Dr. Tracye Lawyer, MD, PhD, FAAOS, is a board-certified Orthopaedic surgeon in Boise who helps active people get back to the activities they love. She is a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon who performs surgery on the shoulder, knee and elbow. Her practice primarily focuses on cartilage preservation, ACL and meniscus surgery, rotator cuff repair, shoulder replacement, and PRP injections. Below, you’ll find what each treatment involves, who may benefit, common risks, and typical recovery timelines.
Cartilage Preservation & Restoration
What it is. Cartilage is the smooth tissue that covers the bone to allow joints to glide smoothly. When cartilage is damaged, this can cause pain in the joint due to increased swelling, locking, stiffness and catching. Cartilage preservation uses techniques to either promote or replace cartilage in the joint. These procedures include MACI (a procedure using your own cartilage cells), OATS (moving small plugs of healthy cartilage into a damaged spot),OCA (using donor tissue to replace larger damaged areas in the joint) and select orthobiologics (injectable therapies) to promote healing of cartilage.
Who it’s for. People with a focal (one specific area) cartilage damage, often from a prior injury, who still have otherwise healthy joints and want to stay active.
Benefits & risks. Benefits include pain relief and protecting the joint from further wear. Risks include stiffness, swelling, incomplete healing, and, rarely, infection or blood clots.
Typical timelines. Walking and daily activities resume in weeks; return to impact sports can take several months, depending on the size and location of the repair and your rehab progress. Rehab after a cartilage procedure is very dependent on the size and location of the defect.
Micro-summary: Cartilage work aims to save your joint surface so you can stay active longer.
ACL Repair & Reconstruction
When it’s considered. The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is the main ligament that stabilizes the knee during pivoting and cutting. Tears often require surgical reconstruction or repair for people who want to return to pivoting-type sporting activities. Some lower-demand patients may do well without surgery.
Benefits & risks. Surgery restores stability so you can move with confidence. Risks include graft failure, stiffness, blood clots, and infection (all uncommon).
Recovery & return to sport. Most patients return to full sports participation in about 9–12 months, guided by strength, balance, and movement testing. This recovery period varies depending on ACL repair or reconstruction (using a graft).
Micro-summary: Rehab quality and meeting return-to-sport criteria matter more than rushing the timeline.
More info: Anterior cruciate ligament ACL injuries | Rehabilitation following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery
Meniscal Repair & Transplantation
Why repair the meniscus. The meniscus is the knee’s shock absorber. There’s a meniscus on either side of the knee, medial and lateral menisci. When there is a tear in the meniscus, it can either be repaired or excised depending on the location of the tear, the quality of the tissue, the activity level of the patient, and the overall health of the joint.
When transplant is considered. For younger, active people with pain after a prior meniscus removal, a meniscal allograft transplant (donor meniscus) may help.
Risks & benefits. Preserving or restoring meniscus tissue can reduce pain and protect cartilage. Risks include stiffness, re-tear, graft non-healing, blood clots, and infection.
Typical timelines.
- Meniscus repair: rehab about 3–6 months.
- Meniscectomy (trim): recovery ~3–6 weeks.
- Meniscal transplant: recovery 9-12 months.
Micro-summary: When possible, repair or replace the meniscus to protect your knee for the long run.
More info: Meniscus Tears
Rotator Cuff Repair (Shoulder)
Symptoms and goals. Rotator cuff tendons consist of 4 tendons in the shoulder that attach onto the humerus. These four tendons are: supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, teres minor. Rotator cuff tears can cause night pain, weakness with lifting, and limited motion. The goal of arthroscopic repair is to reattach the tendon and restore strength and function.
Risks & benefits. Benefits of repair include pain relief and improved function. Risks include stiffness, re-tear (especially with larger tears), infection, and nerve damage (rare).
Typical timelines. Recovery takes several months. Many people regain functional motion and useful strength by 6 months but can take up to a year for full recovery. Commitment to physical therapy is key for great outcomes.
Micro-summary: Expect steady, therapist-guided progress over months—not days.
More info: Surgical Treatment Options for Rotator Cuff Tears
Total & Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty (Replacement)
Who benefits.
- There are two type of shoulder replacements: Total and reverse shoulder placement. Both total and reverse shoulder replacements take care of arthritis in the shoulder joint.
- Total shoulder replacement helps when arthritis damages the joint but the rotator cuff is intact.
- Reverse shoulder replacement helps when arthritis occurs with a badly torn or non-working rotator cuff.
What surgery involves. These are planned procedures that remove damaged bone and resurface the joint with implants; typical operative time is about 2 hours. Post-op care focuses on pain control, early motion, and safe strengthening.
Risks & benefits. Benefits include pain relief and better motion. Risks include stiffness, instability, infection, nerve injury, fracture, or wear of components (uncommon).
Typical timelines. Sling for comfort early on; gentle movement in weeks; functional improvements over several months, guided by your surgeon and therapist.
Micro-summary: The right implant choice (total vs. reverse) depends on your rotator cuff and goals.
More info: Shoulder Joint Replacement
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections
What PRP is. PRP is an injectable treatment that uses a concentrated form of a patient’s own blood to help with healing and tissue repair. Blood is made of red and white blood cells, plasma and platelets. Platelets are rich in growth factors that signal the body to heal tissue. A small sample of your blood is taken, spun down to concentrate platelets. These platelets are then injected into the joint by the doctor. Platelets release growth factors that may support healing in tendons, cartilage, ligaments and muscle.
Where it may help. PRP is commonly used for sport injuries, low grade arthritis and post-surgical healing. Evidence is mixed, benefits vary by condition. Risks are generally low (temporary soreness most common).
Typical timelines. Soreness may last a few days. Symptom changes are usually tracked over 6–12 weeks and beyond, paired with a targeted rehab plan.
Micro-summary: PRP can be a low-risk option for selected patients; results differ by diagnosis.
More info: Platelet-rich therapies for musculoskeletal soft tissue injuries
FAQs
Q1. What’s the difference between total and reverse shoulder replacement?
Total shoulder replacement is used when the rotator cuff is intact; reverse shoulder replacement is used when the cuff is badly torn or not functioning.
Q2. How long after ACL surgery until I can play sports?
Most people need 6–12 months, guided by strength and movement testing; many teams target 9–12 months to reduce re-injury risk
Q3. Is meniscus repair better than trimming?
When a tear is repairable, repairing helps protect knee cartilage long-term; trimming (meniscectomy) can relieve catching but heals faster (~3–6 weeks) and removes tissue.
Q4. Does PRP really work?
Evidence is mixed and varies by condition. Risks are generally low; talk with your surgeon about whether PRP fits your diagnosis and goals.
Q5. How long is recovery after rotator cuff repair?
Expect several months, with many reaching functional motion/strength around 4–6 months, and continued gains beyond that.
