What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 12pm

http://www.Delrayorthocenter.com/

S. Richard Zavoyski MD, 5210 Linton Boulevard Suite 303, Delray Beach, FL (2025)

07/04/2025

Wishing everyone a happy Independence Day!!! Watch those finger’s and have fun!

06/25/2025

Day 7 of Knee Osteoarthritis treatments from a Fellowship Trained Orthopedic Hip and Knee Subspecialist in Delray Beach Florida.
Please evaluate your specific condition with your doctor prior to starting any treatment. This advice is for educational purposes only.

Today we have reached the top of the ladder of treatment for knee osteoarthritis, the Total Knee Replacement. When the pain from osteoarthritis advances to the point where you are no longer able to do the things that you want to do on a daily basis where the conservative measures are no longer helping, then it is time to consider a total knee replacement also known as a total knee arthroplasty. This surgery shaves about 9mm of the end of the thigh bone (femur), the top of the shin bone (Tibia), and in some cases the back of the kneecap (Patella). Then metal implants are placed that match the amount of bone that was removed. A plastic liner goes in between the metal implants and a plastic button is placed on the back of the kneecap. Therefore there is no more bone touching bone which is why the surgery relieves the pain. This is a very successful operation with 80 to 85% of patients having no pain after they recover. It improves pain, function, and quality of life which is why I chose this profession, because patients do so well after they have this procedure.

I get asked a lot about the recovery process for a total knee replacement. It has really changed since the Covid pandemic. Now we are able to send most patients home the same day of surgery. We do this by using better anesthesia techniques, medications that help to minimize blood loss, and medication and diet protocols to allow for improved immediate recovery. The anesthesiologist will typically provide a nerve block to help numb the knee area. I will also perform multiple injections in the knee during the surgery to help with pain. The patient is then sent home with a home therapist and home nurse and in some cases a home health aid. The patient is then able to do physical therapy at home. On average a patient needs to use a pain pill or narcotic and use a walker for about 3-4 weeks after a total knee replacement. Patients are now able to shower almost immediately due to improved dressings which are also anti-microbial. Most patients will feel "back to normal" by three months after a knee replacement. These numbers are averages and I have had patients come at 2 weeks in no pain and using no walkers or canes. Every patient is different.

Total knee replacement is considered intermediate surgery and with any surgery there are some risks to consider. This list is not meant to scare you from surgery but it is important to know things that may happen but also to know that the risks from knee replacement surgery are uncommon. Risks include infection, damage to nerves, blood vessels, or musculoskeletal structures, fracture, pain acute or chronic, stiffness, need for assistive devices like canes, or walkers, dislocation, difficulty walking, wound complications, and medical complications such as heart attacks, strokes, blood clots in the legs or lungs, bleeding and need for transfusions, and death. This list is neither inclusive or exclusive but gives a good idea of the possibilities but also knowing that they are uncommon.

Given the complexity of the surgery, especially if a complication occurs, it is important to have a qualified surgeon. The best type of orthopedic surgeon for a knee replacement is one who has had fellowship training in hip and knee replacement procedures where they spent an entire year focusing on just these surgeries. This is known as a fellowship in Adult Reconstruction. Fellowship trained Adult Reconstruction surgeons, like Dr. Zavoyski, can handle most if not all possible complications that can occur from these procedures. In fact doctors send Dr. Zavoyski complicated situations so that he can address the problem and provide solutions.

Another option to consider is robotic assisted knee replacement which Dr. Zavoyski also performs. The robots assists in the surgery to make sure that the prosthesis is positioned as best as possible with millimeter accuracy. If you are considering a robotically assisted total knee replacement, Dr. Zavoyski does have specialized training in this procedures as well.

There are many advantages to Total Knee Replacement. I truly enjoy seeing how patients improve through their recovery and especially when they come to the office smiling because their pain is gone. If you have questions about knee replacement surgery or another other treatment for knee arthritis call us for an appointment at 561 665 7701 or visit our website at www.delrayorthocenter.com

06/24/2025

Day 6 of Knee Osteoarthritis treatments from a Fellowship Trained Orthopedic Hip and Knee Subspecialist in Delray Beach Florida.
Please evaluate your specific condition with your doctor prior to starting any treatment. This advice is for educational purposes only.

