general

Sports Medicine near Newark, NJ

Located in Bloomfield and Bayonne, NJ

ACL

For more info: ACL Repairment Surgery

An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is a tear in the ACL ligament. The ACL is located in the middle of the knee joint and connects the lower leg bone to the thigh bone and prevents the leg bone from sliding too far forward at the knee, which would cause instability.

When the ACL tears, you may hear a popping sound. When you stand, the knee will probably feel very unstable, and it will be difficult to walk on the affected leg. There is usually moderate pain and swelling of the knee joint, although in the first several hours, this may be minor. It will, however, worsen over the first two days, and then begin to subside.

Treatment for an ACL tear depends on the extent of your injury and your specific goals and needs. Some people can continue their normal lives with an ACL injury but may later suffer from other knee injuries. For an athlete, if surgery is needed to repair the ACL it can be done arthroscopically. This, along with physical therapy, will achieve the best results for returning to sports as quickly as possible.

general

Rotator Cuff

For more info: Torn Rotator Cuff Surgery

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that stabilize the shoulder and allow it to move while keeping the head of your upper arm bone firmly within the shallow socket of the shoulder.

The rotator cuff is a commonly injured area. The most common injuries are strains, tendinitis, and bursitis. These types of injuries occur most often in people who repeatedly perform overhead motions in their jobs or sports. Examples include painters, carpenters, and people who play baseball or tennis.

If you are experiencing any of the below symptoms you may have a rotator cuff tear:

  • Pain at rest and at night, particularly if lying on the affected shoulder
  • Pain when lifting and lowering your arm or with specific movements
  • Weakness when lifting or rotating your arm
  • Crackling sensation when moving your shoulder in certain positions

Upon evaluation and based on the severity of the shoulder injury/tear, Dr. Augustin will begin a conservative, non-surgical treatment plan.
Non-Surgical Treatments that may provide relief: Anti-inflammatory medication, steroid injections, and physical therapy. The goals of treatment are to relieve pain and restore strength to the involved shoulder.

More serious rotator cuff tears require surgery. Dr. Augustin will perform a procedure called shoulder arthroscopy, which is usually an outpatient procedure.
A small camera is inserted into the shoulder with a small incision to see and repair the rotator cuff tear. Following the arthroscopy, the arm will likely be in a sling for two to three weeks and Dr. Augustin will have you do physical therapy to help strengthen the shoulder.

Shoulder Dislocations/Instability

For more info: Dislocated Shoulder Surgery

A shoulder dislocation occurs when the head of the humerus (upper arm bone) pops out of the shallow shoulder socket of the scapula (called the glenoid). This can happen when a strong force pulls the shoulder upward or outward, or from an extreme external rotation of the humerus.

The doctor will place the ball of the upper arm bone (humerus) back into the joint socket. This process is called closed reduction. Severe pain stops almost immediately once the shoulder joint is back in place.

The doctor may immobilize the shoulder in a sling or other device for several weeks following treatment. Plenty of rest is needed. The sore area can be iced 3 to 4 times a day.
After the pain and swelling go down, the doctor will prescribe rehabilitation exercises for you. These help restore the shoulders range of motion and strengthen the muscles. Rehabilitation may also help prevent dislocating the shoulder again in the future. Rehabilitation will begin with gentle muscle toning exercises. Later, weight training can be added.
If shoulder dislocation becomes a chronic condition, a brace can sometimes help. However, if therapy and bracing fail, surgery may be needed to repair or tighten the torn or stretched ligaments that help hold the joint in place, particularly in young athletes.


Meniscal Tears

For more info: Meniscal Tear Surgery

A meniscal tear is a tear in the meniscus, a shock-absorbing structure in the knee. There are two menisci in each knee, one on the inside, and one on the outside. Most injuries to the meniscus are caused by trauma, usually compression and twisting of the knee. Movements that can cause trauma to the knee include pivoting, cutting, and decelerating. Most meniscal tears do not heal without intervention. If conservative treatment does not allow the patient to resume normal activities, or sports, surgical treatment is considered. Surgical treatment of symptomatic meniscal tears is recommended because untreated tears may increase in size resulting in arthritis. Dr. Augustin uses an arthroscopic procedure, which is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure, resulting in faster rehabilitation and a better outcome than open meniscal surgery. The benefits of this, for athletes of all levels, is a faster return to playtime.


Tendinitis


Tendinitis is inflammation or irritation of a tendon – a thick cord that attaches muscle to bone. Tendons act as pulleys to help muscles move a joint. Tendinitis commonly affects the shoulders, biceps, hands, wrists, thumbs and calves.
The first course of action in treating tendinitis is to reduce inflammation and pain. Treatment includes: rest, ice, over-the-counter pain relievers and an anti-inflammatory medicine.
If there is no relief with the aforementioned treatment Dr. Augustin may inject a corticosteroid medication around a tendon to relieve tendinitis. Timing is key in treating tendinitis. As the tendon worsens, the time frame for healing the tendon significantly increases.
Patients with symptoms resistant to conservative therapy may benefit from arthroscopic or open surgical treatment.

Call  201.437.9700 for our Bayonne location or call  973.680.4200 for our Bloomfield location to schedule a consultation and learn more.

 

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Location

Augustin Orthopedics (Bayonne)
526 Broadway
Bayonne, NJ 07002 | > Directions
201.437.9700
Augustin Orthopedics (Bloomfield)
299 Glenwood Ave 2nd Fl
Bloomfield, NJ 07003| > Directions
973.680.4200