Preserve Your Mobility, Restore Your Life: Advanced Joint Preservation & Cartilage Restoration at Steel City Spine and Orthopedic Center

Serving patients in Washington, Pittsburgh, Uniontown, Monongahela, PA, and the greater Morgantown, WV area.

Don’t let joint pain dictate your life. At Steel City Spine and Orthopedic Center, Dr. Jocelyn Idema, DO, and Dr. Ari Pressman, MD, are dedicated to helping you maintain your natural joints and active lifestyle through innovative Joint Preservation and Cartilage Restoration techniques. Our goal is to alleviate pain, improve function, and delay or even prevent the need for joint replacement surgery.

We understand that preserving your own biology is often the best long-term solution. Our orthopedic specialists leverage the latest advancements in medical technology and evidence-based treatments to address joint damage caused by injury, overuse, or early-stage arthritis, focusing on restoring damaged cartilage and maintaining the health of your joints.

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Why Choose Steel City Spine and Orthopedic Center for Joint Preservation & Cartilage Restoration?

  • Expert Orthopedic Surgeons:
    • Dr. Ari Pressman, MD: A board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon with fellowship training in sports medicine, arthroscopy, and joint reconstruction. Dr. Pressman has a keen interest in biologic treatments and advanced arthroscopic techniques crucial for joint preservation and cartilage repair.
    • Dr. Jocelyn Idema, DO: A board-certified Orthopedic Spine Surgeon with expertise in minimally invasive procedures. While specializing in the spine, Dr. Idema’s orthopedic background encompasses the treatment of various musculoskeletal conditions, and she supports a comprehensive approach to joint health.
  • Focus on Your Natural Joints: We are committed to exploring all viable options to preserve your native joint structure and function, helping you stay active for longer.
  • Cutting-Edge Techniques: We offer a range of modern, evidence-based treatments designed to repair and regenerate damaged cartilage and address underlying joint issues.
  • Personalized Treatment Plans: Every patient is unique. We conduct thorough evaluations to understand your specific condition, lifestyle, and goals, tailoring a treatment plan that’s right for you.
  • Minimally Invasive Options: Whenever possible, we utilize arthroscopic and other minimally invasive procedures to reduce discomfort, shorten recovery times, and achieve optimal outcomes.
  • Comprehensive Care Across Multiple Locations: With offices in Washington, Pittsburgh, Uniontown, and Monongahela, PA, we provide accessible, advanced orthopedic care to communities throughout Western Pennsylvania and serve patients from the Morgantown, WV region.

Understanding Joint Preservation and Cartilage Restoration

The smooth, slippery tissue called articular cartilage allows your joints to move easily and without pain. When this cartilage is damaged due to injury, wear and tear, or conditions like osteoarthritis, it can lead to pain, stiffness, and limited mobility. Unlike many other tissues in the body, cartilage has limited ability to heal on its own.

Joint preservation and cartilage restoration encompass a range of treatments aimed at:

  • Repairing damaged cartilage
  • Stimulating new cartilage growth
  • Correcting joint misalignments to offload damaged areas
  • Slowing the progression of joint degeneration
  • Alleviating pain and improving joint function

Conditions We Address with Joint Preservation & Cartilage Restoration:

Our specialists treat a variety of conditions that can benefit from these advanced techniques, including:

  • Focal Cartilage Defects: Localized areas of cartilage damage often resulting from trauma or sports injuries.
  • Early to Moderate Osteoarthritis: Degenerative joint disease where cartilage is beginning to wear down.
  • Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD): A condition where a small segment of bone and cartilage separates from the joint surface.
  • Avascular Necrosis (AVN): Loss of blood supply to a portion of bone, which can lead to cartilage collapse.
  • Joint Instability or Malalignment: Conditions that put abnormal stress on joint cartilage.
  • Meniscal Tears with Associated Cartilage Damage: (Especially in the knee)

Potential Joint Preservation & Cartilage Restoration Treatments Offered:

Steel City Spine and Orthopedic Center is committed to providing a spectrum of advanced treatments. The specific approach will depend on the nature and severity of your joint damage, your age, activity level, and overall health. Potential options may include:

  • Arthroscopic Procedures:
    • Debridement and Chondroplasty: Smoothing damaged cartilage and removing loose fragments.
    • Microfracture: Creating small holes in the bone beneath the damaged cartilage to stimulate new fibrocartilage growth.
    • Meniscal Repair: Repairing torn meniscus tissue to preserve its cushioning function and protect articular cartilage.
  • Cartilage Repair & Regeneration Techniques:
    • Osteochondral Autograft Transfer System (OATS) / Mosaicplasty: Transplanting healthy cartilage and bone plugs from a non-weight-bearing area of your joint to a damaged area.
    • Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation: Using donor cartilage and bone to repair larger defects.
    • Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI): A two-stage procedure where your own cartilage cells are harvested, grown in a lab, and then re-implanted into the damaged area.
    • Matrix-Associated Chondrocyte Implantation (MACI): Similar to ACI, but the cultured cells are seeded onto a scaffold before implantation.
  • Biologic Injections & Regenerative Medicine (where appropriate and evidence-based):
    • Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections: Using concentrated platelets from your own blood to promote healing.
    • Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) Injections: Utilizing stem cells and growth factors from your own bone marrow.
  • Osteotomy: A surgical procedure that involves cutting and reshaping bone to realign the joint, thereby shifting weight off the damaged area of cartilage. This is often used for knee and hip preservation.
  • Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation: A crucial component of any joint preservation strategy, focused on restoring strength, range of motion, and function, as well as modifying activities to protect the joint.

Is Joint Preservation or Cartilage Restoration Right for You?

Ideal candidates for these procedures are typically younger, active individuals with localized cartilage damage or early arthritis who wish to avoid or significantly delay joint replacement. A thorough evaluation by Dr. Pressman or Dr. Idema will determine if you are a suitable candidate.

Take the First Step Towards Preserving Your Joint Health

If you’re experiencing joint pain and want to explore alternatives to joint replacement, contact Steel City Spine and Orthopedic Center. Our dedicated team is ready to provide you with an accurate diagnosis and discuss advanced joint preservation and cartilage restoration options.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Ari Pressman or Dr. Jocelyn Idema at one of our convenient locations:

  • Washington, PA: [Insert Phone Number and Address if available, or general contact]
  • Pittsburgh, PA: [Insert Phone Number and Address if available, or general contact]
  • Uniontown, PA: [Insert Phone Number and Address if available, or general contact]
  • Monongahela, PA: [Insert Phone Number and Address if available, or general contact]

Committed to helping patients from Western Pennsylvania and the Morgantown, West Virginia area maintain active and pain-free lives. Discover your options at Steel City Spine and Orthopedic Center.