Ashley R.

Autologous Cartilage Implantation with a Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy

I walked into Dr. Waterman’s exam room with no expectations.  I had three previous knee surgeries and thought that my time as an athlete had come to end.  As a female athlete, it is very difficult to prove your case in the eyes of a man that primarily dealt with males in the military. What I got instead was something truly special.  He spoke to me like a person who still had dreams and took all the right steps to get me back out on the track playing roller derby. He treated me as an athlete and at that point I thought that was the most amazing feat he would be able to accomplish.  I was wrong.  He put a very complicated two-part surgery on the table for me that would mean I could eventually participate in the sport I love.  In late 2015 and early 2016 I underwent an autologous cartilage implantation with a tibial tubercle osteotomy.  The recovery was much like my two previous ACL reconstructions with one exception.  Dr. Waterman was there for me every step of the way, encouraging and so proud of my small steps towards recovery.  It is now just over a year since my last surgery and I am back skating.  This would not have been possible without the support from Dr. Waterman who has never been out of touch even though he has since moved to another practice.  This man has had a profound impact on my life and I was so lucky to have been a part of his accomplishments.