Dr. Rami J. Elkhechen, MD

On the show

“Cartilage loves range of motion.”

Dr. Elkhechen talked with Dave and Mike about what separates a surgical candidate from someone better served by conservative care, and why he tries non-operative treatment as often as he can first. He described cartilage as “the gold in a vault at a bank,” with the ligaments and meniscus as its security system, and walked through cartilage restoration and the rehab after it. He also does prehab before surgery, especially for ACL patients, because a stronger base going in means a better recovery coming out.

Background

• He is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and sees patients at NYU Langone Medical Associates in Palm Beach Gardens.
• He earned his medical degree at New York University and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn.
• He completed a sports medicine fellowship at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans.
• During his fellowship he served as an assistant team physician for the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans.
• He is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.
• His practice covers sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee and ankle, including cartilage procedures and ACL reconstruction.

Listen

Read the recap: Cartilage Transplants: Rebuilding a Knee Instead of Replacing It