Skip Navigation
Skip Main Content
From Sports Injuries to Arthritis

Comprehensive Knee Care to Keep You Moving

Knee problems can affect patients at every age and activity level, from an athlete with an ACL or meniscus injury to someone dealing with arthritis, kneecap pain, or a knee that simply isn't letting them stay as active as they want.

Dr. Anthony Mustovich treats a broad range of knee conditions with an approach tailored to the diagnosis, your activity level, and your goals. Treatment may include physical therapy, medications, injections, or PRP when appropriate, as well as arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery for injuries that require it. The goal is to use the right treatment for the problem—not simply the most aggressive one.

For patients whose arthritis has progressed to the point that total knee replacement is appropriate, Dr. Mustovich also offers Jiffy Knee™ muscle- and tendon-sparing knee replacement with robotic-assisted technology. Visit our Jiffy Knee™ page to learn more about knee replacement options.

Appointments

Dr. Mustovich in surgeon gear, doing surgery.
Finding the Right Path for Your Knee

Do You Need Surgery, or Something Less Invasive?

Not every knee problem needs an operating room. The right treatment depends on what's causing your symptoms, how much the problem is affecting your life, and what you're trying to get back to doing.

Often nonsurgical

Arthritis and Patellofemoral Pain

Often manageable without surgery, particularly early on. Treatment may include physical therapy, activity modification, medications, injections, and other nonsurgical options based on the underlying problem and your goals.

Nonsurgical or surgical

ACL and Other Ligament Injuries

These injuries require an individualized approach. Some patients can return to the activities they enjoy with rehabilitation and bracing, while athletes and active patients with persistent instability may benefit from reconstruction. Associated meniscus or cartilage injuries can also influence that decision.

Nonsurgical or surgical

Meniscus Tears

A tear doesn't automatically require surgery. Treatment depends on the type and location of the tear, your symptoms, age and activity level, and whether the tissue has the potential to heal. When surgery is appropriate, preserving and repairing the meniscus is preferred whenever possible.

Surgical

Severe Arthritis

When arthritis becomes severe enough that nonsurgical treatment is no longer providing acceptable relief, total knee replacement may become the best option. Dr. Mustovich offers Jiffy Knee™ muscle- and tendon-sparing knee replacement with robotic-assisted technology for appropriate patients.

Treatment Tailored to the Injury

What to Expect From Treatment

ACL Reconstruction

When an ACL tear causes persistent instability or prevents you from returning to sports or other high-demand activities, reconstruction may be recommended. The torn ligament is reconstructed using a tendon graft, which may come from your own tissue or donor tissue depending on your age, activity level, goals, and individual circumstances.

ACL reconstruction is typically performed arthroscopically through small incisions, and most patients return home the same day. Rehabilitation begins early and progresses over several months as motion, strength, stability, and confidence return.

Meniscus Surgery

Many meniscus tears can be treated without surgery. When symptoms persist or the type of tear makes surgery appropriate, arthroscopy may be used either to repair and preserve the damaged meniscus or to remove only the portion that cannot be repaired.

Whenever possible, Dr. Mustovich prioritizes preserving healthy meniscal tissue. The best treatment depends on the location and pattern of the tear, the quality of the tissue, associated knee injuries, and the patient's age and activity goals.

Knee Arthroscopy & Sports Injuries

Arthroscopy allows Dr. Mustovich to evaluate and treat certain knee injuries through small incisions using a camera and specialized instruments. Depending on the injury, this may include treatment of cartilage damage, loose bodies, meniscus injuries, and other problems inside the knee.

Not every sports-related knee injury requires surgery. The decision is based on the specific diagnosis, the stability and function of the knee, and what you need your knee to do when you return to activity.

Managing Arthritis & Patellofemoral Pain

Treatment usually begins with nonsurgical options tailored to the cause and severity of your symptoms. These may include physical therapy, activity modification, medications, corticosteroid or viscosupplementation injections, and PRP when appropriate.

If arthritis progresses despite nonsurgical treatment and begins to significantly interfere with your quality of life, knee replacement may eventually become appropriate. Dr. Mustovich will help you understand when continued nonsurgical treatment makes sense and when it may be time to consider surgery.

Healing on Your Own Timeline

What Recovery Looks Like After Surgery

Recovery looks different depending on the injury, the procedure performed, and what you're hoping to get back to doing. Dr. Mustovich will give you a rehabilitation plan based on your specific surgery rather than a one-size-fits-all timeline.

  • ACL reconstruction requires a progressive rehabilitation program focused on restoring motion, strength, stability, and eventually sport-specific function. Most patients begin walking early after surgery, but returning to running, cutting, pivoting, and competitive sports takes considerably longer. Return to sport is based on recovery and functional progress rather than the calendar alone and commonly takes nine months or longer.
  • Meniscus surgery can have very different recovery timelines depending on whether the meniscus is repaired or a damaged portion is removed. Recovery after a partial meniscectomy is generally faster, while a meniscus repair may require temporary restrictions on weight-bearing, knee motion, or certain activities to protect the repair while it heals.
  • Other arthroscopic knee procedures vary depending on what is treated. Some allow a relatively quick return to everyday activity, while cartilage procedures or treatment of more complex injuries may require a longer period of protection and rehabilitation.

