Sideline Scoop

Insights from sports medicine and orthopedic surgery.

Long-form patient education on the conditions Dr. Dewan treats most often — ACL, meniscus, patellar instability, knee replacement, rotator cuff, shoulder labral repair, and how to choose the right orthopedic surgeon for your case. Written in the same plain language he uses in clinic, kept current with each year’s review.

56 articlesBy Ashvin K. Dewan, MDReviewed 2026

Topic

ACL & Knee Ligaments

6 articles

When Can I Actually Return to Sport After ACL Surgery? The Real Timeline

The single most-asked question after ACL reconstruction is “when can I play again?” The real timeline is built on readiness, not the calendar — and the evidence on what happens when you rush it is sobering.

Should Your ACL Surgery Add a Second Ligament? A Surgeon's Read on the New Lancet RCT

A new 5-year randomized trial in The Lancet's European journal shows adding a small lateral-side ligament reconstruction to your ACL surgery cuts re-tear risk by more than half — especially in patients under 25. Here is what the study really shows, where the gaps are, and how a working surgeon uses this evidence in clinic.

Choosing the Best ACL Graft

Patellar tendon, hamstring, quadriceps, allograft — the trade-offs between ACL graft options explained by an orthopedic surgeon.

ACL Reconstruction: A Patient's Guide

A Sugar Land knee surgeon explains ACL reconstruction: graft choices, the week-by-week recovery timeline (desk work in ~1–2 weeks), and how to decide whether you need surgery.

ACL Surgery: Top 5 Questions Patients Ask

Do I need surgery? Which graft? How long to recover? When can I play again? Answers to the five questions every ACL patient asks.

Smoking Increases the Risk of Complications After ACL Surgery

Why nicotine compromises graft healing and what the orthopedic literature says about smoking cessation before ACL reconstruction.

Topic

Meniscus & Cartilage

4 articles

Meniscus Root Tear: Why It's Treated Differently From a Normal Meniscus Tear

Most meniscus tears don't need surgery. A root tear is the exception — it detaches the meniscus from its anchor, and trimming it out appears to do worse than leaving it alone. A surgeon's read on what the long-term data show.

When Does Knee Arthroscopy Actually Help? A Surgeon's Critical Read of the 10-Year FIDELITY Data

A landmark Finnish trial just published 10-year follow-up showing arthroscopic meniscectomy offers no benefit — and possibly some harm — for middle-aged adults with degenerative meniscus tears. Here is what that means, what it doesn't mean, and how a working orthopedic surgeon uses this evidence in clinic.

Arthroscopic Bucket-Handle Lateral Meniscus Repair

A look inside the arthroscopic repair of a displaced bucket-handle meniscus tear — when this tear pattern is fixable and what it takes.

Meniscus Tears: Do I Really Need Arthroscopic Knee Surgery?

Most torn menisci never need surgery. A Sugar Land knee surgeon explains what percentage actually require an operation, when arthroscopy is (and isn't) necessary, and how repair differs from trimming.

Topic

Patellar Instability

3 articles

Will My Kneecap Dislocate Again? What the Recurrence Numbers Actually Say

After one kneecap dislocation, the odds of a second one are not a coin flip — they depend on four things about your anatomy. A surgeon's read on the recurrence data and a new randomized trial of MPFL reconstruction.

Patellar Instability — The "J Sign"

What a J-sign tells your orthopedic surgeon about how unstable your kneecap really is.

Patellar Instability: Anatomy and Function of the Kneecap

The anatomy that keeps the kneecap centered — the MPFL, the trochlear groove, the Q-angle — and how dysfunction leads to dislocation.

Topic

Knee Replacement

25 articles

Is a Quad-Sparing or “Jiffy” Knee Replacement Better Than a Robotic One?

They are not competing options. Quad-sparing is an approach to the knee; robotic is a technique for making the bone cuts. Here is what each name means and what the studies show.

Will a Cortisone Shot Delay My Knee Replacement?

It can. A shot in the same knee within 3 months of surgery is linked to a small rise in joint infection in most large studies. Here are the numbers, the disagreements, and what to do about gel shots.

Why Do I Need Dental Clearance Before My Knee Replacement?

A dental check finds a problem needing treatment in up to 1 in 3 joint replacement patients. Here is what the evidence shows, how to time dental work, and whether you need antibiotics at the dentist afterward.

Mako, VELYS or ROSA: Does the Robot Brand Matter for My Knee?

