Dr. Sabrina Strickland

03/05/2026

Joint preservation is all about helping you keep your own knee for as long as possible by preventing arthritis from getting worse and addressing cartilage damage before it progresses.

In this video, my husband, Dr. Andreas Gomoll, and I walk through the spectrum of options—from minor procedures like gel injections and arthroscopic chondroplasty for small cartilage flaps to more advanced treatments for larger defects, including cell-based therapies (MACI, de novo), osteochondral plugs using your tissue or a donor, and new coral-based implants like CartiHeal that act as a scaffold so your body can heal itself.

If you have knee pain, swelling, or cartilage damage and have been told you are too young for a knee replacement, joint preservation may offer a path forward that matches the size and location of your defect.

03/02/2026

Patients often ask about the best strengthening exercises for their legs, so I created a few videos with my friends to show examples you can easily follow.

In this one, you’ll see a Romanian deadlift combined with a row, a movement that builds strength through the glutes, hamstrings, and core while improving balance.

It’s often easier to learn an exercise by seeing how it’s done rather than just hearing about it. Try following along at your own pace and if the row feels tricky, start with the deadlift alone. Progress gradually and keep your form strong.

02/26/2026

If your kneecap has ever felt like it shifted out of place for a moment and then settled back in, it may not be just a random fluke. In everyday language, a slight knee dislocation usually means the kneecap (patella) has partially slipped out of its groove, a condition doctors call a subluxation, rather than a true dislocation of the entire knee joint.

You might notice a brief sharp pain at the front of the knee, tenderness along the inner or outer edge of the kneecap, mild or more obvious swelling, or a feeling that the knee might give way when you squat, go down stairs, pivot, or get up from a chair. Some people are more prone to this because of looser joints, hypermobility, or alignment differences in the hip, knee, or kneecap, and repeated episodes can lead to cartilage damage or early arthritis if not addressed.

In my latest post, I explain how to tell if what you felt could be a patellar subluxation, what to watch for afterward, and when it is time to see an orthopaedic specialist.

Read more: https://sabrinastrickland.com/how-to-tell-your-kneecap-slightly-dislocated/


Photo by Miri Mina on Unsplash

02/18/2026

Increasingly, we've been getting questions about Chondrofiller, but here’s the reality: it isn’t new, it’s not FDA-approved in the U.S., and there’s little data showing it works.

In Europe, it’s been around for almost 20 years, made from type I collagen. It’s not a miracle cure, just a repackaged concept that’s gained new life recently.

In the U.S., we already have more advanced and proven options for cartilage restoration, such as osteochondral allograft, which uses living cartilage to repair defects.

Watch this short video to learn more.

02/10/2026

As ski season reaches its peak, I'm seeing a predictable rise in serious knee injuries, especially anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, in both recreational and competitive skiers. Having performed more than 1,000 ACL surgeries, I know how suddenly an injury can end a season and how much work it takes to safely return to the slopes.

Recently, I shared a press release with guidance on ACL tears and how to prevent injuries.

https://sabrinastrickland.com/prioritize-acl-knee-health-ski-season/

Photo by Sebastian Staines on Unsplash.
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As ski season peaks, tips from an orthopaedic surgeon who has performed more than 1,000 ACL surgeries to help prevent knee injuries.

02/09/2026

For those who don't already know us, we made this short introduction video.
We are Dr. Sabrina Strickland and Dr. Andreas Gomoll, orthopedic surgeons based in New York City specializing in sports medicine and joint preservation.

In this video, we share our journey from training at institutions like HSS, Harvard, and Rush, to building a practice dedicated to saving the knee. Many patients are told they have to "just wait" until they are old enough for a replacement, and we're here to offer a different path.

In this video, we discuss:
* Our backgrounds in Munich, Boston, and NYC.
* Why Joint Preservation is the future of orthopedics.
* Solutions for young patients with cartilage damage and knee pain.

Watch this space for more insights on knee health, FDA trials, and recovery advice!

01/26/2026

A sudden twist, a crunch, and the kneecap shifts to the outside of the knee. Walking becomes nearly impossible and the knee swells quickly. Many active adults experience a patella (kneecap) dislocation exactly this way.

Urgent care is often an appropriate first stop for such an injury. Teams there can usually confirm the dislocation with an exam and X‑rays, guide the kneecap back into place (closed reduction), and provide a brace and pain control. However, urgent care isn't designed to be the final step in care.

A lateral patella dislocation commonly injures the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL), the main soft-tissue restraint keeping the kneecap centered. Even one traumatic dislocation can start cartilage damage that may progress over time and contribute to patellofemoral arthritis, especially if dislocations recur.

That's why follow-up with an orthopaedic knee or sports medicine specialist is so important.

Learn more about what to do after a kneecap dislocation and when to seek urgent care versus emergency or specialist care: https://sabrinastrickland.com/urgent-care-treat-dislocated-kneecap


The image for this post was created with AI.

01/22/2026

Have you been told you’re “too young” for a knee replacement but still can’t do the activities you love? This short video explains how newer knee procedures can help preserve your joint and delay or avoid replacement.

In the video, I walk through cartilage repair techniques, shock‑absorber implants for medial knee arthritis, synthetic cartilage, and biologic approaches designed for active adults who want to stay moving.

Watch the Reel to learn what joint preservation might look like for you, and share it with someone dealing with persistent knee pain.

01/19/2026

Did your kneecap slip back into place? Don’t assume you’re in the clear.

It’s tempting to wait and see after a patella dislocation, especially if the initial swelling goes down. But leaving a kneecap injury untreated can lead to a cycle of instability that’s hard to break.

When the patella dislocates, it often tears the MPFL, the primary ligament that keeps your kneecap in place. Without proper evaluation, you risk:
* Chronic Instability: A 15% to 80% chance of it happening again, depending on age and anatomy.
* Permanent Cartilage Damage: Chips or "gouges" that can set the stage for early arthritis.
* Muscle Atrophy: Quadriceps weakness that makes stairs, walking, and sports feel unsteady.

Getting an early MRI and a professional evaluation isn't just about fixing the pain today, it’s an investment in your lifelong mobility.

Read the full breakdown of risks and recovery options on my blog: https://sabrinastrickland.com/what-happens-patella-dislocation-untreated/


Image created with AI

Dr. Sabrina Strickland, Orthopedic Sports Surgeon

01/08/2026

Tearing an ACL can feel overwhelming, and then you need to decide which surgery and graft option is best for your lifestyle and sport. In this video, I walk through how I think about ACL reconstruction for different patients, from high school and college cutting athletes to skiers in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, and why graft choice (quad vs hamstring, and why I rarely use patellar tendon) really matters. I also discuss newer options like the BEAR implant and lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET), and how advances in minimally invasive techniques can reduce pain and recovery time while still putting the ACL in the most anatomic position possible.

If you or someone you love is considering ACL surgery, this is a great place to start learning the right questions to ask and how to talk with your surgeon about goals, graft choice, and re-injury risk.

Watch the full video to learn more.
Comment with your questions, and share with an athlete, parent, or friend who might need this.

12/25/2025

Happy holidays from me and Penny!