Tri-State Orthopaedics provides the Pittsburgh region with the most advanced orthopaedic care for sports-related injuries, general orthopedic problems and occupational injuries.Jack Failla, Victor Thomas, Paul Liefeld, Brian Jewell, Mark Langhans, Steve Kann, Steven Kann, Jeff Kann, Jeffrey Kann, Gerard Werries, John Christoforetti, Mike Pagnotto, Michael Pagnotto,Physician, physicians, surgeon, orthopedic surgeon, orthopedic doctor, orthopedic physician, bones, ortho, Pittsburgh, North Hills, Seven Fields, Fox Chapel, Robinson Twp, Tri-State Orthopaedics, sports medicine, orthopaedic, orthopedic, orthopedics, board certified, surgeons, fellowship training, team physician, tristateortho, tri-state physical therapy, TSPT, ACP, PRP, therapy, EMG, nerve conduction studies,hand, finger, wrist, elbow, upper extremity surgery, minimally invasive surgery, carpal tunnel, trigger finger, foot, ankle, foot, toe, injuries, pain, athletic injuries, shoulder, knee, arthroscopic surgery, hip, repair, reconstruction, total joint replacement, revision surgery, spine, back, neck, fracture care, fractures, DJD, degenerative joint disease, mini-incision surgery, micro-surgery, musculoskeletal injuries, occupational injuries, Sprain, Strain, Bursitis, Tendon, Tendinitis, Tendinosis, Instability, Impingement Syndrome, Minimally-Invasive Surgery, Micro-Surgery, Arthroscopy, Knee Scope, Shoulder Scope, Synvisc, Supartz, viscosupplementation, injections of the knee, joint injections,Rotator Cuff Tears, Bankart Tears, SLAP Tears, Biceps Tendinopathy, Subacromial Impingement, Adhesive Capsulitis, Frozen Shoulder, Arthritis, Rotator Cuff, Labral Bankart Repair, Shoulder Replacement, Shoulder Reconstruction, Subacromial Decompression, Medial Lateral Epicondylitis, Golfers Elbow, Tennis Elbow, Ulnar Neuritis Entrapment, Distal Biceps Ruptures, Cartilage Ligament Injuries, Minimally Invasive Epicondyle Release, Elbow Arthroscopy, Ulnar Nerve Transposition, Biceps Repair, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, Tendon Injuries, CTR, Carpal Tunnel Release, Mini Incision Carpal Tunnel Release, Trigger Finger Release, Wrist Arthroscopy, CMC Arthroplasty, Tendon Reconstruction, Labral Tears, Hip Bursitis, Femoroacetabular Impingement, FAI, Hamstring Injuries, Gluteus Medius Tears, Hip Arthroscopy, Arthroscopic Bursectomy, Tendon Repair, Minimally-Invasive Total Hip Replacement, Total Hip Arthroplasty, Revision Total Hip Replacement, Open surgery, closed surgery, Arthroscopic Hip Surgery, Labrum Repair, Labrum Reconstruction, Arthroscopic Repair, Gluteus Medius Tears, Meniscus Tears, MCL, ACL Tears, Ligament Injuries, PCL, Cartilage Defects, Quad Ruptures, Knee Arthroscopy, ACL Reconstruction, Minimally Invasive Partial Knee Replacement, Total Knee Replacement, Knee Arthroplasty, Revision Total Knee Replacement, Cartilage Transplantation in Knee, Disc Herniations, Degenerative Disc Disease, DDD, Vertebral Fractures, Micro-Discectomy, Laminectomy, Cervical Fusion, Lumbar Spinal Fusion, Kyphoplasty, Ankle Sprains, Achilles Tendinitis, Achilles Rupture, Plantar Fasciitis, Flat Foot Deformity, Arthritis, Bunion, Hammer Toe, Claw Toe Deformity, Cartilage Injury, Tendon Repair, Ligament Repair, Reconstruction, Bunionectomy, Ankle Arthroscopy, Ankle Replacement.
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Our Services
Surgery Specialties
Surgery & Specialties

The physicians of Tri-State Orthopaedics focus on providing the full range of musculoskeletal care. Our dynamic mix of orthopaedic specialists enables us to meet all of our patient’s musculoskeletal needs under one roof with a comprehensive and coordinated approach to your orthopaedic health. Our physicians are board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons and fellows of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Though all of our physicians provide general orthopaedic care, their advanced fellowship training with an additional year of specialized education and experience allows them to specialize in an area of orthopaedic care including:

  • Sports medicine surgery to repair common athletic injuries including arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder, elbow and knee
  • ACL reconstruction of the knee
  • Shoulder repair and reconstruction
  • Total joint replacement and secondary revision surgery of the knee and hip
  • Hand, finger, wrist, elbow and upper extremity surgery (including nerve laceration repairs and minimally invasive surgery for carpal tunnel and trigger finger)
  • Foot and ankle surgery
  • Spine surgery
  • Fracture care

Our physicians use state-of-the-art techniques and equipment, including mini-incision and micro-surgery, proven to have quality outcomes for our patients with minimal hospital stay and recovery time.