Physical therapy and home exercises are an important part of recovery after many knee procedures. Dr. Mustovich and your therapy team will gradually advance your activity based on healing, strength, motion, knee function, and the demands of the activities you want to return to.

Experience Across the Spectrum of Knee Care

The Right Treatment for the Knee in Front of You

Dr. Mustovich treats knee problems across the spectrum, from sports injuries in young athletes to arthritis in active adults. His experience includes arthroscopic and reconstructive knee surgery, nonsurgical treatment of knee conditions, and a high-volume primary knee replacement practice.

That breadth matters because the right treatment isn't always surgery, and when surgery is appropriate, it isn't always a knee replacement. Dr. Mustovich starts by understanding what's causing your symptoms, how your knee is affecting your life, and what you want to get back to doing. From there, the goal is to choose the treatment that best fits the problem while preserving your natural knee whenever appropriate.

Sports Medicine. Joint Replacement. One Approach to Knee Care.

Dr. Anthony Mustovich, Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon

  • Board certified, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
  • U.S. Army Medical Corps veteran

Dr. Anthony Mustovich is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. His background includes more than a decade of service in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, where he treated an active, high-demand population and later led orthopedic surgery at Bassett Army Community Hospital in Alaska.

Today, his practice brings together two major areas of knee care: sports medicine and joint replacement. He treats ligament and meniscus injuries, performs arthroscopic and reconstructive knee surgery, manages arthritis nonsurgically when appropriate, and performs a high volume of primary knee replacements.

Whether the goal is returning to competition after an ACL injury, staying active despite arthritis, or deciding whether it's time for a knee replacement, Dr. Mustovich's approach is the same: understand what you need your knee to do and choose the treatment that gives you the best path toward getting there.

Dr. Mustovich

Frequently Asked Questions

Consider having your knee evaluated if pain, swelling, instability, catching or locking, or loss of motion is interfering with your normal activities or isn't improving with time and basic treatment. An evaluation is also appropriate after an injury if you have difficulty bearing weight, significant swelling, or a feeling that the knee is giving way. Seeing an orthopedic surgeon doesn't necessarily mean you need surgery. The first step is identifying what's causing the problem and determining which treatment options make sense for your knee, your activity level, and your goals.

A torn meniscus can cause pain along the inside or outside of the knee, swelling, stiffness, and pain with twisting, squatting, or other rotational movements. Some patients also experience catching, clicking, or a sensation that the knee is locking. Meniscus tears can occur suddenly during sports or other activities, but they can also develop gradually as the tissue changes over time. Symptoms alone can't always determine whether a meniscus is torn or whether a tear seen on an MRI is actually the source of your pain. An orthopedic evaluation can help determine what's causing your symptoms and whether treatment is necessary.

An ACL tear often happens during a sudden change in direction, pivot, awkward landing, or other twisting injury. Some patients feel or hear a pop and develop swelling within the first several hours. After the initial injury, the knee may feel unstable or give way, particularly with cutting, pivoting, or changing direction. Not every ACL injury feels the same, and other knee injuries can cause similar symptoms. An examination and, when appropriate, imaging such as an MRI can help confirm the diagnosis and identify associated injuries to the meniscus, cartilage, or other ligaments.

Recovery after ACL reconstruction happens in stages. Patients begin working on motion, swelling, muscle activation, and walking early after surgery, followed by progressive strengthening and more advanced rehabilitation over the following months. Returning to running, jumping, cutting, and competitive sports takes longer. Rather than using the calendar alone, Dr. Mustovich considers strength, knee stability, functional testing, confidence, and the demands of your sport when determining when it is safe to return. For athletes returning to cutting and pivoting sports, unrestricted return commonly takes around 9 to 12 months and sometimes longer. Recovery may also be modified when an ACL injury is accompanied by a meniscus repair, cartilage injury, or another ligament injury.

All knee surgery carries potential risks, including infection, blood clots, stiffness, nerve or blood vessel injury, and complications related to anesthesia. The specific risks also depend on the procedure being performed. After ACL reconstruction, the graft can occasionally fail or the knee may develop recurrent instability or stiffness. A repaired meniscus does not always heal completely and may sometimes require additional treatment or surgery. Dr. Mustovich will review the risks, expected benefits, alternatives, and anticipated recovery for your specific procedure before surgery.

No. The decision to have surgery depends on the specific injury, your symptoms, knee stability, activity level, and what you want to return to doing. Some ACL tears can be managed successfully with rehabilitation, particularly when the knee remains stable during the activities that matter to the patient. Many meniscus tears can also be treated without surgery. When surgery is appropriate, Dr. Mustovich will discuss why it may offer an advantage and what alternatives are available.

Request an appointment online or call our office to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Mustovich. Whether you're dealing with a sports injury, persistent knee pain, instability, or arthritis, he'll evaluate what's causing the problem and discuss treatment options based on your diagnosis, activity level, and goals.

Your Comeback Starts Here

Schedule Your Knee Consultation Today

Appointments Contact Us