Dr. Mark Sanders of Leading Sanders Clinic Assures Athletes - Once Devastating Knee Injury, No Longer Career Ender

Leading Houston Orthopedic Surgeon and Sports Medicine Physician, Dr. Mark Sanders Explains O’Donoghue’s Triad, otherwise Known as Terrible Triad, Not Cause for Complex Surgery

HOUSTON – Physician to athletes across the United States, board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Mark Sanders of Sanders Clinic for Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, assures athletes that the proper surgical procedure can preserve both knee function and careers following multiple ligament injuries such as O’Donoghue’s Triad.

O’Donoghue’s Triad, known also as the Terrible Triad, refers to a multiple ligament knee injury. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial collateral ligament (MCL) and lateral meniscus (cartilage) all sustain harm. This type of injury usually occurs when an outside force impacts the knee while the foot is flat on the ground. This injury is often sustained in contact sports such as football.

“It’s important to remember that every ligament has its own healing potential,” stated Dr. Mark Sanders.

“Instead of doing surgery on all three structures involved, we have found it best to let the MCL and lateral meniscus heal on their own, in a cast over a month. We then perform surgery on the ACL only,” added Sanders.

Dr. Sanders further explained that if these two structures are left alone to heal naturally only one ligament requires repair, stating that too often doctors become worried about operating on all three and create an overwhelming and unnecessarily complex procedure – potentially yielding career-ending results.

When surgery is performed on only one ligament and area of injury, followed by rehabilitation of the knee, total recovery time can be as little as five to six months. This is in stark contrast to the potentially devastating outcome if not addressed properly.

Practicing in Houston since 1986, Dr. Mark Sanders is listed among Houston’s “Top Docs” featured in H Texas magazine and “Phenomenal Physicians” in Health & Fitness Sports Magazine. He has offices at the River Oaks Medical Tower and Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center in Houston and Surgery Specialty Hospitals of America in Pasadena, where he is also Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery.

To learn more about Dr. Mark Sanders and his treatment options, view typical post surgical results, or inquire about the out of town patient program, log onto www.sandersclinic.net, or call 888-8 DR MARK.