“Advanced treatment, minimally invasive small incision surgery”

Dr. Wagnon has been providing arthroscopic surgery of the knee since 1984.

Dr. Wagnon treats his patients like family. His staff provides a quality, caring environment from the first step in the office, through the physical exam to treatment.

Treatment initially is conservative with advice, physical therapy, injections when needed and surgery only if necessary.

Dr. Wagnon and his staff stay up-to-date on the latest cutting edge techniques to treat knee problems. Review of recent literature, Continuing Education classes and lectures, meetings and direct observation with leading knee specialists make this total orthopaedic practice package possible.

The most recent advances in knee surgery enable Dr. Wagnon to perform delicate surgery through small “minimally invasive” incisions. Dr. Wagnon provides these new advances for his patients and is at the forefront in using these new techniques.

Dr. Wagnon also is skilled in the latest minimally invasive arthroscopic, total knee or partial knee replacement techniques and surgery.



Please review the information below to see if you need to scheduled an appointment:

Definition of a knee:

The knee is the largest joint in the body, and one of the most easily injured. It is made up of the lower end of the thighbone (femur) which rotates on the upper end of the shinebone (tibia), and the knee cap, which slides in a groove on the end of the thighbone. The knee also contains large ligaments that help control motion by connecting bones and bracing the joint against abnormal types of motion. Cartilage serves to cushion your knee or help it absorb shock during motion.

Knee Pain:

Are you feeling pain when:

• Bending your knee
• You put weight on your knee
• Do you suffer from “buckling” or “locking” of the knee
• Do you suffer with a near constant pain whether sitting, standing or sleeping
• Do you have popping or swelling

Causes of knee pain:

Arthritis: Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Post-traumatic arthritis, Gout.
Symptoms of arthritis usually develop gradually, but in some cases it can have a sudden onset. The knee may become stiff, swollen, making it difficult to bend or straighten the knee. Pain and swelling are worse in the morning or after a period of inactivity or pain can increase after activities such as walking or climbing stairs. The pain can often cause a feeling of weakness or a giving away sensation.

Torn knee cartilage:  which is a torn meniscus. The meniscus is the tough, rubbery cartilage attached to the knees ligaments. It acts like a shock absorber. Tearing occurs when twisting, cutting, pivoting, decelerating or being tackled. Direct contact is often involved.  People with this injury usually complain of popping, clicking, locking and swelling.

Ligament injuries:
ACL — anterior curciate ligament
LCL/MCL— lateral collateral/medial collateral ligament
PCL — posterior cruciate ligament

• ACL injuries: occur when twisting direction rapidly or when slowing down when running. Athletes who wear cleated shoes along with basketball players and skiers are most susceptible for ACL injuries, but they do occur with other activity as well.
• MCL injuries are caused by contact on the outside of the knee. These are most often caused during contact sports, but they do occur with repetitive activity such as stair climbing.
• PCL injuries also are caused by sports activities. An athlete receives a blow to the front of the knee or makes a simple misstep on the playing field. Football and soccer players are susceptible to this injury. It also can occur in motor vehicle collisions if the knees hit the dash at a high speed.
• All ligament injuries have symptoms of shifting

Diagnosis
Diagnosing the source of the problem is essential. Many knee conditions are aggravated by specific activities and relieved by specific activities, therefore a medical history and an exam are key to finding the source of your pain and developing the proper treatment.

Treatments:
There are a variety of treatment methods for knee injuries and arthritis of the knee.
The first step is to get treatment for any pain.

Treatment varies for each type of injury:

Basic first aid: brace, rest, ice, compression, elevation – should be followed.

Upon further evaluation, additional testing may be required, such as X-Ray, MRI or Laboratory workup.

Conservative and non-surgical care is always preferred but sometimes help is needed. Following orthopedic preferred standards when surgery is required, Dr. Wagnon uses minimally invasive techniques to shorten recovery and limit scarring.

Dr. Wagnon is skilled and highly trained in diagnosing and treating all types of knee injuries

Using minimally invasive techniques, with repairs using small incisions,

• Meniscus repair • Ligament Reconstruction, ACL, MCL, LCL
• Cartilage damage repair/transplant
• Patella Realignment
• Partial or total knee replacements