About Us

Each year, several million Americans injure the cartilage in their knees, shoulders and other joints. Whatever the cause, the result is the same: pain that makes it difficult or impossible for you to lead the active lifestyle you wish to enjoy. Unfortunately, these injuries happen to people considered too young to undergo artificial joint replacement surgery. Many of our patients have been living with joint pain for years. Some cannot remember a time when their knee didn't throb or swell with every step, flight of stairs or short jog. Fortunately, there are new treatment options—many of them available only in the last five years.

Orthopaedic surgeons at Rush have developed the Cartilage Restoration Center (CRC) to offer a full range of contemporary treatment options for joint pain, including the latest minimally invasive procedures. Many of these surgeries are performed arthroscopically through small incisions and are usually performed in an outpatient surgical center. In some cases, we can prevent the onset or progression of arthritis, using innovative methods for restoring damaged cartilage available at only a handful of medical centers in the country. In some instances, cartilage restoration is also viable for the treatment of shoulder, elbow, hip and ankle injuries. This treatment may lead to a significant reduction or elimination of pain in the joint, allowing you to return to a healthy, active lifestyle.

As the Director of the Rush Cartilage Restoration Center, Dr. Brian Cole invites you to explore cartilage restoration and advances in Sports Medicine including the arthroscopic treatment of shoulder instability and rotator cuff tears through this Web site. This educational resource is for individuals interested in these problems as well as related areas. It also contains educational content, registration forms for new and established patients of Dr. Cole, directions to his offices, rehabilitation protocols, postoperative surgical instructions, and an entire library of articles and clinical trials dedicated to the advancement of treatments for shoulder, elbow and knee-related injuries.