Craig Della Valle, M.D., a hip and knee replacement surgeon at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, is recruiting patients for a new total knee replacement procedure that preserves the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
Wanted: Patients for Study of ACL Preserving Surgery
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Most standard knee replacement surgeries remove the ACL. Della Valle is performing this study to learn if this ACL-preserving knee implant design will give patients a knee that feels more normal and natural because it is more stable. To be considered, patients must have knee arthritis, an intact ACL, good range of motion and be within a normal weight range.
The ACL is located in the middle of the knee and prevents the shin bone from moving out of position in front of the thigh bone. It also prevents hyperextension of the knee, limits excessive rotation and helps alleviate excess stress on the knee. Those interested in the study should contact Jane Garcia: 312-432-2418.
Della Valle earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed a fellowship in adult reconstructive surgery at Rush University Medical Center and Central DuPage Hospital. During his residency, he spent a year devoted to clinical and basic science research in the field of adult reconstructive surgery. He is a member of The Hip Society and The Knee Society and serves as Education Committee chairman for the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.
U.S. News & World Report ranks the orthopedic program at Rush University Medical Center as number one in Illinois and number six in the nation.
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This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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