The Relationship between the Physician and Physician Assistant, PA-C This photo is of Dr. Michael Wright and his Physician Assistant (PA-C), Meagan Auch. At Missoula Bone & Joint there is a unique relationship between the physician and the physician assistant; one of mutual trust and respect. The PA-C is a representative of the Physician, treating…
Orthopedics
What is that bulge behind my knee?
A Baker’s cyst, also called a popliteal cyst, is an abnormal swelling in the depression in the back of the knee joint. This condition is usually the result of something else going on in the knee joint, hence it is recommended that you have a consultation with an orthopedic physician who specializes in treatment of…
Quadriceps tendon tear
The Quadriceps tendon is the large tendon just above your knee cap. A tendon is strong fibrous collagen tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone. The quadriceps tendon attaches the quadriceps muscle (large muscle at the front of the thigh) to the patella (knee cap). If you look at this image of a knee…
Is your knee joint catching, locking and swelling?
The knee is a complex hinge joint providing flexion and extension movement at the knee joint. It is formed where the thigh bone and the shin bone meet. The patella or knee cap is at the front of the knee and acts as a glide for the patella tendon that attaches to the quadricep muscle….
Tagged With: arthroscopy, best surgeons, knee injury, knee pain, missoula surgeons, outpatient surgery center, torn meniscus
Shoulder Pain – Rotator Cuff Injury?
Slipped on the ice and now your shoulder hurts? Dr. Michael Wright specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of shoulder injuries. You may first develop pain in the front part of your shoulder, your pain may spread down the side of your arm, the pain increases if you lift your arm above your head, the pain may be…
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Knee Injury
Dr. Gary Willstein uses the knee model in clinic today to explain to a patient about the role of the ACL, Anterior Cruciate Ligament. The ACL is one of the four ligaments in the knee joint that provides stabilization. It crosses from front to back across the knee joint, connecting the tibia (shin) bone to the…
Bunion Joint Pain
Hallux valgus, or commonly known as Bunion, is a condition that affects the joint at the base of the big toe. The base of the bone in your big toe (proximal phalanx) meets with the head of the metatarsal bone in your foot to form the metatarsophalangeal joint. Ligaments connect the two bones together for stability. …
Arthroscopic Posterior Cruciate Ligament Repair Surgery
Doctor Michael Wright, Orthopedic Sports Medicine Surgeon, is joined by Scott Doherty, Physician Assistant, at Missoula Bone & Joint Surgery Center. Dr. Wright was on his way into surgery to perform a Posterior Cruciate Ligament, PCL, repair of the knee joint. The knee is structurally complex. It is held together by four ligaments (ACL, PCL, MCL, LCL) and two tendons…
Total Ankle Replacement Surgery
Your feet and ankles are extremely complex, with 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments, 19 muscles, 5 tendons, plus nerves and blood vessels. The large Achilles tendon extends from the calf muscles to the heel bone (calcaneus), and allows running, jumping, walking upstairs, and raising the body onto the toes. Ligaments attach bone to bone…
What is ACI?
Autogenous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI) is a procedure used to treat painful cartilage defects, primarily in the knee. This procedure is best suited for young patients without preexisting arthritis in their joint. The procedure is performed in two stages. In the first stage, a small sample of cartilage is harvested during knee arthroscopy. The sample is…