Each knee robot maps your knee differently, and only some need a CT scan. The studies comparing brands show small differences in accuracy and none in how patients do. Here is what to ask instead.

Should I Have Both Knees Replaced at Once?

Replacing both knees in one operation means one anesthetic and one recovery, but a higher rate of transfusion, clots and rare serious complications. Here is who the evidence supports doing it for.

Do I Need a Blood Thinner After My Knee Replacement?

Almost everyone gets clot prevention after a knee replacement. The real question is whether aspirin is enough — and two large trials give different answers. A surgeon's read on the evidence.

Spinal or General Anesthesia for My Knee Replacement?

Most surgeons now default to a spinal for knee replacement. The observational data support that strongly, the randomized data much less so — and both facts matter to you.

Should My Knee Replacement Be Done at a Surgery Center or a Hospital?

Surgery centers and hospitals report similar outcomes for knee replacement — but they are not treating the same patients. Here is what actually changes with the address.

Do I Need a Caretaker at Home After Same-Day Knee Replacement?

Yes — but not the kind of caretaker most patients picture. Here is what the job actually involves after a same-day knee replacement, and what the evidence says if you live alone.

Same-Day Knee Replacement: What the Safety Data Actually Show

Going home the same day as a knee replacement is now standard practice. Here is what the comparative safety data really say — including the part where the difference does show up.

Why Can't I Go to Rehab After My Knee Replacement?

Most patients now go straight home after a knee replacement, and many are surprised by it. A randomized trial and a large matched analysis explain why — and where that evidence runs out.

Am I a Candidate for Outpatient Knee Replacement?

Going home the same day as a knee replacement is now routine for the right patient. Here is what actually determines whether you are one — and who should still plan on staying.

I'm on Ozempic and I Need a Knee Replacement: What the Evidence Actually Says

A June 2026 study found GLP-1 drugs cut the eight-year risk of needing a knee replacement. Separate data suggest they make the surgery safer. Here is what those numbers do and don't establish.

Can I Run, Play Tennis, or Golf After a Knee Replacement?

Golf and doubles tennis, yes. Distance running, probably not. A surgeon's plain-language read on what you can safely go back to after a knee replacement — and the real trade-off between the polyethylene-wear math and your quality-of-life math.

Clicking, Numbness, and a Warm Knee: What's Normal After a Knee Replacement?

A clicking implant, a numb patch of skin, a knee that stays warm and swollen for months — most of what alarms patients after a knee replacement is normal healing. A surgeon's plain-language guide to what's expected, and the short list that's worth a phone call.

Partial vs. Total Knee Replacement: Are You a Candidate?

If your arthritis is confined to one side of the knee, you may be able to keep two-thirds of your own joint. A surgeon's plain-language read on partial vs. total knee replacement — the recovery advantage, the higher revision rate, and who's actually a candidate.

Is Robotic Knee Replacement Actually Better? What the Evidence Shows

“Robotic” is the word patients ask about most before a knee replacement — and the marketing runs ahead of the data. A surgeon who uses the Mako robot reads the trials honestly: what the robot genuinely improves, what it doesn't, and why the surgeon still matters more than the machine.

How Long Does Pain Really Last After a Knee Replacement?

Most of the sharp pain after a knee replacement settles within about 6 weeks, and most day-to-day pain by 3 months — with slower gains out to a year. A surgeon's honest, week-by-week read on what the evidence actually shows.

Do I Actually Need a Knee Replacement? When Is It Time?

“Bone on bone” on an X-ray does not automatically mean it's time for a knee replacement. A surgeon's plain-language read on what the evidence says about timing — and the questions that actually decide it.

Cemented vs. Cementless Knee Replacement: Which Is Right for You?

Cementless knee replacements are marketed as the more durable, “biologic” option — but the registry data says the right answer depends on your bone, your age, and your sex. A surgeon's plain-language read on how the implant should attach to your bone.

When Can I Kneel Again After a Knee Replacement? What the Evidence Actually Says

Kneeling is the single worst-rated activity after a knee replacement — but the research shows most patients who say they can't kneel actually can. A surgeon's plain-language read on what's really stopping you, and how to get it back.

The Implantable Knee Shock Absorber: A Surgeon's Honest Read on the MISHA System

An FDA-cleared device sits outside the knee joint and offloads 30% of the force on the inner cartilage with every step. The marketing is loud and the evidence is real, but a careful read shows where the gaps still are — and which patients should actually consider it.

