Dr. Lowe

Walter R. Lowe M.D.

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:12:32 GMT

Dr. Lowe specializes in sports medicine with an emphasis on diagnosing and treating a wide range of knee, shoulder, and elbow injuries and disorders. He is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and also holds a Sub-specialty Certification in Sports Medicine. Dr Lowe serves as the Head team physician for the Houston Texans, the Head team physician for the University of Houston, Houston Baptist University, and many area high schools. He is also orthopedic knee and shoulder consultant for the Houston Rockets. Dr. Lowe is an Associate Professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery for the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Dr Lowe is the Director of Baylor Sports Medicine Fellowship and the Chief of the Sports Medicine Section. Dr Lowe is the Medical Director for the newly established Roger Clemens Institute for Sports Medicine and Human Performance. Dr. Lowe is on active staff with The Methodist Hospital,...

About Dr. Lowe

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:05:08 GMT

Dr Lowe - Staff

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:31:22 GMT

Christian D. Peluse, PA-C Christian Peluse graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy in 1999. He practiced as an Occupational Therapist with an emphasis on upper extremity rehabilitation before he returned to school for his Physician Assistant training. He graduated from the St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Centers of New York Physician Assistant program in 2002. He has worked in orthopaedic surgery since his graduation in both the Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Trauma subspecialties. He has practiced autonomously throughout most of his career and has played an instrumental role in training other physician assistants. Chris can be reached at peluse@bcm.edu Bubba Wilson, ATC, LAT Bubba is an athletic trainer. He is a liaison with the local high schools and their athletic staff. He also has a close connection with referring physical therapy facilities. He sees post-operative patients,...

Dr. Lowe - Staff

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 22:29:00 GMT

Diagnosing Knee Injuries

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:15:35 GMT

Most knee injuries can be diagnosed by Dr. Lowe utilizing the history and symptoms of the injury, plain film x-rays along with the physical examination. He will ask you many questions regarding the injury. They will then perform several tests to check the integrity of the ligaments and other structures of the knee.

Many times Dr. Lowe will order a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan (MRI). This is done to assess structures that do not show up on x-ray or that may be questionable upon physical exam. The results of this test may change how he has to treat your injury. Treatment options may include: bracing, physical therapy and possibly surgical intervention. The MRI last around an hour, dependant upon the body part and structures that are being examined.


Figure 1	Figure 2

In figure #1 if you look just above the arrow, you will see a band of black tissue that is running from 7:00 to 1:00. This is a good ACL. In figure #2, if you will look above the arrow, you will see that the ACL is absent.

Symptoms of an ACL Tear

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:11:43 GMT

As stated earlier, the knee is a hinged joint allowing for flexion and extension only. The ligaments of the knee help to prevent any movement that the knee is not designed for. The muscles above and below the knee joint are the prime movers. These muscles are what allow us to walk, run, jump, climb, etc. If you injure your knee, you lose the ability to perform these activities.

An ACL injury normally occurs from some type of rotational stress applied to the knee. Remember it is only made to bend and straighten. When this injury occurs, the athlete may feel a pop with in the knee. They will also experience a feeling of the knee “giving out”. The phrase “Trick knee” has long been associated with an ACL injury.

Other symptoms may include immediate swelling, an inability to fully straighten or bend the knee. The most common symptom is the feeling of the knee “giving out” or feeling unstable.

It is not uncommon for other structures in the knee to be damaged at the same time that one injures their ACL.

Knee Anatomy

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:09:24 GMT

The knee is a hinged joint, comprised of three bones and four main ligaments. The design of the knee only allows for flexion and extension. The three bones are the Femur, tibia and patella (knee cap). The four main ligaments are the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), Posterior Cruciate (PCL), Medial Collateral (MCL) and the Lateral Collateral (LCL). These ligaments connect the femur to the tibia and provide the structural integrity to the knee. There are other structures with in the knee that are important such as the menisci, articular cartilage and the patella. These will be discussed in there own areas.

Revision ACL Surgery

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:06:24 GMT

It is the hope of Dr. Lowe and his staff that after you have an ACL reconstruction you lead a normal injury free return to all activities. It is an unfortunate fact that sometimes even after you have your ACL reconstructed, that you can do something to re-injure the ligament and require another reconstructive surgery.

Many times if you re-injure your ACL, another reconstruction is needed. If this is the case, well over 50% of the time the reconstruction requires two surgeries. The first surgery requires Dr. Lowe to remove the old screws from the tunnels (figure 1), repair any damage that occurred to the other structures of the knee and to use donor bone plugs (figure 3) to graft into the tunnels (figure 2). After a sufficient period of time to allow for proper healing of the bone grafting, Dr. Lowe will then perform the second phase of the reconstruction. This surgery consists of drilling new tunnels and then reconstructing the ACL again.