Today we are going to discuss the surgical treatment options for knee osteoarthritis. I my practice and in every other orthopedic practice the surgical management of knee osteoarthritis should be the last resort or last step taken in general. As I have posted there are multiple treatments that can be tried before surgery for the knee. I hear all the time that patients go to an orthopedic surgeon and the first thing they hear is surgery and this is troubling when I hear it but I do hear it over and over again. I only recommend surgery for knee osteoarthritis when a patient is no longer able to perform the activities they wish to do on a day to day basis where the conservative measures are no longer effective. That being said when these conservative measures do fail there are excellent options.

The first surgical possibility is a partial knee replacement. This can be considered when the arthritis is only affecting one segment or compartment of the knee. This can be seen on an Xray by the orthopedic surgeon. Also there are some instances where partial knee replacements are not recommended such as patients with large deformities of the knee etc. Your orthopedic surgeon can evaluate your specific clinical, radiographic, and medical history to determine if a partial knee replacement is an option. When the answer is yes then the planning can begin. I believe that the ideal way this surgery can be done is with robotic assistance. The robot combined with advanced imaging like a CT scan can make precise cuts to position and measure the implants within millimeters or single degrees. This advanced placement is important for partial knees in that they can fail early if not positioned appropriately. The recovery from a partial knee replacement is about half that of a total knee replacement. I usually say it will take about six weeks to feel generally back to normal. However, there can be occasional pains and swelling for one to two years after a partial knee replacement. These are averages and some patients recover faster. I have had patients come back at two weeks with no pain and no problems. Generally, patients still do require pain medication, ice, and possibly physical therapy to recover. Ideally, after recovery the patient will have no pain and no issues and can be watched with annual visits to ensure the prosthesis is still appropriate with annual xrays. The largest drawback to partial knee replacements is that they tend not to last as long as total knee replacements. The most common reason a partial replacement fails is that the patient develops symptomatic osteoarthritis in another portion or compartment of the knee. They can then be changed to a total knee replacement if they again fail conservative management. It is important to be evaluated if you are a proper candidate for a partial knee replacement by your orthopedic surgeon to ensure that the prosthesis can last as long as possible.

As before, please see your orthopedic surgeon to discuss if a partial knee replacement is the best option for you. If you need further assistance or have questions please call us at 561 665 7701 for an appointment or visit us at www.delrayorthocenter.com

Stay active and if you do end up needing this surgey, it is very successful in relieving pain and improving your quality of life. That is why I chose this profession, to enable people to be active and healthy and give them back the mobility they have lost from osteoarthritis. Tomorrow is Total Knee Replacement day!

All the best! Dr. Z

06/23/2025

Day 5 of Knee Osteoarthritis treatments from a Fellowship Trained Orthopedic Hip and Knee Subspecialist in Delray Beach Florida.
Please evaluate your specific condition with your doctor prior to starting any treatment. This advice is for educational purposes only.

We have summarized most conservative treatments in the previous days including medications, braces, physical therapy, and injections. Today I am going to focus on Radiofrequency Ablation or RFA. RFA is a small procedure where multiple small sensory nerves that supply the knee joint are heated or frozen. This is done by different techniques depending on the physician and the equipment that they are using. Usually small needles are placed near the sensory nerves and the nerve is then ablated (frozen or heated). This procedure is done either by Orthopedic Surgeons or Pain Management Physicians typically. The procedure can be done in an office setting.

The knee has multiple sensory nerves that send the pain signals that arise from the osteoarthritis. When these nerves are heated or frozen they can no longer work and therefore cannot send the pain signal to the brain. Thus relieving the pain from the knee. The knee is still able to function normally after this procedure. The relief from a RFA can last up to a year. The reason the pain returns is that the nerves are able to grow back and start sending their pain signals.

