Through his research, Dr. Chudik investigates and pioneers advanced and novel arthroscopic procedures, instruments and implants that have forever changed patients’ lives. Never content to settle for what’s always been done for orthopaedic knee care, Dr. Chudik prides himself on providing individualized care and developing a plan that is right for each patient. By taking this approach for the past 20 years Dr. Chudik has developed minimally invasive surgical techniques and instruments for the repair of knee menicus and related cartilage and ligament injuries, as well as injury-specifc rehab programs and return to sports protocols and testing. Meniscus tears are common knee injuries and Dr. Chudik specializes in nonoperative and arthroscopic treatment of meniscus tears. Preserving meniscal tissue and function is the highest priority.
1. Arthroscopic Meniscus Repair
2. Arthroscopic Meniscus Transplant
3. Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy
4. Arthroscopic Meniscal Root Repair
5. Arthroscopic Anatomic ACL Reconstruction
6. Complex Arthroscopic Revision ACL Reconstruction (developed by Dr. Chudik)
7. Arthroscopic Pediatric (growth plate sparing) ACL reconstruction (developed by Dr. Chudik)
8. Arthroscopic Tunnelless Ligament Reconstruction (under development by Dr. Chudik)
9. Arthroscopic debridement of arthritis
10. Total knee arthroplasty (joint replacement)
Because no two people and no two injuries are alike, Dr. Steven Chudik uses his expertise to develop and provide individualized care and recovery plans for his patients. This customized attention explains why patients travel to have Dr. Chudik care for their knee conditions and injuries, especially those with meniscus tears, meniscal root tears, ACL tears combined with meniscus tears, and failed surgeries involving the menicus and ACL.
Answer to the Question
Ligaments
There are four main ligaments connecting the bones at the knee joint and provide stability when you walk, run and jump. They are the:
Cartilage and Meniscus
The joint surface of the knee is covered with a thin, but durable layer of cartilage over the ends of the femur, tibia and patella and, along with the meniscus, allow the knee surfaces to articulate, move smoothly—almost frictionless and painlessly along each other. The cartilage and meniscus lack a blood supply and get their nutrition from the joint fluid. Without a blood supply and because of their relatively less active cellular makeup, they cannot maintain or repair themselves. The cartilage and meniscus are extremely durable, but in time with “wear and tear” or following injury, they break down, fail, and lead to meniscus tears, cartilage damage and eventually symptomatic (pain, stiffness, swelling) arthritis (failure of this protective joint surface).
Tendons and Muscles
Tendons also help provide knee joint stability and movement. They act like strong cables connecting your muscles to your bones. These muscle-tendon units cross joints to compress, hold and move joints in specific directions. Like other parts of your knee, they are susceptible to injury and overuse. The two knee tendons most commonly injured are the quadriceps and patellar tendons.
Through his research, Dr. Chudik investigates and pioneers advanced and novel arthroscopic procedures, instruments and grafts that change patients’ lives because of better long-term outcomes, or outcomes that previously were never possible. His efforts continue to yield patent applications and patents that will positively affect orthopaedic surgical techniques worldwide.
Novel Knee Procedures
Dr. Steven Chudik continually innovates to create new technology, and surgical techniques and improve patient care. He also collaborates worldwide with other leaders in the orthopaedic technology industry. Surgeries provide Dr. Chudik with an endless source of ideas to create new, safer, less invasive, and more effective surgical procedures, surgical instruments, and implants. Several of his shoulder patents are the direct result of these pioneering endeavors.
An inquisitive nature was the impetus for Dr. Steven Chudik’s career as a fellowship-trained and board-certified orthopaedic surgeon, sports medicine physician and arthroscopic pioneer for treating knee injuries. It also led him to design and patent special arthroscopic surgical procedures and instruments and create the Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine Teaching and Research Foundation (OTRF). Through OTRF, Dr. Chudik conducts unbiased orthopaedic research, provides up-to-date medical information to help prevent sports injuries and shares his expertise and passion mentoring medical students in an honors research program. He also serves as a consultant and advisor for other orthopaedic companies and industry.