🏄‍♀️)

* Released baby sea turtles into the ocean 🐢🌅

* And most importantly… soaked up uninterrupted family time 💛👨‍👩‍👧‍👧

There’s something powerful about stepping away - no OR schedule, no clinic charts, no meetings - just adventure, nature, and being fully present 🌎✨

Now it’s time to trade jungle hikes for clinic hallways and head back to taking care of patients 💪🦴🏥

Clinic starts Monday.

Grateful. Recharged. Inspired. Ready to go.

Pura Vida always 🇨🇷❤️

02/16/2026

🎙️ NEW SPORTS DOC TALK CLIP — NOW LIVE 🔥

👉 Watch the short clip:
https://youtube.com/shorts/O9p9vsi5GNc?si=-OohB8aentq-9Soq

In this episode of Sports Doc Talk, hosts William Sanchez and Grant Garcia sit down with renowned orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine
leader Brian Cole for a focused, high-impact discussion on balancing innovation with safety in modern orthopedic surgery.

🧠 Clip Summary — Innovation vs Safety:

In this short clip, Dr. Cole emphasizes that while innovation is critical to advancing our field, it must be thoughtful, measured, and grounded in
patient safety. New techniques and technologies should enhance outcomes—not outpace evidence or judgment. The best surgeons adopt
innovation responsibly, integrating it only when it truly benefits patients.

🎧 Episode highlights include:

• How to responsibly balance innovation and safety in surgery

• The role of mentorship and legacy in orthopedic education

• The realities of high-stakes decision-making in sports medicine

• The future of cartilage and meniscus treatments 🦴🧬

🎙️🦾

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

02/11/2026

🔥 ELBOW BLOG #23 — PEDIATRIC THROWING ELBOW 🔥

The pediatric throwing elbow is a unique injury pattern with unique risks.

Ignore the warning signs—and you risk growth plate injury, instability, or long-term damage. ⚾🦴

In Elbow Blog #23, this 1-minute video focuses specifically on the
throwing athlete and why early recognition and proper management are critical.

🎥 What this short video covers:

• Why repetitive throwing + open growth plates is a dangerous combination

• Medial elbow pain and the spectrum of Little League elbow

• How overuse, pitch counts, and mechanics drive injury risk

• When pain is a red flag—not soreness

• The importance of rest, timing, and avoiding premature return to
throwing

⚠️ These injuries don’t just affect the current season—they can alter arm development, velocity, and durability long term.

This is about protecting young arms while preserving their future.

🎯 Elbow Blog #23:

Smart decisions now prevent surgeries later.

⚾🔥

02/11/2026

🏈 NEW SURGICAL VIDEO | High-Level Quarterback Shoulder Repair

Just released this new surgical video demonstrating a glenoid fracture
repair combined with a remplissage in a high-level quarterback.

This case highlights several key principles when treating elite throwing
athletes:

🦴 Accurate glenoid fracture reduction and fixation

🎯 Management of an engaging Hill-Sachs lesion

⚙️ Stability without sacrificing throwing mechanics

🔬 Modified Remplissage Technique for Throwers

In this case, I utilized a modified remplissage designed specifically for
overhead and throwing athletes:

• Less infraspinatus bite to minimize posterior over-constraint

• Steeper anchor angle to allow effective defect filling

• Still fully fills the Hill-Sachs lesion while preserving external rotation and functional range

For quarterbacks, the objective isn’t just preventing instability—it’s
restoring controlled motion, velocity, and confidence without compromising long-term performance.

The video walks through:

• Indications and surgical decision-making

• Technical pearls for fracture fixation

• When and how a modified remplissage can be safely used in throwers

• Return-to-play considerations

📹 Video clip is below

https://youtu.be/J_G9zwVWfcc

👉 More on this topic coming soon, including deeper dives into technique selection and outcomes in throwing athletes.

, ,

Visit https://www.grantgarciamd.com/🏈 NEW SURGICAL VIDEO | High-Level Quarterback Shoulder RepairJust released this new surgical video demonstrating a gleno...

02/10/2026

🎙️ NEW SPORTS DOC TALK CLIP — NOW LIVE 🔥

👉 Watch the short clip:
https://youtube.com/shorts/rj0Ga0raB5s?si=oC7Pc3cnBg231k-z

In this episode of Sports Doc Talk, hosts William Sanchez and Grant Garcia sit down with renowned orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine leader Brian
Cole for a high-impact discussion on where sports medicine is headed next.

🧠 Key takeaways from the episode:

• Balancing innovation with patient safety in modern surgery

• The importance of mentorship and the legacy of teaching medicine

• The emotional and professional demands of caring for elite athletes

• The future of cartilage and meniscus treatments 🦴🧬

🏟️ Caring for professional athletes brings unique challenges:

• Compressed timelines and return-to-play pressure ⏱️

• Careers, contracts, and livelihoods tied to medical decisions 📉📈

• Coordinating with teams, agents, trainers, and organizations 🤝

• Managing expectations while protecting long-term joint health

• Making high-stakes decisions where there is no margin for error 🎯

This is an honest, experience-driven conversation from decades at the highest level of orthopedic sports medicine.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

02/09/2026

🔥 ELBOW BLOG #22 — PEDIATRIC ELBOWS & GROWTH PLATES 🔥

Pediatric elbows are not small adult elbows.

Miss that distinction—and the consequences can last a lifetime. 🦴⏳

In Elbow Blog #22, this 1-minute video breaks down the critical growth plate considerations every clinician, coach, and parent needs to understand when treating young athletes.

🎥 What this short video highlights:

• Why open physes change everything in diagnosis and treatment

• Common mistakes when evaluating pediatric elbow pain

• How growth plate injuries can masquerade as “tendonitis”

• When rest is enough—and when delayed care risks permanent damage

• The importance of age, sport, volume, and mechanics in decision-making

⚠️ Throwing athletes, gymnasts, and overhead youth competitors are especially vulnerable—and early recognition matters.

This isn’t about being aggressive.

It’s about being accurate, protective, and intentional.

🎯 Elbow Blog #22:

Protect the growth plate. Protect the future.
🦾🔥