Radiofrequency ablation can be a meaningful tool to relieve pain from knee osteoarthritis. The downsides to this procedure is that there is a small risk of infection from the needles being used. There is also a risk that the needles are not positioned in the correct place or do not completely stop the nerves from functioning thereby allowing continued pain signals to be sent to the brain.

All of these conservative measures and the invasive measures discussed so far do not actually change the osteoarthritis or improve the arthritis. The treatments try to minimize or eliminate the pain that is produced by the arthritis. Stay tuned as tomorrow we begin discussions on surgical procedures for knee osteoarthritis!

If you have questions or want to be evaluated please call us for an appointment at 561 665 7701 or visit our website at www.delrayorthocenter.com

06/20/2025

Day 4 of Knee Osteoarthritis treatments from a Fellowship Trained Orthopedic Hip and Knee Subspecialist in Delray Beach Florida.
Please evaluate your specific condition with your doctor prior to starting any treatment. This advice is for educational purposes only.

Today we are moving on from the more conservative treatments. After using NSAIDS, creams, ice, braces, and PT or exercise patients may still have discomfort from knee osteoarthritis. Typically the next option is to use an injection into the knee.

The first option is a cortisone injection. This injection uses a corticosteroid which is a type of steroid and is usually combined with an analgesic like Lidocaine or saline to dilute the steroid. The reason why cortisone injections are used is that they are strong anti-inflammatories which are being placed directly into the area they are needed by the injection. The cortisone like the anti-inflammatories or NSAIDS prevents the inflammation from happening and thereby relieves the pain. Cortisone injections can begin to work almost immediately and typically will provide relief for about three months. This is also the usual timeframe to be able to have another injection if the first injection was beneficial. These injections cannot be given too close to each other as there is potential to cause damage or injury to the knee. Also care must be taken in patients with diabetes as the steroid will increase the patients blood glucose for around 2 weeks after the injection. Other risks are small but there is a small chance of infection when placing any injection and there is a risk of a steroid flare. A steroid flare is where the pain gets worse instead of better and usually resolves with NSAIDS, ice, and time.

The next most common type of injection are the Viscosupplementation injections also known as Hyaluronic Acid or simply gel shots. The gel shots act like a lubricant for the knee. The Hyaluronic Acid is already found in the joint fluid and it is what makes the joint fluid so slippery. However when we get osteoarthritis our knees make less of the Hyaluranic Acid and the gel shots can supplement that loss. These injections are given as a one time does or spread over three injections once a week for three weeks. It is important to note that these injections do not relieve pain right away as they are simply improving the lubrication of the knee and it does take some time for the inflammation to resolve. However, when these injections do work they typically last around 6 months. Another consideration is that the gel shots are expensive and some insurance companies do not cover them. Most insurance companies will require the patient to have had all of the previous conservative treatments including cortisone injections with a failure of those treatments to be able to approve the gel shots. Your doctor can review your treatment history and determine if you are eligible for the Viscosupplementation injections. The risks of these injections are very small with rare infections and rare allergic responses.

Finally there are other injections that are used for knee arthritis that insurance companies to not cover. These include Platelet Rich Plasma injections and Stem Cell injections. These types of injections are not typically covered by insurance because the data or studies on them is still being collected and analyzed. If it is found that they are indeed beneficial for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis then it is expected that they will then be covered by the insurance companies. If you are considering these alternative types of injections speak with your doctor to understand the benefits and risks and the current understanding on what percentage of patients improve after these types of injections.

By in large, injections for knee osteoarthritis are very effective ways of reducing or eliminating the pain associated with the arthritis. They can also provide relief for months at a time. If you have questions or are interested in having a knee injection call us at 561 665 7701. You can also visit our website at www.delrayorthocenter.com

Keep Moving!

06/19/2025

Day 3 of Knee Osteoarthritis treatments from a Fellowship Trained Orthopedic Hip and Knee Subspecialist in Delray Beach Florida.
Please evaluate your specific condition with your doctor prior to starting any treatment. This advice is for educational purposes only.

