Ankle Joint Replacement vs Fusion: Your Gait will be Better but Not Normal

Which is better, an ankle joint replacement vs fusion? The medical term “Gait” means the mechanics of how you walk. Many patients considering an ankle fusion vs. an ankle joint replacement want to walk normally again without a limp. Will these big surgeries accomplish that? A recent study looked at the gait of normal patients without…read more

Are Your Flat Feet Causing Your Knee Pain?

The Framingham study group, best known for it’s large heart health study, is turning out to be a treasure trove of orthopedic data as well. This is the group that figured out that knee meniscus tears are as common and about as significant in middle aged and elderly people as grey hair. Now they’ve taken a…read more

Ankle Arthritis Treatment: Stem Cells Help Larger Ankle Cartilage Lesions in a New Study

We have been using stem cells as an ankle arthritis treatment since approximately 2006. In that time, we’ve seen many patients recover ankle function and have less pain after injections of their own stem cells even when they were told that their only hope was an ankle fusion. Looks like the world is now beginning…read more

Ankle Instability Causes Forces to be Absorbed by the Ankle Instead of the Leg

If you haven’t heard of the concept of ankle instability, that’s not good, as it’s the single biggest thing that may be frying your joints one step at a time. The ankle is a joint that’s held together by ligaments, like many joints. Unlike the other joints, the ankle takes the brunt of your body weight so the ligaments act as very strong…read more

Ankle and Knee Pain: The Knee Bones Connected to the Ankle Bone

Are ankle and knee pain linked? The fact that problems with ankle motion can cause knee issues suggested a new study. This concept has been a mainstay of modern podiatry and countless physical therapy and chiropractic disciplines. This study measured the range of ankle dorsiflexion (moving the foot up) and extension at the knee in 17 patients. The…read more

Standard Platelet Rich Plasma versus Regenexx-SCP

Standard Platelet Rich Plasma versus Regenexx-SCP:  Can we design a better platelet rich plasma? Yesterday I received this e-mail authored by a patient of Dr. Malanga’s of NJ Sports Medicine: “My right ankle healed quickly. A week or two after the PRP, I stepped on a stone. In the past it would have caused a small sprain,…read more

Knee Stem Cells and Skiing and Hiking the Highland Bowl in Aspen

Knee Stem Cells and Skiing and Hiking make a good combination.  We treat many patients who want to be as active as possible as they age without having to get their joints replaced or major surgery. DW is a 59 year old patient who is a huge propoent of “hot yoga” and frankly could pass for…read more

18 Months Out from Seeking an Ankle Fusion Alternative

Is there an ankle fusion alternative? CB was a 39 year old woman when she was first seen in July of 2011 seeking an ankle fusion. In 2008 she was in a severe car crash where she sustained a compound fracture of her right tibia and fibula and required immediate surgery. Six days later she had a second…read more