Armando Vidal, MD

11/13/2025

What is knee cartilage repair or restoration?

Cartilage repair techniques restore or replace damaged knee cartilage to reduce pain, swelling, and improve function. Common approaches Dr. Vidal uses:
✅ Chondroplasty: Arthroscopic trimming of damaged cartilage — often the first step and diagnostic tool.
✅ Augmented Microfracture: “Fills in the potholes” using marrow stem cells for fibrocartilage growth.
✅ Allograft OATs: Donor cartilage plugs reconstruct large or irregular lesions.
✅ MACI: Uses your own cultured cartilage cells to patch damaged areas — even large lesions.
✅ Novel Procedures: Dr. Vidal participates in FDA trials exploring next-generation cartilage repair.

From simple smoothing to advanced regenerative techniques, Dr. Vidal tailors treatment to your knee and lifestyle. https://armandovidalmd.com/knee-cartilage-repair-joint-preservation-vail-aspen-denver-colorado/

11/12/2025

Meniscal preservation in children is critical! Quick fixes like meniscal trimming can lead to arthritis later. Dr. Vidal specializes in meniscal repair & reconstruction to protect young knees.

Can children and adolescents tear their meniscus? Meniscus tears in the pediatric population was, at one time, a rare diagnosis. However, with children entering competitive sports at an earlier age, adolescent athletes are more now as prone to meniscus injury as older teens and adults. Meniscus tear...

11/11/2025

🇺🇸 This Veterans Day, we honor the incredible resilience of our veterans on the battlefield and in life. At The Steadman Clinic Dr. Vidal is inspired every day by your determination to heal, recover, and keep moving forward. Your courage reminds us why we do what we do.

11/07/2025

Can you prevent an ACL tear?

Risk can be reduced, not eliminated. Optimizing biomechanics, training year-round, and strengthening quads & hamstrings help protect your knees. Here is what else you should know 👇

Do I have an ACL Tear? It’s the phrase no athlete wants to hear: “You’ve torn your ACL.” Those dreaded three letters sends shivers down any athlete’s spine. In the recent past, a torn ACL meant a career-ending injury, early osteoarthritis and knee problems for the future. Thankfully, techn...

11/05/2025

How is ACL reconstruction done in children and teens?

Dr. Vidal tailors ACL reconstruction to a young patient’s age, growth, and activity level:
✅ Modified Macintosh: Uses the iliotibial (ITB) band to stabilize the knee without touching the growth plate.
✅ All-epiphyseal: Tendon placement entirely within the bone ends to protect growth plates.
✅ Transphyseal: For older teens, a quadriceps or hamstring graft crosses the growth plate for stability.
✅ Hybrid: Combines techniques depending on skeletal maturity.

What are growth plates? Growth plates are an area of cartridge located near the end of long bones. Each bone has at least two growth plates, one at each end. They contain rapidly dividing cells that allow bones to become longer and thicker until the end of puberty. As a child ages, hormonal changes....

11/04/2025

10/31/2025

After an ACL injury, the risk of tearing the other knee is ~3% in the first 2 years.

Preventive strategies? Focus on biomechanics, landing, pivoting safely, and muscle strength. Dr. Vidal ensures patients get the right therapy to protect both knees. Learn more 👇

Do I have an ACL Tear? It’s the phrase no athlete wants to hear: “You’ve torn your ACL.” Those dreaded three letters sends shivers down any athlete’s spine. In the recent past, a torn ACL meant a career-ending injury, early osteoarthritis and knee problems for the future. Thankfully, techn...

10/29/2025

Residency insight: Journal rejection isn’t failure. Keep submitting, revising, and learning. Every rejection is a step closer to publication.

One key: Don’t get discouraged by medical journal rejections. Keep plugging away, says AMA member Ricardo Correa, MD, EdD.

10/28/2025

Imagine your knee like a finely tuned machine. Over time, misalignment, instability, and bone health can all put extra stress on the cartilage. That’s where joint preservation treatments come in that target the root causes to keep your knee working smoothly for years to come.

What is knee arthritis? Arthritis is the leading cause of disability among adults in the US today. It is estimated that 70 million Americans will have some form of arthritis in the next 25 years. Arthritis is a degenerative joint condition, causing pain, swelling and limited movement. Osteoarthritis...

10/24/2025

Should a Child’s Meniscus Tear Be Left Alone?

Dr. Vidal says: “It depends.” Factors include:
· Tear size & location
· Blood supply to the tissue
· Pain & swelling levels

Why it matters: The lateral meniscus is highly sensitive. Severe damage or complete loss can lead to early arthritis. Early repair or transplantation protects the knee and supports healthy growth.

What is a Meniscus Tear? The knee is made up of three bones, the femur (thigh bone), tibia (shin) and patella (kneecap). The knee has soft tissue that connects these bones and holds them in place. Between the femur and the tibia are two C-shaped discs of cartilage called the meniscus. They act as sh...

10/22/2025

Think Colorado just added a new 14er? 🏔️
The data hints yes, but the summit isn’t officially classified yet. Would you hike it anyway?

While the data itself suggests a new peak designation nay be in order, the summit has not officially been declared a “new” 14er. So, technically, it’s not categorized yet as such. And experts don’t seem to be in a rush to do so.