Armando Vidal, MD

08/27/2026

"A few years ago, I had a series of ACL and related-complication surgeries on one knee by various surgeons, the fourth of which left me in a lot of pain and had become a quality-of-life issue.

I saw Dr. Vidal based on a recommendation from my physical therapist (PT) for complex knee surgeons (and, of course, his great staff), and they identified an underlying geometry issue that was most likely causing, or at least greatly contributing to, my entire history of problems up to that point. I felt heard from the moment I walked in, whereas a round of PT and surgeons at other clinics had mostly shrugged and said, “Well, you’ve had a lot of surgeries.” Yeah, I know, but still...

Anyway, Dr. Vidal corrected the underlying issue, and three years later, I have no complaints about the problems that originally brought me to him. I’m very grateful for his expertise and would absolutely recommend him to anyone dealing with a similarly complicated knee history." -Inge Hill

08/26/2026

"It's just a minor meniscus tear, right?" Not necessarily.

If you have a meniscus root tear, a simple "clean up" surgery isn't enough. Because the root anchors your knee's shock absorber, failing to repair it properly can lead to rapid joint wear.

Watch for sudden knee pain after minor twists (common in ages 40–60) or knee injuries tied to a torn ACL. Protecting your knee's future starts with the right diagnosis and tissue preservation! Learn more 👇

What is a meniscus root tear? Both the medial (inner) and lateral (outer) menisci have strong attachments to the bone, called “roots.” These root attachments are critical to the health and function of the meniscus and are responsible for holding the meniscus in place. Without the root attachment...

08/25/2026

Did you know that despite their youth and resilience, children and teens face the highest rate of ACL reconstruction failure? When a graft fails, jumping straight into a redo without identifying the root cause can lead to repeat failure.

To achieve long-term success in a revision pediatric ACL reconstruction, we must look at the whole picture:
🔹 Tunnel Placement: Anatomy is everything.
🔹 Graft Selection: Moving away from allografts; prioritizing patient autografts (quad/patellar).
🔹 Secondary Ligaments: Treating hidden instability in the MCL, PCL, or PLC.
🔹 Bony Alignment: Factoring in tibial slope and overall alignment.
🔹 Rehab & Meniscus: Guarding meniscal health and clearing athletes only after passing rigorous return-to-sport testing.

Every young athlete deserves a personalized strategy to get back safely. Learn more here ⬇️

What causes an ACL tear in children? ACL injuries in children and teens are on the rise in the United States and are one of the most common injuries in pediatric sports medicine. Everyone’s perception is that these injuries result from a direct impact to the knee – but most of these

08/21/2026

08/20/2026

A knee injury in a young athlete isn’t always just a “wear and tear” issue.

Juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (JOCD) affects the bone and cartilage inside the knee. Some cases heal with rest and activity changes, while others may need surgery to protect the joint long term.

Treatment depends on factors like:
✅ Lesion stability
✅ Growth remaining
✅ Cartilage health
✅ Symptoms like catching or locking

Early evaluation can help protect your athlete’s knee for the future.

What is Osteochondritis Dissecans of the knee? Osteochondritis Dissecans, or OCD, is a condition that is unique to the growing skeleton. It has been described in the medical literature for over 100 years but despite that – there is still a lot that is unknown about this condition. The name Osteoch...

08/19/2026

Cartilage damage behind the kneecap can make everyday movements painful.

Treatment for a patellofemoral chondral injury is personalized and may involve a combination of:
✓ Rehabilitation to improve strength and stability
✓ Lifestyle adjustments to reduce joint stress
✓ Medications for symptom relief
✓ Injections such as hyaluronic acid or PRP in appropriate patients

The focus is always on reducing pain and helping patients return to their normal activities.

What is Patellofemoral Chondral Pain? Patellofemoral pain refers to the area where the patella (kneecap) meets the femur (long bone in the thigh). The term chondral refers to a special type of cartilage in the knee known as the articular cartilage. You’ve seen this substance on the ends of chicken...

08/14/2026

If your knee still feels unstable after an ACL reconstruction, it's worth asking whether something else is contributing to the problem.

The knee relies on several ligaments working together for stability. An untreated injury to the posterolateral corner (PLC) can continue to place abnormal stress on the knee, even after a successful ACL reconstruction.

A comprehensive evaluation can help identify all sources of instability and guide the most appropriate treatment.

Learn more ⬇️

What is the posterolateral corner of the knee? Not too long ago, the posterolateral corner of the knee, also called PLC, was referred to as the dark side of the knee. This was because of the limited understanding of the biomechanics, structures and treatment options for this area of the knee. In rec...

08/13/2026

A sore shoulder after practice is one thing. A shoulder that repeatedly pops, feels unstable, or limits performance is a different matter. Signs of shoulder instability may include:
✓ Popping or grinding
✓ A sensation that the shoulder is "giving out"
✓ Pain with throwing or reaching overhead
✓ Weakness
✓ Reduced range of motion
✓ Tingling or numbness

When symptoms keep recurring, it's worth finding out why.

What is shoulder instability in children? The upper arm bone (humerus) sits in a shallow socket in the main part of the shoulder joint called the glenoid. The shoulder capsule and ligaments hold the bones of the shoulder securely in place. An injury to the ligaments or shoulder capsule can cause the...

08/11/2026

More than 750,000 partial meniscectomies are performed each year in the U.S. During this minimally invasive procedure, the goal isn't to remove the entire meniscus, it's to preserve as much healthy tissue as possible. Saving more of the meniscus helps maintain the knee's natural shock absorption and long-term function.

What is the anatomy of a meniscus? Each knee has two menisci which are wedge-shaped fibrocartilage discs that act as shock absorbers. The peripheral third of each meniscus has a blood supply which facilitates healing and influences our decision on whether to repair or resect the torn portion. The in...