BIOGRAPHY
Name

Austin Fares, MD

Biography

Austin was born in Southern California where he earned an undergraduate degree in Biology-Chemistry from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, CA. He completed medical school at Creighton University in Omaha, NE and currently resides in West Texas where he is completing his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery. Orthopaedic interests include sports medicine and traumatology.

Topics

Meniscus Tear

The menisci are two C shaped discs of fibrocartilage within the knee that function to cushion and stabilize the knee during everyday activities. Tears of the meniscus are one of the most common knee injuries affecting the general population. Injury to the meniscus can be the result of trauma, athletic activities, or simply the result of normal wear and tear,... Continue Reading

Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Rupture

The medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) is one of the crucial structures that works to stabilize the knee. This ligament’s primary role is to keep the patella (kneecap) tracking within its anatomic position during everyday activities. Injury to the MPFL can occur when the patella dislocates or partially dislocates as a result of trauma or athletic events. Once disrupted, patient’s often... Continue Reading

Patella Fracture

The patella, also referred to as the ‘kneecap’, is surrounded by tendinous attachments above and below. The function of the this bone to give mechanical advantage to the knee during motion, which is necessary for walking, sitting, and most other everyday activities. A fracture/break in the patella can disrupt the knees ability to extend, which can be severely painful and... Continue Reading

Quadriceps Tendon Rupture

Tears in the quadriceps tendon are rare, but potentially devastating injuries. The quadriceps tendon is the confluence of the four thigh muscles located just above the patella (kneecap). The function of the quadriceps tendon is to help extend the leg, which is critical for basic everyday tasks to include walking and sitting. Injury to the tendon typically occurs in males... Continue Reading

Patella Tendon Rupture

The patella tendon is located near the knee and connects the patella (kneecap) to the tibia (shinbone). Its function is to allow an individual to straighten out the leg during everyday activities, and therefore loss of this ability can be severely debilitating. A patella tendon tear/rupture is an injury more common in younger patients (<40 years old) as the result... Continue Reading

Cervical Myelopathy

Cervical myelopathy is a form of spinal cord compression that occurs in the neck (cervical) region of the spine. The cervical spine consists of 7 bony vertebrae with fibrous discs between the vertebrae to help cushion the spine during everyday activities. Behind the vertebrae and discs is the spinal cord that functions to carry nerve impulses from the brain to... Continue Reading

Degenerative Spondylolisthesis

Degenerative spondylolisthesis is a wear and tear phenomenon which describes the condition of one vertebrae slipping over the vertebrae below. This condition more commonly affects the lumbar spine (low back) and is found in older patients typically >60 years old. When the vertebra slips forward, it can compress nerve roots and cause low back pain or radiating pain to the... Continue Reading

Herniated Vertebral Disc

A herniated disc, also known as a bulged, slipped, or prolapsed disc is when one of the cushion-like pads between the vertebrae moves out of position and presses on the adjacent nerves. This is one of the nation’s leading causes of sudden back pain in adults. Typically, this phenomenon occurs in the lumbar region of the spine (lower back region).... Continue Reading

Idiopathic Scoliosis

Idiopathic scoliosis, or abnormal spine curvature, typically develops in young, female individuals greater than 10 years old. In young children with onset before 10 years old they are at an increased risk for impaired lung function because of the high risk of progressive spinal deformity and constraints during a critical time of lung development. The cause of scoliosis has yet... Continue Reading

Vertebral Compression Fracture

Vertebral compression fractures occur when the vertebral body of the spine collapses, which can lead to severe pain, deformity, and loss of height. These fractures are particularly seen in elderly patients with osteoporosis (brittle bone) and most commonly occur in the thoracic spine (the middle portion of the spine). Overall, these are the most frequently encountered fractures in the elderly... Continue Reading