How Long Does a Knee Replacement Actually Last? The Honest Numbers Behind the Question

About 4 in 5 modern total knee replacements are still working at 25 years — but the headline number hides large differences by age, weight, and how the implant is put in. A surgeon's plain-language read on what to actually expect from your knee.

Total Knee Replacement Recovery: A Patient Video Journal

What the first weeks after total knee replacement actually look like — narrated through a real patient's recovery.

Total Knee Replacement: Top 5 Questions Patients Ask

Am I a candidate? How long does it last? How long is recovery? The five questions every total knee replacement patient should ask.

Topic

Rotator Cuff

4 articles

What If My Rotator Cuff Tear Can't Be Repaired?

“Irreparable” describes the tendon, not the shoulder. A surgeon's read on the five options for a massive rotator cuff tear — and why the most elaborate ones rest on the weakest evidence.

Will My Rotator Cuff Repair Actually Heal? What the Retear Numbers Mean

Around one in five rotator cuff repairs shows a retear on follow-up imaging — and most of those patients still do well. A surgeon's read on what a retear actually costs you, and what raises your odds of healing.

Will I Sleep Through the Night Again After Rotator Cuff Surgery?

Lost sleep is what finally pushes most people to fix a torn rotator cuff. A surgeon's plain-language read on the real recovery timeline — why it often gets worse before it gets better, and when the night pain actually goes away.

Rotator Cuff Tears: Do I Really Need a Rotator Cuff Repair?

How rotator cuff tears happen, who actually needs surgery, what the randomized-trial evidence says about repair versus rehab, and what arthroscopic repair involves.

Topic

Shoulder Labrum & Instability

4 articles

Do I Need Surgery After My First Shoulder Dislocation?

Not always — but for young, active adults the randomized trials are lopsided. A new six-year trial found 28% re-injury after early repair against 90% with a sling. A surgeon's read on who benefits.

Shoulder Instability: Labral Repair vs Latarjet Bone-Block

When a labral repair is enough — and when bone loss makes the Latarjet bone-block the better choice for recurrent shoulder instability.

Shoulder Labral Repair and Rehabilitation

How arthroscopic labral repair works, the recovery timeline, and the rehab milestones that get you back to overhead activity.

Shoulder Labral Tears: Relevant Anatomy and Function

The anatomy of the shoulder labrum and why tears cause instability, pain, and clicking.

Topic

Shoulder Replacement

7 articles

Both of My Shoulders Are Bad: Which One Goes First?

Usually the shoulder that limits you most goes first, and the second shoulder tends to do as well as the first. The bigger questions are how long to wait between them and how to manage the one-arm months.

Can I Go Home the Same Day After Shoulder Replacement?

Many patients can. For selected patients, readmissions are no higher than after an overnight stay. Here is who is a good fit, who should stay, and how it affects Medicare rehab coverage.

Am I Too Old for a Shoulder Replacement?

Patients in their 80s and 90s gain as much pain relief and motion as younger patients. What rises with age is the medical risk and the chance of recovering in rehab first. Here are the numbers.

Is Robotic Shoulder Replacement Worth It?

Robotic shoulder replacement is new to the US. Early studies show it cuts down on large misses in placing the socket, but no study yet shows patients do better. Here is where the evidence stands.

What Can't I Do After a Reverse Shoulder Replacement?

Most patients go back to driving, golf and even the gym. The motion that lags is reaching behind your back, and it affects everyday tasks more than sports. Here is what the evidence shows.

How Long Does a Shoulder Replacement Last? What the Registries Show

Around 90% of shoulder replacements are still in place at 10 years. The number that matters more is what happens at 15 and 20 — and how much it changes if you are under 55.

Reverse vs. Anatomic Shoulder Replacement: How Do You Know Which One You Need?

Two shoulder replacements, one swapped part. For decades the rotator cuff drew the line between them — but recent registry and meta-analysis data is quietly shifting the choice even when the cuff is intact. Here is how to think about it.

Topic

Living With Joint Pain

1 article

5 Proven Strategies for Decreasing Your Joint Pain

Non-surgical strategies — flexibility, weight, joint-sparing exercise, posture, and strength — to keep arthritic joints functional.

Topic

Choosing a Surgeon

2 articles

7 Questions Your Orthopedic Surgeon Doesn't Want You to Ask

Volume, complication rate, double-booking, second-opinion policy — the seven questions that separate a good orthopedic surgeon from a great one.

9 Clever Ways to Find the Best Orthopedic Surgeon Near You

Beyond Google reviews — how to vet an orthopedic surgeon's training, fellowship, hospital affiliation, and clinical fit.

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