Recent Patient Stories
Careers and Cartilage
Jennifer Hudak is a 22-year-old world-class professional skier who suffered severe cartilage and ligament injuries to her knee after landing backwards into a halfpipe wall in March 2009. Her MRI documented loss of articular cartilage as well as damage to the posterior lateral portion of the knee. Jennifer underwent an articular cartilage paste graft to a full-thickness lesion on her lateral femoral condyle and reconstruction of the posterolateral corner using an allograft. She started training in August and returned to competitive skiing in the fall of 2009. Our novel technique of articular cartilage paste grafting uses the patient’s stem cells to re-grow their own cartilage and is performed in one surgical setting. This technique has scientifically-proven results in various peer-reviewed publications. Also, recognition of the posterolateral corner instability and rebuilding the corner with donor tissue provides stability and protection to her joint. Watch her story below.
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Carl Cruz is a 44-year-old SWAT team police officer who came to The Stone Clinic in May of 2009 with his knee giving way, pain, swelling, and difficulty climbing stairs after having part of his meniscus removed two months prior. He was unable to work because of his inability to squat and recurring pain with other activities. During his exam, x-ray and MRI images revealed arthritis in the lateral compartment of the knee and loss of his lateral meniscus. Carl underwent a lateral meniscus allograft replacement with chondroplasty in May 2009. Carl stated at his last follow-up appointment in October 2009 that he was back to running almost at full speed and was extremely happy with his recovery. The new meniscus allowed Carl to return to full, active duty. Saving his career from certain early retirement makes us all safer.
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Jonathan Brosnan is a 26-year-old business developer who enjoys surfing on a regular basis. He underwent a bucket-handle lateral meniscus repair in 2005 for a torn meniscus. Jonathan presented for the first time to The Stone Clinic after a surfing injury in July 2009. His MRI documented a re-tear of his previously repaired meniscus. He underwent a collagen meniscus implantation for reconstruction of his meniscus and returned to surfing in October 2009. The collagen meniscus implant served as a scaffold allowing tissue to grow into the meniscal space. This unique procedure and device allows for the meniscus to be reconstructed, rather than being repaired or replaced, and may protect the joint from degrading.
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To learn if you are a candidate for any of these procedures or to learn more about The Stone Clinic's approach to Biologic Knee Replacement, please contact us at (415)563-3110 to make your appointment today. If you live outside of California, learn how Dr. Stone can provide you with an Outside Consultation. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us.