Dr. Clayton Alexander is an orthopedic surgeon, focusing on upper extremity areas including the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand. He has specialized Fellowship training in advanced hand surgeries.
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, includes disorders that cause inflammation of the intestines. IBD is treated at Mercy by expert gastroenterologists.
The surgeons of The Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery at Mercy treat a variety of conditions including gallbladder disease, gallstones, hernia, colon cancer and GERD.
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At Orthopedics and Joint Replacement at Mercy, our orthopedic surgeons specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of knee injuries, including patella-femoral syndrome. Patients in the Baltimore region seek the expertise of our orthopedic specialists to help them find the best treatment for their knee pain.
Patello-femoral syndrome occurs when the patella (kneecap) does not move fluidly in the groove of the femur (thigh bone). Pain results when the knee is flexed or extended. Patello-femoral syndrome commonly is seen in adolescents and young adults as well as athletes. Patello-femoral syndrome can be caused by:
The main symptom of patella-femoral syndrome is a dull pain in front of the knee, especially when using stairs, kneeling or squatting. Grinding and clicking of the knee are also symptoms of patella-femoral syndrome.
Orthopedic specialists diagnose patella-femoral syndrome by examining the knee by pressing on the knee and moving the leg in different directions. X-rays, CT scans and MRIs may be conducted to view the kneecap bone and tissue.
Patello-femoral syndrome treatment options include:
In very rare cases, when the tilt of the knee cap affects its tracking or when articular cartilage of the knee cap has been severely damaged, surgery is considered as a treatment option for patella-femoral syndrome.
A 2020 TOP DOC Dr. Marc Hungerford, Chief of Orthopedics at Mercy, specializes in adult joint replacement, including hip and knee replacement. He is an expert in performing MAKOplasty® knee resurfacing and anterior hip replacement.
A Mercy patient tells of her experience with a total knee replacement - one that went so well she later returned to Mercy to have the other knee replaced as well.