Patient Story
Knee Replacement and Knee Specialists
Our Approach to Knee Care & Replacement
No matter your age or activity level, healthy knees play a pivotal role in mobility, balance, and overall quality of life. Though often caused by injuries such as torn ligaments or cartilage, knee pain can also result from repetitive or high-impact activities, weakness in the surrounding muscles, carrying excess weight, or degenerative conditions like arthritis. An experienced orthopedic specialist can diagnose and treat the causes of your pain, either through conservative therapies or surgical treatments, and help you get back to an active life.
What We Do
- Avascular necrosis
- Bone cancer
- Bone tumor
- Dislocated knee
- Jumper's knee (Patellar Tendonitis)
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Runner's knee (Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome)
- Septic arthritis
- Torn meniscus
- ACL reconstruction
- Arthroscopy
- Knee replacement
- Medial Patella-Femoral Ligament (MPFL) reconstruction
- Meniscal allograft transplantation
- Meniscus removal surgery (Meniscectomy)
- Meniscus repair
- Pain management
- Physical therapy
- CT Scan
- MRI
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
Excellence in Sports Medicine, Knee Surgery & More
The sports medicine providers at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush (MOR) can expertly diagnose and treat knee injuries, abnormalities, and degenerative conditions in patients of all ages and fitness levels — from competitive athletes to everyday, active people. We aim to help you avoid surgery if possible, using innovative nonsurgical therapies to eliminate pain and get you back to an active life. Our multidisciplinary team works together to provide individualized, evidence-based treatment options, with specialized expertise in knee injuries in pediatric, female, and elite athletes. Learn more about our Sports Medicine services.
For patients who do require surgery, our physicians are at the forefront of surgical treatments related to knee problems, including arthritic and inflammatory conditions, degenerative issues, failed joint surgery, infected joints, and avascular necrosis (blood-flow problems) of the knee joint. We specialize in reconstructive surgery to major ligaments and cartilage, such as the ACL and meniscus, that restore stability and function to the knee after an injury. Our extensive experience with these procedures and our advancements in patient recovery result in better outcomes for our patients, helping you return to an active life while reducing your risk for complications like early-onset arthritis. MOR surgeons are also pioneers of innovative cartilage restoration procedures, which offer younger patients an alternative to knee replacement and provide a path to resuming moderate activity without pain.
Following surgery, our expert physical therapists and Sports Performance specialists can work with you to restore function in the knee, then help you build strength and flexibility throughout your lower body. MOR’s Functional Sports Assessment identifies potential weaknesses, and customized performance training drills that emphasize power and agility help reduce risk of reinjury. Learn more about our Sports Performance services.
If knee replacement is recommended, our joint replacement specialists are among the nation’s best, so rest assured the health of your knees is in excellent hands, whatever the prognosis.
Leaders in Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement
When severe knee pain begins to limit your ability to do the most basic tasks, replacing the damaged joint with an artificial implant can help you feel and move better. And thanks to minimally invasive techniques pioneered by the surgeons at MOR, choosing to have a knee replacement is less painful, more successful, and less disruptive to your life than ever before. You can even choose to have your procedure performed at an outpatient surgical center and return home the same day. After a minimally invasive surgery in an outpatient setting, you’re able to start moving sooner, which reduces risk of complications and accelerates recovery. Compared to a 3-6-month recovery from a standard inpatient knee replacement, patients who choose minimally invasive outpatient knee replacement typically resume normal activities in as little as 6-8 weeks. Learn more about minimally invasive knee replacement.
If you’ve been told you need a knee replacement, the experienced team at MOR offers the latest in minimally invasive total knee replacement, partial knee replacement, and resurfacing.
The many reasons to choose MOR for knee replacement include:
- Innovative techniques
The joint replacement specialists at MOR are at the forefront of minimally invasive surgery, and we were the first to perform the minimally invasive total knee replacement as an outpatient procedure. We also provide revision surgery, treating many patients whose prior joint replacements have failed. - Robotic technology
Our surgeons use precision robotic technology to assist in the sizing, placement, and positioning of prosthetic implants. Real-time data enables our team to make any necessary adjustments during surgery to ensure each implant is inserted as accurately as possible. - Superior rating
U.S. News & World Report rated the orthopedic program at Rush University Medical Center ‘High Performing,’ the highest possible rating, for knee replacement. - High volume
Higher volume means better outcomes. Our surgeons each perform as many as 800 knee replacements per year — the most in Illinois and among the most in the Midwest. This extensive experience translates to better patient outcomes and fewer complications. - Team approach
Our joint replacement team includes board-certified orthopedic surgeons, specialty nurses, rehabilitation therapists, and pain management specialists. By working together, we’re able to provide the best results and experience for our patients. - Personalized care
Every patient is unique, so we customize our approach to hip replacement for each individual, helping you recover quickly, safely, and comfortably.
Ready to See a Sports Medicine Specialist?
Request an appointment today and get back to your best.
Providers
Frequently Asked Questions
Knee replacement is typically considered when pain limits everyday activities — walking, climbing stairs, getting in and out of chairs — and non-surgical options like physical therapy, injections, and medication have stopped providing relief. An orthopedic surgeon will review your imaging, joint alignment, and symptoms to determine whether a partial or total replacement is appropriate. At Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, evaluations include patient-specific factors like activity level, age, and overall health. The decision is made together with the patient, not by imaging alone.
A total knee replacement resurfaces all three compartments of the knee joint, while a partial (or unicompartmental) knee replacement replaces only the damaged compartment and preserves the healthy cartilage and ligaments. Partial replacements generally allow a shorter recovery and a more natural feel, but they are only appropriate when damage is isolated to one area. Our surgeons use imaging and an intraoperative assessment to confirm which approach is best. Not every patient is a candidate for a partial replacement.
Most patients walk with assistance within 24 hours, go home within one to three days, and return to low-impact activity around 6 weeks. Full strength and range of motion typically continue to improve for 6 to 12 months. Recovery depends on age, conditioning, and how closely the physical therapy protocol is followed. Our care teams coordinate with in-network physical therapy providers to keep recovery on track.
Yes — ACL reconstructions are performed arthroscopically using small incisions and a camera, which is considered a minimally invasive approach. Our sports medicine surgeons are the team physicians for the Chicago Bulls, White Sox, and Chicago Fire, and they perform a high volume of ACL procedures each year. Graft choice (patellar tendon, hamstring, or allograft) is tailored to the patient's sport, age, and goals. Return-to-sport timelines typically range from 6 to 9 months.
Some meniscus tears, particularly small tears in the outer "red zone" where blood supply is good, can heal or become asymptomatic with physical therapy, activity modification, and time. Other tears — especially larger tears, locked-knee symptoms, or tears in the inner avascular zone — generally require arthroscopic repair or trimming. An MRI and clinical exam help determine which category a tear falls into.
Yes. Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush treats workers' compensation patients for knee injuries, including ACL tears, meniscus injuries, and post-traumatic arthritis. Our workers' comp team handles IME, FCE, and impairment rating requests in coordination with employers, case managers, and attorneys. Illinois workers have the right to choose their treating physician.
Appointments can be requested online at rushortho.com or by calling the main scheduling line. Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush has seven Chicago-area locations, so patients can usually be seen close to home or work. Most major insurance plans are accepted; new patients can have benefits verified before the first visit.