Fall 2013
Dr. Halbrecht Named Top Doctor Again!
Congratulations Dr Halbrecht! 3 Years in a row.
DID YOU KNOW?
Our office treats all types of injuries including ankle and elbow.
There are two exciting newer options for treatment of tennis elbow.
- PRP: Tennis elbow can be a very persistent problem. When patients fail to improve with physical therapy, rest , ice and other traditional treatment, there are several minimally invasive newer options for treatment. One option is an injection of growth factors taken from the patient by drawing blood and spinning it in a centrifuge. The portion of the blood that contains the growth factors ( PRP) is then injected back into the tendon to promote healing of the tendon.
- Arthroscopy: For very resistant cases of tennis elbow, open surgery has been the traditional recommendation. Dr Halbrecht now performs this surgery arthroscopically , using a minimally invasive technique to promote tendon healing. Bandages are removed in 24 hours and range of motion begins immediately.
You do not have to live with ankle pain or instability!
Many ankle problems are now treatable with minimally invasive techniques. Arthroscopic surgery can remove loose cartilage or painful inflammation of the ankle. Ligaments can be tightened using small incisions for instability and allow return to full sports participation.
Have a fun and safe fall season!
– Dr Halbrecht and the IASM Team
June 2013
SAVE MY MENISCUS!!
The meniscus is a crucial cushioning pad in the knee and removing it can lead to severe knee arthritis. When the meniscus is torn, it is always better to try to repair it than remove it when possible. If you have a meniscus tear, make sure to ask your doctor if a repair is possible! Dr Halbrecht specializes in repair of complex meniscus tears using various methods of suturing, as well as biological enhancement to repair even complicated tears. Repairs that we perform at IASM include: root repairs, cleavage repairs, and complex tears. Biological enhancements include PRP ( Platelet Rich Plasma), Bone Marrow cells (via microfracture of the notch) and needling of the meniscus to create vascular access channels. More advanced options include meniscus transplantation using a cadaver meniscus to replace the removed tissue.
Chinese Connection
Dr Halbrecht is pleased to announce that one of his inventions, the Versalok anchor for rotator cuff repair, has recently launched in China to rave reviews.
Also this month, Dr Halbrecht’s book “Complications in Knee and Shoulder Surgery: Management and Treatment Options for the Sports Medicine Physician“ is now being published in China with a first printing of 2000 books! Congratulations Dr Halbrecht!
Wishing you all a wonderful, healthy, and injury-free summer!
– Dr Halbrecht and the IASM Team
July 2012
Congratulations Dr Halbrecht!
Dr. Halbrecht was recently selected to be Chairman of the 2012 Knee Surgery Course for the Arthroscopy Association of North America to be held in Arizona this Fall. Stay tuned for more information as Dr. Halbrecht selects Surgeons from around the world to teach his colleagues the most up to date techniques in Knee Surgery.Dr. Halbrecht has also agreed to be a guest speaker at the Northern California Kaiser Sports Medicine Symposium where he will help teach Kaiser physicians the latest techniques in cartilage transplantation.
What's New: Blood Spinning for Knee Arthritis
PRP is a hot topic in Sports Medicine these days. Platelet Rich Plasma ( PRP) is obtained by drawing blood and then spinning it in a centrifuge machine. The platelet rich layer of the blood is then selected and contains concentrated growth factors that can be used to enhance healing. We are using these injections for tendonitis, and certain ligament tears, and now there is data that indicates success in treating certain patients with Knee arthritis. Please call our office to find out if you are a candidate for this treatment.
“Dear Dr. Halbrecht:
After now almost 5 months since my PRP injections, I am pleased to let you know that the pain I was previously experiencing while playing soccer is gone. Granted, I am still wearing an unloader brace, but previously I had severe pain even with the brace and now there is none. Furthermore, I no longer have pain while walking and therefore, I am convinced that the PRP injections worked in my case.
Thank you for giving me this opportunity to participate in the sport I love.
Regards
KB”
Knee Device Patent:
Dr. Halbrecht has recently joined forces with a local company to develop a new knee device for the treatment of Patella arthritis. Dr. Halbrecht has patented a device that is undergoing final testing in the lab, and will soon be implanted in patients in Europe. Clinical trials are expected to begin next year. Stay tuned for more exciting information.
October 2011
Heads and Shoulder, Knees and ????
Although you may have seen Dr Halbrecht, for your knee or shoulder, did you know that our office treats all types of Sports and Orthopedic injuries?
-Ankle sprains, Achilles tendon tears, or fractures
-Elbow tendonitis, fractures, dislocations or arthritis
-All other types of sprains, strains, or fractures
If you are suffering from an Orthopedic or Sports Injury please contact our wonderful staff to find out if we can help you get back on the road to recovery!
Welcome, Alyssa!
Please join us in welcoming our new Medical Assistant, Alyssa, to our staff.
Alyssa is a graduate of California State University, Chico, where her interest in sports and medicine led her to pursue a degree in Exercise Physiology. Alyssa’s enthusiasm for patient care and sports medicine has made her a wonderful addition to our team.
As our new Medical Assistant, Alyssa continues the exceptional care given to our patients pre- and post-operatively, and is a valuable resource to our patients.
