Resources · Educational videos
Educational videos
Short animations that illustrate common orthopedic procedures, grouped by topic.
About these videos
These videos are general educational illustrations from third-party sources. A video may show one surgical technique or implant system — it is not a promise that the same method or product will be used in your care. The right treatment depends on your injury, your anatomy, any associated findings, the operative plan, and your surgeon's judgment. Your operative discussion and personalized care plan always take precedence. These videos are not created by Dr. Blackwell, and their inclusion does not imply that any manufacturer endorses him or this practice.
Knee ligament & instability
ACL reconstruction and kneecap (patellar) stabilization.
How an ACL tear occurs
A short 3D animation showing the anatomy of the knee and, in general terms, how the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is injured.
An Arthrex patient-education animation of the knee's anatomy and how the ACL is injured.
The animation shows the knee's anatomy — the thigh bone, shin bone, and the cruciate ligaments in the center of the knee — and illustrates in general terms how the ACL tears. It depicts the concept of an ACL injury; it does not show every tear pattern, determine treatment, or replace examination and imaging.
ACL reconstruction — how the graft is placed
A short animation showing how a torn ACL is reconstructed by placing a new graft to restore knee stability.
A general surgical animation of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.
The animation illustrates the general steps of ACL reconstruction: preparing the knee, positioning tunnels in the thigh bone and shin bone, passing a graft to replace the torn ligament, and securing it so the knee is stable while it heals. Graft choice and technique are individualized.
ACL reconstruction with a bone–tendon–bone graft
An animation of ACL reconstruction using a bone–tendon–bone graft — one of several graft options a surgeon may consider.
A bone–patellar tendon–bone (BTB) ACL reconstruction using button-based fixation in the thigh bone and an interference screw in the shin bone.
Shows an ACL reconstruction that uses a bone–patellar tendon–bone graft. The animation demonstrates fixing the graft in the thigh bone with a small button and securing it in the shin bone with an interference screw. Whether this graft is used, and how it is fixed, is decided for each patient.
MPFL reconstruction for kneecap instability
An animation of medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction, a procedure that helps stop the kneecap from dislocating.
An onlay MPFL reconstruction using knee anchors and an adjustable-loop implant.
Shows reconstruction of the MPFL — a ligament that helps hold the kneecap in place. A new graft is secured between the kneecap and the thigh bone to reduce repeat dislocations. Whether MPFL reconstruction is right, and how it is performed, is individualized.
Meniscus
Preserving the knee's cushioning cartilage with repair when possible.
All-inside meniscus repair
An animation showing how a torn meniscus can be repaired from inside the knee to preserve the cushioning cartilage.
An all-inside meniscus repair technique.
Illustrates an 'all-inside' meniscus repair, in which the torn edges of the meniscus are stitched together using instruments passed into the knee — aiming to preserve the meniscus rather than remove it. Whether a tear is repairable depends on its pattern and location.
Cartilage restoration
Restoring damaged joint-surface cartilage.
Osteochondral allograft (OATS) cartilage repair
An animation of cartilage restoration that uses a donor bone-and-cartilage graft to resurface a damaged area of the joint.
An allograft osteochondral transfer (OATS) technique animation.
Illustrates an osteochondral allograft, in which a cylinder of healthy donor cartilage and its underlying bone is placed into a damaged area of the joint surface to restore a smooth surface. Candidacy depends on the size and location of the cartilage injury.
MACI surgical-technique animation (manufacturer)
Opens on YouTubeWatch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)An external manufacturer (Vericel) surgical-technique animation of MACI, a two-stage cartilage repair that uses a patient's own cartilage cells. It is a manufacturer animation rather than a general educational overview; it opens on YouTube and cannot be embedded here.
A manufacturer (Vericel) surgical-technique animation of MACI, a cell-based cartilage repair. Opens on YouTube.
A manufacturer (Vericel) animation illustrating the surgical technique of MACI — a treatment that grows a patient's own cartilage cells in a lab and implants them to repair a cartilage defect in a later procedure. Because the owner has disabled embedding, it is presented as an external link and opens on YouTube.
Shoulder
Rotator cuff repair and shoulder stabilization.
Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair
An animation of keyhole (arthroscopic) rotator cuff repair, reattaching the torn tendon to the top of the arm bone.
A double-row rotator cuff repair using medial soft anchors and lateral fixation.
Shows an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. The torn tendon is reattached to the bone with anchors, in a pattern that holds the tendon against its healing surface. The exact repair depends on the size and quality of the tear.
Shoulder labral (Bankart) repair
An animation of shoulder stabilization surgery that repairs a torn labrum to help keep the shoulder in its socket.
An anterior labral (Bankart) repair using small knotless soft anchors.
Illustrates repair of a torn labrum — the rim of cartilage around the shoulder socket — using small anchors to reattach it. This is commonly part of surgery for a shoulder that has dislocated or feels unstable. The specific repair is individualized.
Next step
Questions about a procedure?
These videos are general education. To understand what's right for your injury, you can request an appointment. This website is not monitored for emergencies — for a medical emergency, call 911.