Knee pain is not only frustrating, but it can signify a serious condition – for instance, arthritis. An injury to the knee, whether due to sports, a fall, or another accident, can also have a serious impact on your mobility. It is important to take knee pain seriously and to seek the proper treatment from a knee specialist.

Our knee doctors can help you obtain the correct diagnosis as well as the most effective treatment options. Additionally, our sports medicine doctors provide world-class treatment for sports-related knee injuries and understand the needs of athletes and active patients. Whatever surgery or nonsurgical treatment you need, our doctors and surgeons have the expertise to help you.

When you visit us, your specialist will provide a full evaluation. This may mean performing a physical examination and requesting X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Then your doctor can recommend the procedure or treatment to restore your knee joint function.

Our knee care providers diagnose a range of ailments in the knee joint, including:

  • Fractures of the kneecap
  • Knee arthritis, or osteoarthritis
  • Meniscus tears
  • Osgood-Schlatter disease
  • Osteochondritis dissecans
  • Post-traumatic knee injuries
  • Prepatellar bursitis
  • Shin splints
  • Sprains
  • Torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or other ACL injury
  • Torn cartilage
  • Torn ligaments or tendons

When You Should Seek Treatment for Your Knee Condition

While a little knee soreness or stiffness can be normal, we recommend seeking a medical opinion from one of our surgeons if:

  • You have pain in the knee that lasts longer than two days.
  • You have pain in the knee that radiates to your hip.
  • Your knee pain is not affected by home remedies such as heat, ice, or over-the-counter pain medicine.
  • Your knee pain keeps you up at night or impedes your ability to carry out your duties.
  • Your knee pain began following a traumatic accident, such as a vehicular collision or a sports accident.

After diagnosis, our specialty-trained doctors will walk you through any nonsurgical options available. Some of the most common options for patients include medicine, physical therapy, nonoperative sports medicine care, ultrasound-guided pain injections, and/or orthotic devices.

If surgery is necessary, one of our knee surgeons can explain which surgical procedures can help you and perform the surgery you need using the latest techniques. Whenever possible, our surgeons will use minimally invasive methods in surgery, such as knee arthroscopy.

One of the most common reconstructive knee surgeries our specialists perform is knee replacement – either total knee replacement or partial knee replacement. Similar to other joint replacement surgeries, like hip replacement, these procedures involve having all or part of your natural joint removed then replaced with artificial components.

Our knee doctors are all board-certified or fellowship-trained in orthopedic surgery and have extensive experience in the specialized treatment of injuries and conditions of the knee.

Jiffy KneeTM and VELYSTM Robotic-Assisted Solution Provide Less Pain, Faster Recovery for Total Knee Replacements

At AFOC, our doctors are on the forefront of minimally invasive, technologically advanced procedures for total knee replacements. Both the Jiffy Knee and VELYS approaches are performed using muscle- and tendon-sparing techniques, resulting in:

  • Less pain
  • Increased mobility
  • Quicker recovery times
  • Better patient outcomes

Our very own Dr. Douglas Prevost and Dr. Lars Matkin perform total knee replacements with the VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution. The knee replacement is customized for your specific anatomy and alignment in three dimensions. This allows for a level of precision not possible with previous knee replacement techniques.

In addition, Dr. Brad Sparks is the only doctor in Alaska (and one of only a handful of physicians in the country) certified in the Jiffy Knee procedure for total knee replacements. He received special training from the founder of the Jiffy Knee, Dr. Manish Patel. Dr. Sparks’ patients enjoy far less downtime, decreased risk for complications, and fast rehabs.

Curious if you’re a good candidate? All candidates for total knee replacement are also candidates for Jiffy Knee and VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution.

AFOC offers both procedures in Anchorage, Eagle River and Wasilla. Learn more about Jiffy Knee and VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution.