Dr. Paul Thuluvath leads a team of gastroenterology specialists in Baltimore, Maryland, who help patients find the best treatment options for digestive diseases and liver conditions.
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.
Mercy offers emergency care on the Downtown Baltimore campus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (410-332-9477) with access to a trained emergency medicine team, diagnostic services and consultations with specialists.
In case of an Emergency, Dial 911 and follow the instructions of the EMS (Emergency Medical Services) team.
Mercy Medical Center's downtown campus includes our Main Hospital - The Mary Catherine Bunting Center, McAuley Plaza and The Weinberg Center.
General visiting hours at Mercy are 11:00 am to 8:30 pm. Hours vary by floor, please check with the nursing staff or call 410-332-9555.
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.
John-Paul Rue, M.D., is a Board Certified orthopedic sports medicine surgeon specializing in the prevention and treatment of injuries related to sports and exercise, including complex knee and shoulder reconstructions.
An avid golfer seeks out Mercy doctors twice to get a hip replacement and now he is healthy and back on the greens.