robertlaprade

About Robert LaPrade, MD

Robert LaPrade, MD, PhD has specialized skills and expertise in diagnosing and treating complicated knee injuries. He has treated athletes at all levels, including Olympic, professional and intercollegiate athletes, and has returned numerous athletes back to full participation after surgeries. Recognized globally for his outstanding and efficient surgical skills and dedication to sports medicine, he has received many research awards, including the OREF Clinic Research Award considered by many a Nobel Prize in orthopedics. Dr. LaPrade is one of the most published investigators in his field, and many of the surgeries that he has developed are now performed worldwide and recognized as the “gold standard” for the treatment of complex knee injuries.

Sports Test

The Sports Test that we require for athletes at the Steadman Clinic is comprised of four separate exercises with a 20 point scoring system.  The Sports Test is meant to test the athlete’s ability to demonstrate excellent muscle endurance strength in the lower extremity; the ability to effectively push off as well as have a […]

Sports Test

Functional Sports Testing

Functional sports testing may also be indicated in some patients who have had a previous surgery and otherwise seem to have normal knee stability and other problems. In this circumstance, it is important to determine whether the patient needs more directed physical therapy by working on their balance, improving their flexibility, increasing their overall strength, […]

Functional Sports Testing

Objective Use of Stress Radiographs

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Stress x-rays are an essential component of the workup for a patient […]

Objective Use of Stress Radiographs

GAIT Analysis

As mentioned previously, patients with posterolateral instability may have difficulty with normal gait. In these instances the patients normally have a varus thrust gait. In this circumstance, at foot strike the lateral aspect of the knee will gap open and the patient needs to shift their weight in order to reduce the knee back into […]

GAIT Analysis

Figure-4 Test

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The figure-4 test is performed in patients who may have tears of their popliteomeniscal fascicles to the lateral meniscus. These patients commonly present with vague lateral knee pain and often do not have any findings on the MRI scans […]

Figure-4 Test

Reverse Pivot Shift

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The reverse pivot shift test is a dynamic test, similar to the posterolateral drawer test, to assess for posterolateral rotation of the knee. A positive reverse pivot shift test is found in 35% of normal knees, so it is very […]

Reverse Pivot Shift

Dial Test at 90° of Knee Flexion

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As indicated for the dial test at 30°, the dial test at 90° is also performed to determine the amount of external rotation of the […]

Dial Test at 90° of Knee Flexion

Dial Test at 30° of Knee Flexion

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The dial test is basically utilization of previously published biomechanical studies determine the amount of increased external rotation that occurs with the knee. These biomechanical […]

Dial Test at 30° of Knee Flexion

Posterolateral Drawer Test

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The posterolateral drawer test is important for assessing the integrity of the popliteus components of the knee. The starting point for this test is similar to the posterior drawer test, but the foot is externally rotated about 15°. With this […]

Posterolateral Drawer Test

Varus Stress Test at 30° of Knee Flexion

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The varus stress test at 20-30° of knee flexion is the actual workhorse test to perform when one is assessing for posterolateral instability of the knee. This test isolates out the function of the fibular collateral ligament. In effect, […]

Varus Stress Test at 30° of Knee Flexion
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