Restoring Mobility, Rebuilding Confidence
Your active lifestyle depends on healthy knees. With a background in sports before entering medicine, Dr. James C. Walter understands that knee injuries aren’t just physical setbacks—they’re interruptions to your life. This unique perspective shapes every aspect of patient care at the clinic. Dr. Walter combines his background as an athlete with cutting-edge medical expertise to provide advanced knee surgery and treatment. Whether you’re training for a marathon, keeping up with grandchildren, or competing professionally, we recognize that knee health is fundamental to your quality of life and personal identity.
Each treatment plan is tailored to your specific goals, activity level, and lifestyle demands. We take the time to listen to your concerns, explain your options in clear terms, and partner with you throughout the rehabilitation journey. This athlete-centered philosophy ensures that your treatment isn’t just about fixing a joint—it’s about restoring your confidence and returning you to the activities that bring you joy.
Avanced Knee Surgery and Treatment Options
Dr. Walter utilizes an advanced surgical technique called knee arthroscopy to offer a state-of-the-art approach for diagnosing and treating various knee injuries and conditions with less disruption. Utilizing small incisions and a specialized camera, Dr. Walter can visualize and address issues within the knee joint with precision. This minimally invasive technique often translates to less postoperative discomfort, quicker rehabilitation, and smaller scars, helping patients get back on their feet and resume their daily activities more efficiently.
ACL Reconstruction
When your anterior cruciate ligament tears, your knee’s stability is compromised. This procedure uses minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques to rebuild this crucial ligament. The approach focuses not just on repair, but on optimizing your knee’s biomechanics to prevent future injuries. Rehabilitation begins immediately after surgery, with a customized plan that strengthens surrounding muscles and gradually returns you to your pre-injury activities.
Meniscus Surgery: Repair vs. Removal
Your meniscus—that c-shaped cartilage cushioning your knee joint—often tears during twisting motions or from degenerative wear. Whenever possible, meniscus repair is prioritized over removal (meniscectomy), preserving this natural shock absorber. Repair involves suturing the torn pieces together, promoting healing and long-term joint health. For irreparable tears, partial meniscectomy may be performed, removing only damaged tissue while preserving healthy sections to maintain knee function and delay arthritis development.
Treatment of Articular Injury
Damage to your knee’s articular cartilage—the smooth surface covering bone ends—can cause pain, swelling, and catching sensations. Treatment options include cartilage restoration procedures such as microfracture, autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), and osteochondral autograft/allograft transplantation. The appropriate technique is selected based on your specific injury pattern, lifestyle demands, and recovery goals.
Loose Body Removal
Sometimes cartilage or bone fragments break loose within the knee joint, causing painful locking or catching sensations. Using arthroscopic techniques, these loose bodies can be located and removed with minimal disruption to surrounding tissues. Patients often experience immediate relief following this relatively straightforward procedure, with quick return to normal activities.
Patellar and Quadriceps Tendon Repair
The patellar tendon connects your kneecap to your shinbone, while the quadriceps tendon connects your thigh muscles to your kneecap. Tears to either can dramatically impact your ability to extend your knee or even walk. Surgical repair involves precise techniques to restore the integrity of these essential structures. Rehabilitation is carefully structured to protect the repair while progressively building strength and mobility.
Patella Fracture Repair
Kneecap fractures can result from direct trauma or sudden, forceful muscle contractions. Treatment depends on fracture severity and displacement. For complex fractures, open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) may be performed, using specialized techniques to realign bone fragments and stabilize them with wires, screws, or plates. The surgical approach focuses on restoring proper tracking of the patella to prevent long-term complications.
Schedule Your Knee Treatment Services Today
What distinguishes Dr. Walter’s practice is the combination of technical expertise and personal understanding. As a former athlete and current team physician for FC Dallas and several Texas high schools, he has witnessed firsthand how proper treatment transforms athletic careers and active lifestyles.
At Texas Orthopaedic Associates in Plano, patients receive the same level of care Dr. Walter provides to professional athletes. Together with each patient, he develops a treatment plan tailored to specific needs and goals, because whether you’re competing for championships or simply want to enjoy pain-free movement, your knee health matters. Schedule your appointment today.