Today we are going to continue with conservative care for knee osteoarthritis by talking about physical therapy and exercise. When we get arthritis some things happen to the knee. Typically the knee will become stiffer or harder to move due to a combination of pain and possibly bone spurs or osteophytes. With time as a patient moves the knee less to avoid pain, the knee can become more and more stiff. Also as the knee becomes painful, the patient will not use the joint as much which can lead to weakness around the knee. Your physician can provide a prescription for physical therapy to help try to improve the range of motion and strength in the knee and help with walking. If the muscle strength can be improved the muscles themselves can hold the knee and improve the patients ability to stand up, walk, and squat thereby improving the patients quality of life.
The same goes for exercise. When done properly, exercise can have similar benefits. There are some activities that can potentially make the pain from arthritis worse. These include high impact activities like running or jumping, deep knee squats, and the leg extension machine. Speak with your doctor about exercises you can do to try to improve your function and mobility or participate in physical therapy where they therapist can provide a home exercise program in addition to the treatment. Some activities that I recommend to stay active include walking, elliptical, cycling, yoga, Tai Chi, and swimming which are all low impact exercises. The other benefit of doing exercise is the overall impact on your health as well as weight loss which itself can improve pain from knee arthritis.
Our goal is to keep you moving with as little pain as possible! To keep you doing the things that you want to do. This is the whole point of the treatments for knee osteoarthritis. Talk to your doctor to see if physical therapy and or exercise are appropriate for your condition.

Keep Moving! If you have any questions or would like Dr. Zavoyski to evaluate your knee please call us at 561 665 7701 or visit our website www.delrayorthocenter.com

06/18/2025

Day 2 of Knee Osteoarthritis treatments from a Fellowship Trained Orthopedic Hip and Knee Subspecialist in Delray Beach Florida.
Please evaluate your specific condition with your doctor prior to starting any treatment. This advice is for educational purposes only.

Today we are going to discuss noninvasive external treatments for knee pain from knee osteoarthritis. The first of which goes by the acronym RICE. RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. This is a standard treatment used in injuries to counter inflammation which is also present in knee arthritis. If the knee is painful typically resting the knee will decrease the discomfort. Ice is a great noninvasive treatment for knee pain and the swelling that can come with knee arthritis. We have excellent ice packs in our office that have Velcro straps to stay in place around the knee providing the ice and some compression. Compression can be something as simple as an ace bandage or knee sleeve to provide some mild support to the knee and try to decrease the swelling. Elevation also helps decrease swelling in the knee by lying down and elevating the leg above the level of your heart.

Another external noninvasive treatment for knee osteoarthritis are knee braces. Osteoarthritis means damage to cartilage which we all have in our joints on the ends of the bones. When the cartilage is damaged or worn down it is known as "wear and tear" arthritis or osteoarthritis. Since there is less cartilage in the joint combined with the possibility of bone spurs also known as osteophytes, the arthritic knee typically has more instability present. Instability can lead to abnormal movement of the knee which can also produce pain. Patient with knee arthritis can benefit typically from one of two brace options, a hinged brace or an unloader brace. The hinged brace has metal struts on the sides with hinges that allow the brace to bend with the knee. These are used primarily for instability of the knee and in most cases when the patient is fitted for the brace they can feel an immediate improvement in their pain. The unloader braces are for when the arthritis wears one side of the joint more than the other. This brace tries to unload or shift the weight going through the knee to the side that has less arthritis or damage. Your doctor can determine which brace would work best in your situation. Both types of braces can be used for routine activities as well as sports.

Another conservative option for the pain from knee arthritis are assistive devices like canes or walkers. These devices help by taking weight off of the knee and placing it onto the hands thereby relieving the pressure that the knee feels. Mobility aids help many patients to be able to perform their routine activities that they may not be able to do otherwise. Similarly, weight loss also relieves pressure off of the arthritic knee. I have seen patients who have been able to lose weight where initially they were considering surgery and then after losing weight felt that they no longer needed to see me. Weight loss and mobility aids do not change the underlying arthritis but can make moving easier. It is always our goal to keep patients moving and enabling them to live independently.