In a few cases, Dr. Lowe is able to remove the hardware and use those tunnels to reconstruct the ACL. This is not a common occurrence since the stresses that tear the ligament also tend to widen out the tunnels. If the tunnels are too big, there is no way to secure the new graft properly and bone grafting will be required.

There will be a period of rehabilitation required after each surgery. Once the ACL reconstruction has been completed, another full course of rehabilitation to strengthen the knee will once again be required.


Figure 1 Hardware Removal	Figure 2 Old Tunnel	Figure 3 Bone Plug

Patient Forms

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 20:16:04 GMT

Please click the following link for forms:

Shoulder

Fri, 18 May 2007 13:57:19 GMT

For more information on shoulder injuries view www.drloweshoulder.com

Treatment for ACL Injuries

Wed, 16 May 2007 17:42:09 GMT

Tearing your ACL is a significant injury. The majority of the time, the best treatment is surgical intervention to perform what is called an ACL reconstruction. The torn ACL ligament is reconstructed using either a portion of the patients own patellar tendon, or some of the tendons from the patients hamstring. These types of grafts are known as Autografts. There is another option known as Allografts that can be used for reconstructing the ACL. Allografts are tissues from a donor. The pros and cons of graft choices will be discussed in another section. As stated above, the best option is a reconstruction. Many people can and do lead “normal” lives without having their ACL fixed. The choice as to what to do is determined by many factors. Some of these factors include but are not limited to: Lifestyle, desired return to activity level, age and type or amount of damage to your knee. If a person does choose to try and return to activities without having surgery, there are a...

Debridement of ACL

Wed, 16 May 2007 16:46:31 GMT

Femoral Tunnel

Wed, 16 May 2007 16:46:17 GMT

Graft Fixation

Wed, 16 May 2007 16:45:55 GMT

Notchplasty

Wed, 16 May 2007 16:45:27 GMT

Notchplasty

Wed, 16 May 2007 16:42:32 GMT

Debridement of ACLCD

Wed, 16 May 2007 16:42:15 GMT

Femoral Tunnel CD

Wed, 16 May 2007 16:42:00 GMT

Graft Fixation CD

Wed, 16 May 2007 16:41:46 GMT

Passing of the Graft CD

Wed, 16 May 2007 16:41:31 GMT

Tibial Tunnel CD

Wed, 16 May 2007 16:41:14 GMT

Torn ACL CD

Wed, 16 May 2007 16:40:46 GMT

Shoulder Anatomy

Wed, 09 May 2007 16:39:13 GMT

The shoulder is known as a ball and socket joint. This type of joint allows for a great amount of motion in the shoulder, 360° worth. This motion does come with a price. Because of the increased motion, the shoulder is inherently unstable. The knee on the other hand has much less motion due to being what is known as a hinge joint, but is much more stable. One way to understand the anatomy of the shoulder, and this instability, is to realize that the shoulder is much like a golf ball on a golf tee if it were to be turned on its side. In an effort to provide the shoulder with more stability, around the glenoid is tissue called the labrum. The labrum along with the ligaments that hold the humeral head to the glenoid, create stability, helping to prevent the shoulder from either subluxating or dislocating. It needs to be noted that the majority of shoulder dislocations are anterior dislocations....

Thank you for contacting Dr. Walter Lowe

Wed, 09 May 2007 16:20:42 GMT

A representative will follow up with you shortly.

Dr. Walter Lowe Site

Wed, 09 May 2007 16:08:39 GMT

The links below represent the site map and structure.

Debridement of ACL

Wed, 09 May 2007 15:59:33 GMT

Femmoral Tunnel

Fri, 04 May 2007 17:16:38 GMT

Graft Choices in ACL Surgery

Fri, 04 May 2007 15:26:12 GMT

The patient facing ACL reconstruction has several choices concerning the graft to be used. The Pros and Cons of each graft will be discussed. There are two different types of graft tissues that can be used. There is an Autograft; this is the patients own tissue. And there is the Allograft; this is tissue from a donor that will be utilized for the reconstruction. Autografts: Patellar Tendon Pros: Strongest graft concerning the initial fixation. This is due to the fact that there is bone on each end of the graft that is going into a tunnel in the bone. Physicians have the most experience with using this type of graft. May be able to return to full athletic participation quicker (5-6 months) Cons: Most painful of the grafts post-operatively Increased chance for patellar tendonitis Increased chance for a patella fracture More difficult rehabilitation Pain and discomfort with kneeling Extra incision Hamstring ...

Meniscal Injuries

Thu, 03 May 2007 14:20:47 GMT

Meniscal Injuries The Meniscus (also known as cartilage) is a fibrocartilage in the knee that very unique shape, design and purpose. The purpose of the meniscus is to be a shock absorber and space filler for the knee. The menisci are of a “C” shape. This shape corresponds to the surface of the femur. They also have a wedge shape to them that helps with stability. This would be similar to the wedges used as door stops. As stated, the meniscus is a shock absorber. It helps to dissipate the forces in the knee caused by all activities such as sitting, walking, running, jumping, etc. The goal is to disperse the forces over a greater area as opposed to isolating them. If you look at the meniscus, you can see both the “C” shape and the wedge shape of the meniscus. Evaluation and Treatment of Meniscal Injuries Meniscal tears are fairly common. The typical mechanism of injury is a twisting and flexing motion of the knee. There are several...

