The Orthopedic Surgery Department at St. Francis Hospital covers the full range of surgery in our field, with particular specialties in sports medicine, hand surgery, adult reconstructive surgery, and fracture care.
Sports Medicine is the largest component of our department. All of our physicians are board certified, and must have fellowship training in subspecialties.
Our Chief of Orthopedic Surgery specializes in arthroscopic knee and shoulder surgery. He is among a small group of surgeons in New York State performing autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), a cutting-edge procedure to repair damaged articular cartilage in the knee using cartilage cells harvested arthroscopically from the patient.
Our joint replacement surgeons are experts in using minimally invasive
techniques for hip and knee replacements. They use the latest techniques in adult reconstruction, including unicompartmental knee replacement and ceramic hip replacements.
We also have a fellowship-trained pediatric orthopedic surgeon who specializes in the general orthopedic care of pediatric patients, as well as reconstructive surgery.
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Conditions Treated
- All orthopedic diseases
- Adult reconstructive surgery, including hip and knee replacement
- Sports injuries
- Hand, foot, ankle and spine injuries
- Pediatric orthopedics
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Key Treatments
Sports Medicine
Arthroscopic surgery allows athletes to go home the same day of surgery, with quicker recovery rates. Postoperative recovery rates have diminished over the years, with some major procedures, such as anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and rotator cuff surgery, now being performed as day-op procedures.
Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI)
Damaged articular cartilage in the knee is repaired using cartilage cells harvested arthroscopically from the patient. The procedure involves growing the cells, and the re-inserting them surgically as a patch. During the months that follow, the cells continue to multiply, forming the building blocks of healthy cartilage and integrating with the surrounding cartilage. With time, the cells mature to form a cartilage repair.
Knee and Hip Replacement
As baby boomers reach middle age, more will require hip and knee replacement. The Orthopedic Surgery Department is at the forefront of joint replacement surgery, having remained at the leading edge of the latest techniques. Newer skills are being developed by several of our physicians. Minimally invasive surgery, guided navigation surgery, and alternative materials such as ceramics, are all used by our reconstructive surgeons.
Hand Reconstructive Surgery
Our physicians are all fellowship trained in hand surgery. Many are leaders in their field both clinically and at the research level. Fracture care for the hand has seen recent innovative procedures, all used by our physicians.
Pediatric Orthopedics
Our pediatric orthopedic surgeon is fellowship trained, adding an important dimension to our department. He is trained in current reconstructive procedures, fracture care, and hand procedures for the pediatric patient.
Fractures and Trauma
Although not considered a trauma center, St. Francis sees hundreds of patients requiring care of fractures. Our physicians are fellowship trained in trauma, performing up-to-date techniques used in the management of fractures, simple or complex. They are experts in pelvic and hip fractures, as well as upper extremity and lower extremity, hand, foot and ankle techniques.
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