June 2011
Dr. Halbrecht on TV!
When the popular TV show Mythbusters wanted an Orthopedic Expert for their show, they contacted Dr. Halbrecht to help answer their latest ‘Myth’: “When falling from a great height, does a fall onto water cause as many injuries as a fall onto concrete?” The answer? It is worse to fall onto concrete… but not by much! Dr. Halbrecht appears with the show’s stars in the episode “Dodge a Bullet!”, currently airing on the Discovery Channel.
New Device for Treating Knee Pain
Work continues on a new device we are developing for the treatment of Knee pain caused by the Patella (knee cap). A recent experiment done in conjunction with one of the Major Orthopedic Implant companies has verified the effectiveness of this new instrument, and plans are underway to proceed to evaluate the device with a sophisticated robotic testing analysis. Stay tuned!
Dr. Halbrecht appointed Chairman of Knee Lab
Dr. Halbrecht has been appointed to be the Chairman of the Knee Laboratory at the National meeting of the Arthroscopy Association of North America. This meeting attracts hundreds of Orthopedic Surgeons from around the World to learn the latest techniques in Arthroscopic treatment. As Chairman of the Lab, Dr. Halbrecht will responsible for teaching these current Knee Arthroscopy techniques to his fellow surgeons.
May 2010
PRP Injections Offer New Treatment for Chronic Tendonitis and Soft Tissue Injuries in San Francisco
A new treatment is now available for those chronic nagging sports injuries! Most tendonitis injuries do not heal because these tissues have poor blood supply, and the body just cannot get enough healing factors to the injured area to stimulate healing.
Platelet Rich Plasma (or PRP) Injections are a new technology allows us to use your own body’s growth factors to heal these difficult injuries. Your body’s natural growth factors are isolated from a small sample of blood using a sophisticated centrifuge. These growth factors- the Platelet Rich Plasma- are then super concentrated and injected directly into the injured area.
Early published data indicates that 93% of patients experience relief from these injections. This procedure is done in the office and does not require anesthesia. If you are suffering from chronic tendonitis, please contact our office for more information on PRP injection therapy.
New Orthopedic Ultrasound Technology
In continuing our efforts to remain on the cutting edge of new advances in patient care, Dr. Halbrecht is one of the first orthopedic surgeons in the San Francisco area to begin using ultrasound technology for the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries.
The ultrasound device allows for immediate “real time” evaluation of new injuries, and can be used to supplement, and occasionally avoid, the need for further expensive testing such as MRI.
Patients also experience the benefits of orthopedic ultrasound through ultrasound-guided injections to improve accuracy of needle placement, as well as monitoring post-operative healing and more.
We are excited to make this innovative technology available to patients and look forward to continuing to provide you the best care available.
Welcome, Sean!
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Halbrecht’s new Physician Assistant, Sean Norris.
Sean is a 2008 graduate of Samuel Merritt University, where he completed his Master’s degree in Physician Assistant studies. In addition to his previous experience as an orthopedic surgery Physician Assistant, Sean also worked for eight years a Radiologic Technologist in Computed Tomography.
As Dr. Halbrecht’s Physician Assistant, Sean continues the exceptional care given to our patients as he assists Dr. Halbrecht in surgery, provides pre- and post-operative treatment to patients, and is a valuable resource to patients regarding their medical questions and concerns.
December 2009
March 2007
Full Service Sports Medicine Clinic
With the recent installation of our open extremity MRI scanner, our Clinic now has the full complement of Sports Medicine services available. Under Dr Halbrecht’s direction, the Institute for Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine is one of the only clinics in the San Francisco to offer Orthopedic Surgery, Physical Therapy, Digital X-Ray Imaging and MRI scanning all under one roof. With the added benefit of an in-house pharmacy, you can have all your musculoskeletal needs conveniently addressed in one location!
Current Research: The OrthoGlide — Alternative to Knee Replacement
Dr Halbrecht is one of the principal investigators currently studying the use of a new spacer device that may replace the need for total knee replacement for some patients. The new device, called the Orthoglide, is a metal spacer that is inserted into the knee through a small insertion as an outpatient procedure. It is meant to separate the narrowed joint space to relieve the pain from degenerative arthritis. Contact our office to see if you or someone you know is a candidate for this procedure.
Recent Lectures: Shoulder — New Techniques for Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
Dr Halbrecht has recently returned from teaching a course on arthroscopic rotator cuff repair at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons in San Diego. This course is part of the most prestigious meeting of the year for Orthopedic Surgeons, and it is a great honor to be asked to teach at this course. Dr Halbrecht will also be lecturing on shoulder arthroscopy and moderating a course on elbow arthroscopy at the upcoming annual meeting of the Arthroscopy Association of North America which takes place in San Francisco in April.
Recent Authorships and Honors: Congratulations!
Dr Halbrecht is one of the authors of a newly published textbook entitled “Practical Orthopedic Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy” published by Lippincott Jan 2007.
Dr Halbrecht has also been appointed associate editor of the renowned medical journal “Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery”
Finally, Dr Halbrecht has also been asked to edit his own book on Orthopedic Surgery. The book will focus on advanced surgical techniques and methods for avoiding surgical complications.