ACL Injury Risk Reduction

Mon, 30 Apr 2007 17:37:29 GMT

ACL Risk Reduction There are many different mechanisms that cause ACL injuries. It needs to be noted that 70% of all ACL injuries are non-contact. This is that injury that you see where the athlete is all alone and the next thing you know, they are on the ground in pain. They do something that they have done many times before, but this time caused the injury. Below is an example of a non-contact ACL injury. Look at the athletes left knee. Female athletes are around 6 times more likely to tear their ACL than a male athlete. Another way to look at that is that one out of every ten female college athletes will tear their ACL every year. Why does this happen? Risk Factors for ACL Injury Anatomical : - Femoral notch size - Q-angle. This is the “knock kneed” individual. Also known as valgus alignment. Biomechanical : - Females land in a more upright position compared to males. - Females utilize their...

Elbow Injuries

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 18:24:09 GMT

Baseball Elbow Injuries

Shoulder Rehab Protocols

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 17:35:46 GMT

Please click the following links for full pdf articles:

Dr. Lowe - Locations

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 17:09:36 GMT

Medical Center 6620 Main St., 13th Floor Houston, TX 77030 P: 713.986.5590 F: 713.986.5591 Google Maps Yahoo! Maps Sugar Land Location 15200 Southwest Frwy Suite 175 Sugar Land, TX 77478 Ph: 281.494.0550 Fax: 281.494.0145 Google Maps Yahoo! Maps The Roger Clemens Institute for Sports Medicine & Human Performance Memorial Hermann Plaza 6400 Fannin Suite 1620 Houston, TX 77030 Ph: 713.986.5590 Fax: 713.986.5591 Google Maps Yahoo! Maps

Rehab Protocols

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 18:18:52 GMT

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Appointments

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 18:17:24 GMT

Dr Lowe only sees patients for new acute sports related injuries of the knee, shoulder and elbow.

For appointments in the Medical Center:
Ph: 713.986.5590

For appointments in Sugarland:
Ph: 281.494.0550

Or you can fill out the contact form that would provide us with more information about you.

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 18:12:37 GMT

Check back soon

Post-Op Instructions

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 18:06:51 GMT

For Information Click the link below :

Post-Op Instructions

Scheduling

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 18:01:36 GMT

Please click the following link for the surgery scheduling form:

Surgery Scheduling

Preparing for Surgery

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 17:59:30 GMT

Please click the following link for forms:

Pre-Op Instructions

Throwers 10

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 17:53:11 GMT

Please click the following link for full pdf article:

Throwers 10

Videos

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 17:50:50 GMT

Videos coming soon

Elbow Rehab Protocols

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 17:45:59 GMT

Please click the following links for full pdf articles:

UCL Protocol

Interval Programs

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 17:21:57 GMT

Please click the following links for full pdf articles: Interval Throwing Program Baseball Players Interval Windmill Pitching Program - Fastpitch Only Interval Throwing Program Little League Players Interval Throwing Program Softball Fastpitch Pitchers Interval Throwing Program Football Interval Golf Program Interval Tennis Program

After Surgery

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 17:18:48 GMT

Shoulder

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 17:11:44 GMT

Team Affiliations

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 20:09:22 GMT

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 19:44:03 GMT

Comets

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 19:43:55 GMT

Rockets

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 19:43:45 GMT

Houston Texans

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 19:43:36 GMT

Dr. Lowe

Walter R. Lowe M.D.

About Dr. Lowe

Dr Lowe - Staff

Dr. Lowe - Staff

Diagnosing Knee Injuries

Symptoms of an ACL Tear

Knee Anatomy

Revision ACL Surgery

Patient Forms

Shoulder

Treatment for ACL Injuries

Debridement of ACL

Femoral Tunnel

Graft Fixation

Notchplasty

Notchplasty

Debridement of ACLCD

Femoral Tunnel CD

Graft Fixation CD

Passing of the Graft CD

Tibial Tunnel CD

Torn ACL CD

Shoulder Anatomy

Thank you for contacting Dr. Walter Lowe

Dr. Walter Lowe Site

Debridement of ACL

Femmoral Tunnel

Graft Choices in ACL Surgery

Meniscal Injuries

ACL Injury Risk Reduction

Elbow Injuries

Shoulder Rehab Protocols

Dr. Lowe - Locations

Rehab Protocols

Appointments

Newsletter

Post-Op Instructions

Scheduling

Preparing for Surgery

Throwers 10

Videos

Elbow Rehab Protocols

Interval Programs

After Surgery

Shoulder

Team Affiliations

Newsletter

Comets

Rockets

Houston Texans