To further ensure that our patients have an exceptional experience, the practice also employs licensed and certified orthopaedic Physician Assistants to assist with your orthopaedic care. Under the physician's direction, our orthopaedic PAs assist our physicians with many aspects of patient care in the office and hospital.

Orthopaedic Diagnosis and Procedures
The surgeons of Tri-State Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine are Board Certified in Orthopaedics and treat a variety of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions including fractures, sports-related and occupational injuries. The list below contains some of the more common orthopaedic diagnoses and surgical techniques used by our physicians.

Shoulder

  • Diagnoses: Rotator Cuff Tears, Bankart/SLAP Tears, Biceps Tendinopathy, Subacromial Impingement/Bursitis, Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder), Arthritis, Fractures.
  • Arthroscopic and Open Rotator Cuff Repair, Labral/Bankart Repair, Shoulder Replacement/Reconstruction, Subacromial Decompression.

Elbow

  • Diagnoses: Medial/Lateral Epicondylitis (Golfers/Tennis Elbow), Ulnar Neuritis/Entrapment, Distal Biceps Ruptures, Cartilage/Ligament Injuries, Fractures.
  • Surgical Techniques: Minimally-Invasive Epicondyle Release, Elbow Arthroscopy, Ulnar Nerve Transposition, Biceps Repair.

Hand/Wrist

  • Diagnoses: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Trigger Finger, de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, Tendon Injuries, Arthritis, Fractures.
  • Surgical Techniques: Minimally-Invasive/Mini Incision Carpal Tunnel and Trigger Finger Release, Wrist Arthroscopy, CMC Arthroplasty, Tendon Reconstruction, Micro-Surgery.

Hip

  • Diagnoses: Labral Tears, Arthritis, Bursitis, Fractures, Hamstring Injuries.
  • Surgical Techniques: Minimally-Invasive Total Hip Replacement (Total Hip Arthroplasty), Revision (Secondary) Total Hip Replacement.

Knee

  • Diagnoses: Meniscus Tears, ACL Tears, Ligament Injuries (MCL/PCL), Cartilage Defects, Quad Ruptures, Arthritis, Fractures.
  • Surgical Techniques: Knee Arthroscopy, ACL Reconstruction, Minimally-Invasive Partial and Total Knee Replacement (Knee Arthroplasty), Revision Total Knee Replacement, Cartilage Transplantation.

Back/Neck/Spine

  • Diagnoses: Disc Herniations, Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), Vertebral Fractures.
  • Surgical Techniques: Micro-Discectomy, Laminectomy, Cervical and Lumbar Spinal Fusion, Kyphoplasty.

Foot/Ankle

  • Diagnoses: Ankle Sprains, Achilles Tendinitis/Ruptures, Plantar Fasciitis, Adult Acquired Flat Foot Deformity, Arthritis, Bunion, Hammer/Claw Toe Deformity, Cartilage Injury, Fractures.
  • Surgical Techniques: Tendon/Ligament Repair, Reconstruction, Bunionectomy, Hammer/Claw Toe Correction, Ankle Arthroscopy, Ankle Replacement.

Common Orthopaedic Terminology and Definitions

  • Sprain - A partial or complete tear of a ligament (the fibrous tissue holding bones together at a joint).
  • Strain - A partial tear of a muscle.
  • Fracture - A disruption in the integrity of the bone. Commonly referred to as a break or “broken bone”.
  • Contusion - A bruise.
  • Bursitis - Inflammation of the bursa (a fluid-filled pad that acts as a cushion among bones, tendons and muscles near joints).
  • Laceration - A cut, tear or open wound of the skin.
  • Tendon - Fibrous tissue that attaches muscle to the bone.
  • Tendinitis - Inflammation of a tendon.
  • Tendinosis - Tiny tears in the tissue around the tendon caused by overuse.
  • Instability - Looseness, unsteadiness or inability to withstand normal weight-bearing and/or motion of a joint.
  • Impingement Syndrome - Shoulder pain caused by tendinosis or irritation of the rotator cuff tendon with bursitis.
  • Minimally-Invasive Surgery - Surgical technique that uses a small incision and small specialized surgical instruments.
  • Micro-Surgery - A type of minimally-invasive surgery that is performed under a microscope.
  • Arthroscopy “Scope” - A form of minimally-invasive surgery using a fiber-optic camera and surgical instruments allowing the surgery to be performed through a small incision.