Thanks for reading! Let us know if you feel any of these treatments can work for you. Keep active and stay healthy!

06/17/2025

Knee Osteoarthritis treatments from a Fellowship Trained Orthopedic Hip and Knee Subspecialist in Delray Beach Florida.
Please evaluate your specific condition with your doctor prior to starting any treatment. This advice is for educational purposes only.

In the treatment of knee osteoarthritis medications are the simplest and perhaps easiest first step to improve the pain that comes inevitably with this disease. By far the most common medication that helps with this pain are the Anti-inflammatories or NSAIDS. These are medications like Ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, Naproxen, and Aleve. They work by countering the inflammation (which causes pain) that is produced from the osteoarthritis and thereby relieving this pain. The NSAIDS are also typically the most effective medications to treat arthritic pain but there are some precautions that you should be aware. You should not use these medications if you are on a blood thinner, are allergic to aspirin, have kidney disease, bleeding ulcers, or in some cases cardiovascular disease or hypertension. The most common side effect of the NSAIDS is upset stomach or burning in the stomach or chest also known as GERD. A safer alternative is Tylenol or Acetaminophen which can also relieve pain from osteoarthritis as it is a weak Anti-inflammatory and has fewer side effects but tends not to relieve that pain as well as the other NSAIDS.

If the over the counter medications are not effective then your doctor can prescribe prescription strength NSAIDS such as Diclofenac, Meloxicam, or Celebrex. These medications have similar side effects to the over the counter medications. Your doctor can identify if these medications are appropriate for you. The main advantage of the prescription NSAIDS is they can be more effective with fewer doses. One question we get asked is if a patient can be on an NSAID for a prolonged period of time. This question can only be answered by your doctor relating to your specific condition.

Another alternative medication that can be used with or without the oral medications would be a topical NSAID. Examples of these include Diclofenac gel or Voltaren Gel. The advantage of these is that there is a much lower incidence of stomach upset as they are not going through the digestive system. These gels are now over the counter and can work well for pain from knee arthritis.

Additionally, for those who are unable to use NSAIDS there is an alternative medication that is FDA approved for joint pain. This is Cymbalta or Duloxetine. This medication has been shown to improve pain from osteoarthritis but is also an anti-depressant and therefore will require a prescription from a physician and should be monitored likely by a primary care physician.

There are also possible supplements that patients can use for arthritic pain which include Glucosamine/Chondroitin and Curcumin or Turmeric. It is important to know that supplements are not regulated by the FDA. Your doctor can advise if these treatments are an appropriate option for you.

We at Delray Orthopaedic Center have expertise in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis and can evaluate if any of these treatments are appropriate for your care. If you need more information, you can visit our website at www.delrayorthocenter.com or call us at 561 665 7701.

We are here to keep you active and healthy!

06/16/2025

Knee Osteoarthritis treatment can be complicated however over the next several days I as a Subspecialist Fellowship Trained Orthopedic Surgeon in the hip and knee also known as Adult Reconstruction, will post various treatment options from the simple to the complex including both operative and nonoperative treatments. If you are having knee pain from osteoarthritis visit us at www.delrayorthocenter.com call us, or stay tuned!

12/31/2024

Wishing Everyone A Happy And Healthy New Year From Delray Orthopedic Center!!!

12/23/2024

From our family at Delray Orthopaedic Center, Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a very Happy Hanukkah, a special Thank You to all of our patients and referring physicians who have trusted us as we went through the construction for our new office.

08/22/2024

We have FINALLY finished the renovations for our new office!!! We are currently welcoming patients, family, and friends!

S. Richard Zavoyski MD

07/04/2025

06/25/2025

06/24/2025

06/23/2025

06/20/2025

06/19/2025

06/18/2025

06/17/2025

06/16/2025

12/31/2024

12/23/2024

08/22/2024

Address

Opening Hours

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 12pm